Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Mildred/Millie A to Z Blogging Challenge

Blogging from A to Z Challenge
April 2015
This month I will be participating in the “Blogging from A-Z Challenge

What is it?

I will be Blogging everyday beginning on April First with a topic themed on something with the letterA, then on April second another topic with the letter B as the theme, and so on until I finish on April thirtieth with the theme based on the letter Z.   The theme of the day is the letter scheduled for that day.

My theme will be short fictional (well mostly fictional) stories about women.  Each woman’s name will begin with the appropriate letter of the alphabet for that day.
All of the women will have the common life experience of a loss of some type.
I invite you, Dear reader, to comment on how you interpret the loss.


Mildred

Five minutes to go before class was over.  
It was the last period of the day.  It was the last of her last periods.
“The cutbacks… unavoidable… least seniority… sorry,” they said. 
She didn’t know how she felt.  She probably wouldn’t until the fall.   
She had given all of the kids in each of her classes free reign this day.
“Do whatever you like today, class,”she said.
The kids were surprised, shocked actually.   
True, it was the last day of school before summer vacation.  
Most of the teachers were more than lenient, particularly as the school year came to an end. 
But Miss M, she never was.
Yet, her class was the most popular.  
There was something about Miss M.  
Typically, when the bell rang to signify the beginning of class, Miss M would rise from behind her obsessively tidy desk and walk to the front of the room, hands folded, in front, at her waist. 
Hidden behind thick lenses and horn rimmed frames, the blue of her pretty eyes were hardly noticeable. 
Glancing up and down the aisles, she would look directly at each student individually and nod as if mentally taking attendance. 
Mildred was tall and angular.  Her jet black hair was tightly pulled back in a bun at the nape of her neck.  Her wardrobe consisted of crisp white blouses which she wore beneath black, gray or navy cardigan sweaters.   The hemlines of her matching black, gray and navy skits fell to just below the knee.  She wore modest sensible low heeled shoes. 
Her voice was low and throaty, her tone intense. 
When she began to speak, she commanded their attention as she took control of their minds.
She hadn’t told anyone that today was her last day.  Only the principal knew, but not any of the other teachers. 
She certainly did not want a party or fussy good byes.


Millie
Five minutes to go before she had to be on stage.
It was the last dance of the night.  It was the last of the nights.
“Business is slow… closing the place… sorry,” they said. 
She didn’t know how she felt.  She probably wouldn’t until her nights were still. 
“Play whatever you like,” she said to the DJ.
He was surprised, shocked actually.
She always wanted to select her own music.
Of all of the dancers, she was the most popular.
There was something about Miss M.
At the first beat, she came out of the shadows to step into the spotlight.
Even under the glaring lights, her brilliant blue eyes were mesmerizing.
Millie was tall and lithe.  Her jet black hair fell loosely to her waist. 
She was scantily covered in glittery sequins, silver or gold. 
Her strappy shoes spiked on four inch heels. 
She spoke with her body, her movements intense.  She commanded their attention as she took control of their desire.
Unlike that afternoon, she told everyone at the club that it was her last night. 
She wanted the biggest blast of a party, especially tonight.  

15 comments:

  1. Very interesting; great contrast between Mildred and Millie; prim and proper and a bit wild. Shame both "gigs" ended the same time!

    betty

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    1. It’s true sometimes life doesn’t follow the plan.

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  2. Perhaps it's time for her to find something that showcases both sides of her personality. But a good teacher like that won't stay unemployed for long. (Not nowadays, I don't think. Hiring for teachers has lately picked up.)

    Liz A. from Laws of Gravity

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    1. Hey, that’s good to hear that teacher hiring has picked up. I have so much respect for teachers.

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  3. Whoa, you have seriously messed with my mind! The first part reminded me of last year, when low enrollment meant one of the most amazing teachers in my kids' school was let go. She went to a different school, but I was so disappointed since my youngest would have been in her class otherwise.

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    1. I hope your mind was messed in a good way :)
      Aww, it’s tough to lose a good teacher.

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  4. Of course as I re-read this today, I decided it needed a change.
    Originally, the last two sentences of Millie’s section read this way:
    "Just as she had that afternoon, she didn’t tell anyone that it was her last night.
    She certainly didn’t want a party or fussy good-byes.“
    I think the change is a better, logically.

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  5. I liked this. I didn't get it at first that they were one and the same. Just thought they were two different women moving on and doing it in different ways, even though there were resemblances between the two. I too, am sad she has both jobs ending at the same time! Does that mean she's decided to meld the "two" parts of herself and try to be somewhere in the middle? Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com

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    1. Thank you for your kind comment. Losing a job is sad.
      I have a feeling she prefers to keep the dual parts of her personality separate.

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  6. Well drawn character and wonderful flash fiction. Nice writing. This is a creative theme for the challenge.

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    1. Thank you so much. Those are encouraging words. Much needed at this point in the competition.

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  7. I think it is funny how edit everything.

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    Replies
    1. how YOU edit...

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    2. They are handing out prizes aren’t they?
      Yeah, and btw, I even had a mistake in my own comment.

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