Here's your first chance to play a piece in writing my book.
I sat for a good 30 minutes this afternoon, trying to think of any gifts I received from boys during high school. Or even college. The only gift, for any occasion, that I could remember, was in high school. It was a rose on Valentine's Day that was actually a pair of silk undies. And the guy and I weren't even together anymore; I had recently broken up with him. It struck me as tacky and awkward. Was that supposed to get me back? Talk about one track mind. Knowing where his locker was, I simply returned the "rose" without a word.
So here I am this afternoon with Sarah and Andrew. Sarah has a flashback to her senior year of high school. It's her 18th birthday. Her boyfriend (also a senior) cooks dinner for her. Roses on the table, candles, soft music in the background. But what did her boyfriend give her for her 18th birthday present?
He hands her a box beautifully wrapped with shiny, white paper and a black satin ribbon wrapped around it, tied up in a bow. Sarah looks up at him with shy eyes and a blush. He smiles back at her and gives a silent nod toward the box. She gently tugs on one loose end of the ribbon, feeling the soft satin between her fingers. The ribbon is silent as the bow slides apart, falls from the box, and drapes over her hand. He leans over and sweetly kisses her cheek as he pulls the ribbon away so that she can turn the box to remove the paper.
She carefully slides her fingers under the corners of the paper, pulling it open, unfolding, to reveal the white box underneath. The paper falls to the floor at her feet, making a gently rustling noise as it hits the carpet. She lifts open the box and …
WHAT’S IN THE BOX? (Insert my husband quoting Brad Pitt in the movie Se7en. A 90’s movie I haven’t seen.)
So I draw a blank. (Is that writer's block?) I have no idea what Sarah’s high school boyfriend gives her for her 18th birthday. Give me your ideas here. I’ll pick one to use, and give you a mention in the book credits!