"Centenary Book Two: Gene" Debuts
In these first five 100-word stories, the Happy Hour Ladies set their sights on a new conquest: The mysterious man in the motor scooter.
Welcome to “Centenary Book Two: Gene.” I’m publishing Book Two in collections of five 100-word stories weekly for the next 20 weeks, free to all. Just as with “Centenary Book One: Go On Down,” I’ll also be posting a full story from start to finish, available to paid subscribers.
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⏪ Centenary Book One: Go On Down
1: ANNE and DEE
- We should invite him to join us for drinks before dinner.
- It seems dangerous to me, Anne. He already drives that scooter like he’s drunk.
- Maybe so.
- Maybe that explains why he barrels down the halls like that. We should ask Ruth what she thinks.
- I don’t think Ruth is coming today.
- Oh no. Did something happen to Ruth, too?
- No, Dee, Ruth is fine. Just not up for drinks.
- Should we go see her? She’d have an idea what to do about him. I don’t even know his name. Do you?
- No, no. I don’t know who he is.
2: ANNE and DEE and RUTH
- Ruth, what do you do when you see him coming in that electric wheelchair?
- Hello, girls. Thanks for calling on me.
- The way he just barrels down the hall, he doesn’t even say excuse me.
- He just races past.
- Have you ever been in the elevator when he barges on? Linda, Lucy, and LeRoy, get the hell out of Dodge.
- What?
- He spins that damn scooter around like no one’s business. Lord help you if you’re trapped in there, he’ll roll right over your feet.
- We should invite him in for drinks, see what he has to say for himself.
3: DEE and RUTH and ANNE
- Ruth, that’s what Anne said, but I’m not sure. He seems dangerous.
- Sounds like a good reason to invite him over.
- I don’t need convincing, girls. I say we walk down the hall and knock on his door.
- Oh Anne, that’s a bit dramatic.
- How else would you invite him?
- We could slip a note under his door.
- Write a letter and mail it to him.
- Girls, have you seen your handwriting? So shaky, we look like crazy women. We have to knock on his door.
- What if he’s not home?
- What if he IS home? What shall we say?
4: DEE and RUTH and ANNE
- I can’t believe we’re doing this. Who’s talking? Ruth? Anne? Not me.
- Why don’t we all do it? Anne, you start. I’ll jump in. Then Dee, you can say anything that we forget.
- I think we should have a drink, first. Anne, what do you have?
- White wine, girls. From Bordeaux. Sauvignon blanc and Semillon.
- What?
- White. Wine.
- Good enough for me.
- Me, too.
- But, what do we say? Why are we inviting him over, other than for drinks? What if we look stupid?
- Too late for that, girls. Bottom’s up.
- Ok, then. One-two-three, up from your chairs. Let’s go.
5: DEE and RUTH and ANNE
- I’m not sure what to make of that.
- He was clearly inside. You could hear him banging around in there.
- I didn’t hear anything.
- Oh come on, Dee. It sounded like he was ramming that damn power chair into every wall in his place.
- He obviously didn’t want to talk to us, girls.
- Just as well. You know he’d have come empty handed.
- He wouldn’t come at all. Have you ever seen him in the dining room? Never! He powers right off the elevator, out the doors, and down the street.
- Have you ever seen him out in the wild?
ℹ️ All about Centenary, my serial novel unfolding in 100-word stories from Living Well Towers
🆗 ps - You might like Spilled at the Wine Bar, documenting what I see, hear, and overhear pouring for customers.
⏪ Centenary Book One: Go On Down
☕️ Start the New Year with a tip for your writer 🍷
Thank you for reading