Assignment task: Springtime
Write a creative exercise that meets the following criteria: A sense of extreme discomfort (dread? fear?) is created in Springtime by showing Frances's reaction to the e-mail she receives from Charlie's wife (page 34). Readers never see the content of that message, only Frances's response. As a creative exercise, write a scene where a person receives news, which the reader cannot hear/see. From the response of the character the reader should be able to infer the content and should share (have access to) the feeling that the news provokes in the character.
- Anna checked her phone for the tenth time that day. She was waiting for a call from her doctor, who had promised to give her the results of her biopsy as soon as possible. She had been feeling a lump in her breast for a few weeks, but she had hoped it was nothing serious. She had gone through a lot of tests and scans, and now she was anxious to know the truth.
She was sitting on the couch, trying to distract herself with a magazine, when her phone finally rang. She grabbed it and answered her heart pounding.
"Hello, Anna? This is Dr. Lee. I have your results."
Anna felt a surge of fear and hope. She held her breath and waited for him to continue.
"I'm sorry to tell you this, Anna, but..."
Anna felt a jolt of pain in her chest. She couldn't hear the rest of his words. She dropped the phone and clutched her breast, as if to protect it from the news. She felt tears streaming down her face. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't accept it. She was only 32. She had a husband and a daughter. She had a life. She couldn't have cancer. She couldn't die.
She curled up on the couch, sobbing uncontrollably. She didn't notice her husband coming home from work. She didn't hear him calling her name. She didn't see him picking up the phone and listening to the doctor's voice. She didn't feel him wrapping his arms around her and trying to comfort her. She was in a state of shock and denial. She wished it was all a bad dream. She wished she could wake up and forget the call. She wished she could go back to the time before she knew.
Please rewrite your creative exercise (750 word limit). You may rewrite your exercise using my feedback, or feedback you received outside of this class, or just you by using the new understanding of craft you have gained from the activities we have completed during the semester. Your rewrite may be big, substantive changes in your exercise, or it may be small, minor tweaks.