Tuesday, May 14, 2013

WIPpet Wednesday: "The Verdict"


      Hi WIPpeters! Surprisingly enough, I don't have a whole lot of chit-chat today. If you missed my responses to the Versatile Blogger award from Emily, I ended up writing last week about 7 books that changed my life. Thanks, Emily, for the nomination! And thanks, Kathi, our fearless WIPpet hostess for another great week of WIPpet love. And now, without further ado, here's 15 sentences from page 15 of Saving Natalie

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“I need a pregnancy test.” Jessica stared unblinking at the health center receptionist. She didn’t lower her gaze. After all, just about any other college co-ed could find herself in the same situation. There was nothing to be ashamed of. Still, the fact that the guy who may have knocked her up probably didn't even know her name was a little unsettling.

And what if she really was pregnant? She’d have to stop dancing if she wanted to keep the kid. She might have to give up school all together. Her parents wouldn’t pay for her to go to college and raise an illegitimate baby, and there was no way she could afford tuition, housing, and child-care all at the same time. Her mom would worry about what her friends would say. Her dad would be heartbroken, of course, but at least he would look at things rationally.

“Follow me.” The campus health worker wore a short skirt and jet black blazer jacket. Jessica tried to smile, but it was all she could do to keep from throwing up on the bleached-white linoleum as she followed the nurse down the hallway to hear the verdict.

***

Random Fact #25: I am currently listening to "On My Own" from the 25th anniversary concert of Les Miserables.

Writing Fun: On Tuesday I was a guest on the Slush Heap discussion group with three other inspirational authors. The hostess gave a very nice plug for The Beloved Daughter and my special-needs memoir, but unfortunately my microphone didn't work so I had to participate in the hour-long event via chat! (Lots of smiling and nodding.)

Blog Love: If you want to join the WIPpet fun, give us an excerpt from your current Work In Progress that has something to do with today's date (like 15 sentences from chapter 15 on May 15), then link up here or at My Random Muse.

16 comments:

  1. You're welcome!

    I love the WIPpet, really feeling for Jessica's plight here, her nervousness but at the same time trying to think it through logically and not freak out too much.

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    1. Thanks! I definitely feel for her too! She holds up pretty well, all things considered.

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  2. I could feel the weight of the world on Jessica's shoulders here and how the result of that test will turn her life upside down. I think you captured her plight really well and she also comes across as a strong character despite her youth.

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    1. Thanks Kate, that's precisely the image I was hoping would come across.

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  3. I wanted to throw up with her, walking down that hallway. You've brought her fears to light very well. The little bit of coldness in how she refers to "the kid" is a good touch.

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    1. Hee hee. I guess we've got another barfing heroine on our hands!

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  4. Ooh, that makes my stomach hurt. You've captured this perfectly. I really want to read this one!

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    1. Thanks so much! It may be a while until its publication worthy but I'm trying o plug away.

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  5. "On My Own" is one of my favorite songs from the Les Mis soundtrack. It fits this scene well too.

    I like how you capture the essence of panic when Jessica starts mentally considering her option. It's often not that people don't have options, but that they can't even think of them. Like dancing... I know it's not always true, but a lot of people can dance until their due date (I was certainly more flexible and physically active during my pregnancy than I had been for years before). But a lot of people have these set ideas about what being pregnant is... And you captured that so well in this scene.

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    1. What a great point about the soundtrack fitting the WIPpet, Eden. I wouldn't have caught that if you hadn't brought it up! Yes, there are all kinds of preconceived pregnancy ideas out there. I have a friend who belly-danced with her troupe up to the last month of her pregnancy. Not sure I could have, but I sure was impressed she could!

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  6. You write so beautifully Alana, I love how in such a short WIPpet you convey so much. I was right there with Jessica too!

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    1. Thanks Raewyn, I have to admit my MS and I aren't getting along well this week (barely on speaking terms, actually) so this is encouraging to hear!

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  7. That last sentence is uncomfortably familiar. Even with a wonderful husband, an unexpected pregnancy when you feel unready is very unsettling. Well done! I like it. :-)

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    1. Thanks for the feeback! So true that this kind of emotion isn't reserved for the young single college kids!

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  8. Oh, I just want to hug her. Either way, I hope she will find unexpected joy. Looking forward to more..not more vomit, just more of Jessica's story.

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    1. HAha, thanks Shan! I don't think there's any more vomit here, but I can't promise...

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