Thursday, July 10, 2014

The guy barged in!

JC Penney had some really good summer clearance buys today.
Of course, nothing fit, or else it looked better on the hanger than it did on me.

JC Penney had some colorful characters today. This guy, about 40 was walking around with a phone in his ear, completely unaware of others.

"But what am I suppose to do when a guy walks in on me at 6:30? My wife and I weren't doing anything, nothing, and still this guy walks right in and goes off on me because he's unhappy with the guy who lived here before we moved in. That's not my problem. So what do you suggest I do?"

I listened to his nonsense with his landlord/lady for about fifteen minutes. I wanted to say, "LOCK your door, that's what you should do!"

But I didn't. I observed his mannerisms, his frenetic pacing, his wide-eyed amazement at the landlord's/lady's response. A good case study for character development.

You can find writing opportunities and ideas where you least expect it.

7 comments:

Tammy said...

I guess I'm not the only one who listens in on strangers' conversations, huh? Can't help but feel sorry for the guy, though. That land-person is no lord or lady...plus they usually have keys!

Sioux Roslawski said...

Yeah, if you eavesdrop, the conversations can be fodder for later stories...

Val said...

One of my favorites was an elderly lady who complained to her daughter after an apparent funeral home visitation: "...and the corpse's husband was wearing tennis shoes and a windbreaker!"

Susan said...

Hi Linda. You wouldn't believe some of the cell phone conversations I have been privy to, just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The saddest thing to me, regarding cell phones, are when little children are totally ignored while their parents yak on the phone. I've seen little kids try to pull the parents' clothes, cry, whatever-----but they are totally ignored so the cell phone conversation can go on. That's SAD.

Anyway, hope you have a good Friday! Susan

River said...

I'm astonished that he doesn't lock his door as a matter of habit. In an apartment building? Who leaves their doors unlocked in an apartment building?

Pat Wahler said...

You're so right. Real life provides tidbits a writer could never make up.

Pat
Critter Alley

Connie said...

He sounds like a good one to put in your next story! :)