Wednesday, April 2, 2014

B is for . . . BUSYBODY

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.


*****

BUSYBODY

Mary straightens her housecoat, grabs her cigarettes, and goes out into the summer evening.

She stomps around the neighborhood, stopping at every stoop, interrupting every conversation with unsolicited opinion, complaint, gossip. Her voice, loud and rough like a car’s worn-out muffler, rumbles over everything.

She’s seen the eye rolls, heard the snickers. The neighbors call her names – busybody, buttinsky, snoop. Her favorite, Mary the Mayor, makes her sound official, important.

She could be more polite but the older she gets, the more invisible she becomes. This is the only way she knows to keep from disappearing altogether. 

*****

47 comments:

  1. In some ways, I feel sorry for Mary, since her butting in is a symptom of loneliness, but she needs to find a better way to join in.

    Nice job,

    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
    Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic

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  2. Good one. I think we've all known a busybody or have been one.

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  3. Sophie - I think Mary is afraid that if she's polite, she'll be ignored. Maybe, maybe not - but it's the fear that drives her to act the way she does.

    Cathrina - I wonder if most busybodies are inherently lonely and that's why they act the way they do? Of course, they could just be nosy.

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  4. So sad that this is the only way she can feel like she exists. I have to wonder what made her like that. Great fic.
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings

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  5. Tasha - I love when stories make us wonder more about the characters. :)

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  6. Love this story. The tone reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Anne Tyler. That's high praise (not that you were looking for my opinion. I guess that makes me a buttinsky!!!)

    Best regards,
    Elizabeth

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  7. Love the comparison of her voice to a worn-out muffler!

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  8. You've done a wonderful job capturing the voice and essence of Mary, and I love how you wove the word buttinsky into the story. Great job!

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  9. I really like the way you write. Have I said that before? It's true.

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  10. This is an awesome theme for A to Z. I can't wait to read the rest!

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  11. I agree with Natasha. What made her feel so ignored? Really liked this!

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  12. Elizabeth - wow! Thank you! You're my kind of buttinsky. :)

    Julie, Donna, MJ and Dana - thank you!

    Cathy - I really appreciate that. Thank you!

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  13. Aw. That makes me want to cry--but it's so true to life. Here's to loving the elderly and allowing them to fill the role they should, you know, the one involving their wisdom.

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  14. I have known many people like this. Pity she feels she needs to gossip to get attention. ♥

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  15. Another awesome flasher! It's so true, too!

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  16. Susan - thank you!

    Crystal and Kathy - I think it's about having more patience with people like that, trying to see the need/reason behind the actions. (Easier said than done, though, sometimes!)

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  17. oh, stop it! A & B were sensational so far!
    your drabbles are to die for! looking forward to more =)
    happy b day!

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  18. I feel bad for poor ole Mary. A humbling story, Madeline. Thanks!

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  19. Every neighborhood has a Busybody snoop lady! Once, we had one that was French. That just made it worse.

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  20. Poor Mary. Always saddened by lonliness in a narrative. I think I would sit down and talk with Mary. She probably has some great stories behind her busybodiness. See ya 'round the web. All Things Kevyn.

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  21. Negative attention becomes better than none at all...

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  22. Tara and Joylene - thank you!

    Jay - why did it make worse that she was French?

    Kevyn - talking with Mary one on one would probably calm her down and make her less busybody-like.

    Alex - unfortunately, I think that's the case a lot of the time, for a lot of people….

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  23. Sadly, I know a few people like Mary. Your story is a reminder to look beyond the sometimes abrasive personas, and understand where the motivations and behavior might come from. There are many lonely people out there who mask those feelings with not-so-friendly attitudes sometimes. Thanks for sharing!

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  24. I think we all know a Mary or two and it takes but a few seconds to say Hi, and How are you? Great post.

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  25. I love the idea that the busy body found purpose in being a busy body--to avoid disappearing. Wonderful!
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

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  26. I really feel for your character... everybody just wants to belong! Mary is no exception...

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  27. I have loved both your flash fiction stories! Wow! You are good! Can't wait for more.

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  28. Dawn, Christianne, Debi - thank you for stopping by and reading!

    Michelle - sometimes it's the people who most need to belong that don't know how to….

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  29. Wow- that last sentence is a real smacker! Packed quite a lot of punch into very few words- impressive!

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  30. Sharon - thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying the stories so far.

    Beverly - I try! :)

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  31. I've known a lot of busy bodies, but I really like Mary. The ending is powerful. I just love that there was a reason why she a busy body. No one wants to disappear. Great post!

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  32. now this character has a story to tell. Flash fiction a great way to keep readers interested but not bogged down with a on-going story. I've done the story for the month which is alot to ask a to z fans to keep up with :)
    Enjoy the A to Z Challenge
    Bridging Sorrow

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  33. Once again loved reading you blog

    Came by from
    http://talesofthereborncrafter.blogspot.com

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  34. what a fabulous idea for the challenge. I read this thinking "oh I know a few like that" until I got to the end and read her reason - and then I thought "good on you, girl!".

    Thanks for the read!

    Visiting from the AtoZChallenge

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  35. Great piece of flash fiction, Madeline! I like the punch at the end.

    Happy A to Z-ing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines

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  36. The last line really hits you, and made me think of some people I know who are like that...

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  37. Chrys - I think the fear of being invisible is in all of us to some degree.

    Dragon, MaryAnn, Barefoot - thank you very much!

    Laura, Annalisa - I'm glad the ending was so effective.

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  38. "Her voice, loud and rough like a car’s worn-out muffler, rumbles over everything." Awesome writing skills here. Be back!

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  39. Loved it! I know people like her.

    Great job.

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  40. This is so sad! You have captured something elusive in so few words. Great B story! :)

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  41. A great use of imagery in such a short piece. I could see the lady in her robe,going down the street. (oh, I love the picture of your tortoises...we used to have a box turtle) and thanks for visiting my blog, also! I followed, and will look forward to reading more!

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  42. Excellent flash!!! I've seen my parents go through some of this . . the fear of invisibility, and some of the decision to be "loud and proud" as a part of it, followed by regret. It's a tough time in life.

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  43. I love that you are challenging yourself to write one story a day. I'm struggling just to come up with something to talk about that matches the letter of the day, forget being creative. Good for you! I especially like the A story.

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  44. Good writing, good character, good idea. Well done, Madeline.

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  45. Susan, Elizabeth, Phoenix, Tyrean, Patricia - thank you!

    Ghost - I'll let the tortoises know they have a fan. :)

    #1Nana - I prepped ahead of time. No way I could do this spur of the moment! :)

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