Two Native American Elders Visiting

Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts —

The Exercise —

Begin a story from random elements such as two characters, a place, two objects, an adjective, and an abstract word. If you are not in a class, give this list to someone and have them provide you with the words so you will be surprised by them. If you are in a class have the class make up a random list. Then everyone must use these elements in the first two pages of a story.

The Objective -

To exercise your imagination, to prove to yourself that all you need is a trigger to get you started writing. And if you care about the story you start, the finish will take care of itself.

Lois and Claire were sitting around the table at Iona's restaurant when Claire started to talk about how we don't have to iron anymore. She said, "Have you noticed that, Lois?"

Lois responded, "I didn't notice that as I hardly ever used the iron, since we got dryers! I remember using flat irons as a girl." "I think it is because of the polyester that was developed, making ironing not necessary!"

"Nahbasa," responded Lois, "Nahbasa polyester!" Then the next thing you know, they were both laughing so hard that Iona heard them from her garden by the restaurant door, and came in with a handful of gardenias, laughing at the sight of them.

Iona said, "Okay, ladies, it's time for tuna fish sandwiches. Is that okay with you?" "Well, I would prefer Red Lake walleye, if you are asking," commented Lois. "I could eat Red Lake walleye into infinity and beyond!" "Howwah!" says Claire.

Iona said, "I will get your lunch ready then. Be back in a few." Claire looked at Lois, and again, the laughter. Claire said, "Did you see that guy flirting with you?" Lois responds, "Which guy? That one that is maybe 60 years old?" He wasn't flirting, he was thinking I was his mother!"

"It's my grey hair, it makes me look older! I'm thinking of putting some purple tints in. What do you think? I used to love the blue-haired ladies when I was a kid!" "No, you really are attractive with the grey hair, and he really was flirting with you. If you don't want to get flirted with, maybe you should wear a ring on your wedding finger." Lois said, "Eyyye"

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Author's note: Nahbasa, howwah, and eyye are Native slang for the Anishinabe. Most people will laugh when those words are spoken. It's like might know, or WOW, or you are kidding??

Words selected for prompt: polyester, tuna fish, and gardenias. Then Nahbasa, howwah, and eyyye.