Saturday, April 2, 2016

Blathering - A to Z Challenge - The Letter B

Blogging from A to Z Challenge
April 2016
This month I will be participating in the “Blogging from A-Z Challenge” 
What is it?

Blogging every day.  It begins on April First with a topic themed on something with the letter A, 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.

This is a fictional piece.




When I spotted her neon orange hat she was two blocks away.  I immediately turned around, attempting to walk back in the other direction.  But I had the dog with me.
Rico is a 15-year-old stubborn, little old man, white dog.  He quickly let me know that he didn't want to turn around.   He leaned back on his haunches,  splayed his front paws out dug in, and refused to move.
I tugged the leash.  I hissed through clenched teeth, ordering him to walk.  He looked up at me and  I swear he shook his head no.
Exasperated, I looked up and saw her waving at me.
Bernice is a small woman with severely cropped dark hair.  Although her thin, slight build gives an initial impression of fragility,  her low gravely voice quickly changes one's opinion of her.
Like that of a cornered bunny, I felt the panic rise up in me,
In the few minutes that it took for us to reach each other, I must have played out a dozen escape scenarios in my mind.
I could, after exchanging a few typical pleasantries,  look at my Fitbit watch and say, "Gotta get going.  Trying to get in my 10,000 steps, you know."
Hmm, no that wouldn't work.  That would just give her an opening to complain about her Fitbit and how it had made her skin break out in a rash.
And anyway, it was apparent that Rico was out for a leisurely walk this morning.
Bernice, I secretly referred to her as Blathering Bernie, was a talker.  Which is okay.  Some of my best friends are talkers.  But Bernice was a talker complainer.  You know the type.
For example, I knew that if I tried to start the conversation off on a positive note, by saying, "Beautiful day, isn't it?"
Bernie's reply would be something like, "I heard it's going to rain later."
That's all it would take for the tirade to begin.  She would blather on and on about how rainy days made her upset because it would remind her of the time,"You know during Super Storm Sandy," she would say.  Then she would talk forever about how her garage got flooded.
Actually, her garage had gotten less than an inch of water.
This is ridiculous, I thought.   Be assertive.
We approached each other.  Bernice bent down to pet Rico.  The little beast hopped around, wagging his tail, apparently all excited to see her.
As I watched her laughing and baby talking to the dog, I softened and thought, for just the briefest of time, that perhaps Blathering Bernie wasn't so bad.
"Rico, let Miss Bernice get on with her walk," I said.
Bernice straightened up.
Without so much of a "Hi, how are you?"  She started in.
The topic of this day was how awful the new design of the Club House was.   She pulled out a crinkled piece of paper from her pocket.
"I'm starting a petition to have the design changed," she said.
I kind of liked the new design.  But, experience with Bernie has taught me that rather than disagree with her, it was easier to take the "Let me think about it" approach.
Lucky for me, Rico caught a whiff of his nemesis Chico, who was walking on the other side of the street.
Letting Rico lead me, I shrugged my shoulders and put my hands out as if to say, "Oh well, what can I do."
As I crossed the street, I heard Bernice calling out to someone.  I turned around to see her waving her paper at Jackie, my neighbor.  I sighed.  Poor Jackie, I thought.

16 comments:

  1. I think we all have a Bernice or two in our circle of friends and acquaintances. I often think they don't have a clue how their blathering is viewed by others, though I am sure I've been accused of it at times, especially during times of extreme anxiety or worry.

    betty

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    1. Yes, I find that I blather when I am with someone I am uncomfortable with.

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  2. Reminds me of several people I usually try to find a way to hide from in the grocery store...I feel as though one of my main goals as an adult has been to NOT be the sort of person people feel the need/desire to hide from in the grocery store. ;)

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    1. Hehe, ducking into the baby food aisle...I know what you mean. :)

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  3. This story relates to real life. I know a couple of people where I go out of the way not to meet them because of their negative attitudes. They always see something wrong. If the sun is shining, they complain about it being to bright and when it rains, they complain about the possibility of flooding.
    Nice job.
    Shalom,
    Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

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    1. Yes, the blathering is something I could possibly tolerate more than the negativity.

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  4. Oh my gosh, we all know people like that. And all we want to do is get away. Well written! (Maybe I should get a dog?)

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    1. A dog might provide a reason to head in the other direction :)

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  5. Delightful story! I know people like this. Call them Debbie Downers *laughs*
    Have a great weekend!
    Lori

    My A2Zs @ As the Fates Would Have It & Promptly Written
    Follow Me (Ravyne) Twitter|Facebook

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  6. I would like Bernice. I'm a great listener and know how to gently steer a conversation. You have to know how to deal with people very carefully. Being an introvert gives you plenty of insight. She just wants to make things better but has no idea of how so she complains to vent her frustration. Just my thought.

    You have been minioned by Sheena-kay Graham
    Proud Minion of the Joy Brigade

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    1. You are kind and understanding. That is certainly good advice. I don't think I've ever been minioned before :)

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  7. Ah yes, I recognize the type. At least Rico finally cooperated.

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  8. Great writing! Blathering is good... I think. :)

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    1. Thank you! I suppose it depends on who is doing the blathering :)

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