I’m back with more of the new WIP, Speed Date. It’s a short story I have hopes of turning into a novella or novel.
This excerpt is from where I left off last week, including the eight from Weekend Writing Warriors. Roberta goes on her first speed date.
George, a sandy blonde with greenish eyes, kept clicking a ballpoint pen as he spoke. “So, have you done this before?”
“Never.” I tried to smile as if that didn’t make me sound like I was finally desperate enough to try anything. “Are you from the area?”
“No, I transferred six months ago from Ft. Belvoir. But I’m originally from Oklahoma. You?”
“Yep. Born and raised in Tidewater. I live on the Eastern Shore.” I was supposed to tell these men the truth, right? Concern flared. What if he was a serial killer? At least he didn’t know where on the Eastern Shore.
“What’s your MOS?” I saw a flicker of surprise? respect? appear in his eyes. I knew his jargon. I might actually be salvageable.
“Counter-terrorism.” Oh, Jesus. TMD—Total Military Drama. “What do you do?”
“I’m manager for an apartment complex.” I’m as boring as they come. Please go away.
“Do you like to party? Know all the great hot spots around here?”
Translation: do you know where the party is or are you a total nerd?
“I’ve heard Contraband is the bomb in Norfolk.” Crap! Bomb is not the word you want to use with someone in CT. But he didn’t go into ninja mode, so I ventured a question. “What type of music do you like? Something like fusion jazz?”
He gave me the stricken look of a deer in headlights.
Bong!
I made my face slacken a trifle. “Aww. Five minutes goes by too fast, doesn’t it?
He stood. “Yes, well, um..nice to meet you…uh…Roberta.”
At least he did remember it. Finally. “You too, George.”
As he moved on to his next table, I made a sharp flick though the number one

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on what I termed my “dance card.” One down, nineteen to go. Twenty dates in two hours.
Considering my current track record was three dates in two years—dates, mind you, not relationships—I was in for an extraordinarily long dry spell starting tomorrow. Cramming twenty dates into one evening was just tempting Fate to decree no more until mid-June 2028. At least that meant I could get a date for my 50th birthday party. Yippee!
Meanwhile, date number two sat down in front of me. Tall, thin, curly dark hair, prominent Adam’s apple.
“Hi, my name is Stephen.”
“Hi, I’m Roberta.”
I will never drink again, so help me God.
I hope you enjoyed that little snippet. There will be more from Speed Date tomorrow on Weekend Writing Warriors! But for now, you should check out some more Saturday Samples. Thanks for coming by!
What is it about a “prominent adam’s apple” that makes the next guy seem like a no-go? But it does. Very funny, Jenna!
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She’s got guts to take on 20 dates in two hours. I’m sure there are going to be lots of interesting characters along the way!
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Love that last line! I really like this…
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Thank you, Sara! Glad you like it! 🙂
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Great last line.
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Thanks, Lindsay! 🙂
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Cute last line. Tweeted.
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Thanks, Ella!
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The dating game is so difficult. Speed dating doesn’t sound like it would be fun – but it sure is fun to read about! Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Patricia! I’ve never done it, but it sounds like a grueling time. I just thought it would make for a cute meet. 🙂 Thanks for coming by!
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Humour is probably the most difficult genre to write, deliberately that is. Good for you
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That has always been the consensus in the theatre as well. The quote “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard,” is attributed to the actor Edmund Gwenn. Most actors would probably agree with the sentiment. Thanks for coming by, Sue!
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Can’t wait till tomorrow! 🙂
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Thanks, Jennifer! 🙂
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Funny, touching piece. I smiled as I felt what she was feeling. Brave girl. This is a great piece. Look forward to more next week.
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Thank you, Jean! It was fun to write. I’ve got two chapters and I’m hoping to continue it soon.
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This is hysterical. Love the last line.
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Thank you, Daryl! I love writing comedy, though it’s hard sometimes finding a place for it in historicals. Thanks for coming by!
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LOL, that was so funny. Poor girl.
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I think this one is going to be a romantic comedy. Later it gets even more funny. Thanks for coming by, Elaine. 🙂
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More please! So hooked on this, thanks for sharing a bit more.
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There will be more tomorrow, never fear, at WWW. Thanks for coming by, Toni!
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