An Excerpt...

I finally took a moment to post and excerpt on the NanoWrimo Website...so I thought I would here too. Enter Stage Right...Lolly Friar!!

“Gotta Go!” I quickly hung up the phone because I hear her footsteps coming down the hall. Those quick short steps with purpose scuffing more than clacking, she dragged her heels along a bit as she walked. I was grateful for the distinctive cadence which clued me into her arrival. Although, I could usually sense when she was getting close, somehow the ding of the elevator sounded different when she was arriving. Natalia Warrick was about to start another day and I was ready for her.

For the past six years, I have been her right hand. Come to think of it, I was the left hand and perhaps a main artery as well. Of all of her past assistants I had lasted the longest and the word she frequently used to describe me on performance appraisals was simple and to the point. Perfect. It was hard to live up to during each and every moment of the day but I was used to it. The fear of living up to that expectation and the weight of never knowing for sure if it would last was much like my other most important relationship. My granddaddy had the very same expectations which kept me on my toes the other twelve hours of the day. I’ll explain more about that later.

The steps got closer and my heart rate increased, the nervousness of what the day would bring had not ever left me. No complacency or comfort was found in regularity with Natalia, there was no such thing. I pulled my crisp pink blouse straight and put on my smile. If I was smiling and seemed stressless, then she would be too.