August 27, 2010

Woody's Roundup, but with fewer cowboys

1. The Red Dress Club strikes again...

This week's prompt for Red Writing Hood is based on dramatic entrance, courtesy of Webook. Write a short story based on this prompt:An art opening at a lavish downtown gallery. A car crashes through the plate glass window. The driver's door opens, and an eight-year-old girl steps out.We're looking forward to seeing how everyone handles the same exact opening!

Okay...so here's the result.

An art opening at a lavish downtown gallery. A car crashes through the plate glass window. The driver's door opens, and an eight-year-old girl steps out.

She crushes out her cigarette with a custom made Louboutin flat and says, through a final exhale of smoke, “Doesn’t this place have valet parking? I can never get these stupid things in a space.”

Starr E. Dreams has certainly never failed to make an entrance, and tonight was no different. She is Drew Barrymore the 2010 Edition, but no one expects her to turn out as well as Drew. She’s a wild child with an absentee father and a fame-whore mother. She had no chance.

Despite people’s skepticism, Starr E. Dreams is her real name. None of that Demetria Guynes turned Demi Moore business for her. And to make sure no one ever forgot it; acquaintances, co-workers; even friends and family were contractually obligated to call her one of three things. Acceptable names were Starr, Starr E. or Starr E. Dreams. No other iteration would be tolerated, and you can bet her mother would have you in court for breach of contract if you tried.

Her mother, one Roberta Nelson, had tried desperately to be an actress. She gave up 10 years of her life to waitressing and casting calls. The closest she came to a big break was the time she was almost an extra on CSI. She showed up for an open call and they took the first 100 people. Guess who number 101 was.

Roberta decided after “selflessly giving up her own flourishing career for motherhood”, as she was often quoted saying in interviews that if she couldn’t make it one of her kids would. So when her baby girl was born the dream began again. She was determined to have this baby not only succeed in the business, but exceed those who came before. Roberta was determined for Starr to beat Tatum O’Neal’s Oscar win at 10. She only had a year and a half left to make it happen.

Starr had certainly been working hard since her debut in a creative reimagining of Peter Pan. She played Wendy, a little girl with Dissociative Identity Disorder whose primary other personality was a little boy named Peter who never grew up. She also had to contend with her personality, Tinkerbelle, a transvestite hooker with a heart of gold. It was gritty stuff. Surprisingly it was not well received.

She followed that star-turn with a creative reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. She played Dorothy, a little girl with Dissociative Identity Disorder whose primary other personalities were a scarecrow, a tin man, a lion and a wizard. This film didn’t do that well either.

Her mother was certain the next film would be the winner they were looking for though. Starr was all set to do a creative reimagining of The Breakfast Club. She would play Claire, a little girl with Dissociative Identity Disorder whose primary other personalities were a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. Roberta felt certain this would draw in Starr’s fans as well as their parents, who were hopefully fans of the original movie.

Starr looked around at the storm she had created. There were flashbulb lightening bolts and thunderous shouted questions. She froze for a second and then said the first thing that came into her mind, “seriously people…can someone clean this shit up and get me a martini?”

2. The lovely Sara (who spells her name correctly) at Everyday Life with the Nevilles tagged me. I seriously need a few days to think of some more questions to pass on so I'll be doing this one on Monday! I feel certain some weekend margaritas will help.

3. And to start your weekend off right...a happy girl...
Have a great weekend one and all!

Comments (24)

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Thanks for thinking of me Cris! I'll be by to grab shortly
Love it! The adorable baby at the bottom is just an added bonus!
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
She's like a free gift with purchase :)
Great story and the super cuteness kiddo.
1 reply · active 761 weeks ago
Thanks K! Maybe it provided a mid-day giggle instead of just those pesky ones at night...
Okay, this had me laughing, and laughing hard. How many times have we seen child stars crash and burn simply because their parents were trying to live vicariously thought them? This was fantastically written, and I'd love to read more.
1 reply · active 761 weeks ago
So glad you laughed. I was while writing it, but you never know if other people will think it's funny too.
I enjoyed your story. I love her name, and that every role she has played involved multiple personalities. And of the course, the baby at the end simply seals the deal. ;)
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
I had a whole other section about her name, and how the E. really just was a middle initial and not the initial of a middle name because her mom didn't want to mess up the flow.
Sara, that was awesome! You had me at cigarette smoke and Louboutin! Good, good stuff. And please give Pie a gentle little cheek squeeze for me - I cannot resist!
1 reply · active 761 weeks ago
Grace - Pie will be squeezed about my arrival home! I'll make sure she knows it's from you. She'll really appreciate that once she gets her new shirt! :)
I love the voice in this...confident, snarky, in-the-know, and so, so, funny. Delighted to make your acquaintance.
1 reply · active 761 weeks ago
Hooray! I love that you used the word snarky...it's one of my favorites. Probably not a good thing to aspire to, but I do nonetheless :)
That was too funny! Loved the reference to the Breakfast Club and your happy girl is just too precious! She definitely made me smile. :-) Have a great weekend! Stopping by from the red dress club.
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
I was just re-reading some of the tributes to John Hughes so Breakfast Club was on my mind. I was saying somewhere else (who knows where) that I feel really bad for new generations who won't get to have their own Hughes movies. His are among my absolute favorites.
I love the last line!
1 reply · active 761 weeks ago
Thanks! I was struggling with a way to end the story, but thought that might work. She starts with a smoke and ends with a drink. I'm waiting for this day to end so I can have my own drink :)
This was so funny! I loved all the Dissociative Identity Disorders. I could imagine those movies. And your little girl is adorable!
1 reply · active 761 weeks ago
At least I can use my psych degree for something! Ha!
I also had Louboutins in my story - how odd is that? Anyway - very funny! I really liked this.
1 reply · active 761 weeks ago
Thanks Cheryl! I'm hoping I get some time today to catch up on all of the stories.
I love your story! And again Pie has completely melted me... ;-)
1 reply · active 761 weeks ago
Thanks Michelle! She certainly has my wrapped around her pudgy little fingers :)

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