Exercise: 'Tuna'
My friend Paul gave me the word 'tuna' as a prompt. Yeah that was fun to write.
Basic edit, all characters, illegal use of grammar all mine.
‘Tuna’
Sarah Dobson
Kelly coughed and wiped her nose on the back of her hand idly as she watched the soap on the TV before her. She half concentrated on the shrill voices coming from the box as the actors played out their scripted argument before her. Sniffing again she tugged up the covers on her bed trying to keep warm, not taking her eyes off the television at the foot of the bed. Rolling her eyes she sniffed again as the other two occupiers of her room ranted and raved at each other. Dinner that was what they were fighting about, where to go for dinner. Kelly crossed her arms grumpily and glared at the screen wondering how someone could get paid for writing this type of crap. I mean really she thought the whole idea was absurd. Groping for the remote hidden in the covers of her sick bed she turned off the TV and rubbed her face in irritation.
She hated being sick, not like a normal person would hate being sick, But she loathed it beyond all reason. Normally it was hard to keep her in one place. She was constantly rushing around due to work or her hectic social life and being consigned to bed for a week was making her crazy. Looking out of the door for movement she quickly rummaged around in the drawer by her bed and took out a folder. Flipping it open she glanced to the entrance again before starting to organise the papers inside. As she concentrated on the case notes all thoughts about the rest of the world disappeared. Including the reason why she had hidden the case report in the first place, which was currently walking into her room.
“Here I thought you would like a drink” he stopped short as he saw Kelly riffling through the pages laid out in front of her. “What do you think you’re doing Detective Strauss?” he asked his voice gruff. Kelly startled out of her thoughts jumped at his question and quickly shuffled the papers back into the folder.
“Oh, hi there Alex! You know you shouldn’t really sneak into a girl’s room like that, they might get the wrong idea you know” she said giving a charming smile whilst hiding the folder under the pillow next to her. Alex walked over and put the glass next to her sat on the edge of the bed.
“Don’t give me that crap, what where you doing?” he questioned looking her right in the eyes.
“Nothing” she lied, her eyes not wavering from his stare.
“Oh ok I must have imagined you sitting here reading what looked suspiciously like a report then” he drawled.
“Must have” the smile still in place. She watched as he sighed and looked out the window.
“Kelly you have to rest otherwise your not going to get better” he chided.
“Alex it’s a cold not the plague” she retorted not liking the tone of his voice.
“You had a fever not that long ago and you look like crap” he continued patiently. He turned and looked at her again. “So will you just get some sleep” he ordered. Kelly’s smile dropped as she pouted and crossed her arms again.
“You sure know how to charm a lady don’t you?” she groused.
Alex smiled at her seeming defeat and chuckled slightly as he stood up and made his way to the door.
“I know, I know, I’m a complete monster” he drawled. Kelly peeked up at him from under her hair and gave a small smile.
“I wouldn’t say that” her voice soft. They looked at each other for a moment before he shook his head slightly. Just as he seemed to turn for the door he leaped across to the bed and grabbed under the pillows next to Kelly. She gave a growl as her hands shot out to stop him but he was already at the door again folder in hand. He waved it tauntingly from the door frame and laughed as Kelly started swearing and throwing whatever was close at hand. She hammered her hands and feet on the mattress and gave an angry yell of frustration. “I lied!” She screamed “You are a monster!” her yells only answered by laugher coming from the hall outside. Calming down a little she moved the pillows back down and thumping them a few times hard with her fist before laying her head on it. Mumbling to herself how she wasn’t tired and wouldn’t sleep closed her eyes and despite herself she fell asleep.
When she opened them again it was getting dark outside. The autumn sun casting long shadows across her room. Blinking the sleep out of her eyes she frowned as she heard noises coming from her somewhere in her flat. Getting up slowly she dragged herself through her flat stopping on the way to grab her dressing gown. Upon arrival of the source of the noise she stood leaning against the door frame and watched as a rear end wiggle slightly as it seemed to be searching for something in one of her bottom cupboards.
“My Grandma what a big ass you have” she drawled her voice low from sleep. The bum stilled.
“You’re up?”
“I’m up”
The body rose, knees creaking slightly at the movement. Kelly watched as Alex turned around slowly and gave a smile.
“Was trying to look for a tray” he said in some explanation. Kelly nodded and pointed to where a tray was hidden in-between two cupboards. As Alex reached for it and started rummaging around the kitchen Kelly noticed the mess of tins, vegetables and dishes everywhere. Shuffling forward slightly she looked over the remains on the chopping boards hoping to get some clue to what the smell was that was coming from her oven. Suddenly a label caught her eye and she picked it up.
“Tuna?” she asked incredulously. “Again?” Alex stilled from what he was doing and turned to look at her.
“What’s wrong with tuna?” he asked his voice sounding very patient.
“Nothing but for the fact that that’s all I’ve had to eat for the past four days.” Her tone teasing.
“I thought you liked tuna?” he asked in his defence.
“Yeah but not everyday for every meal” she retorted.
“You haven’t had it for ‘every meal’” he said irritation creeping into his voice.
“Alex what did you make me for breakfast this morning?”
“An omelette”
“With what in?”
Alex paused and glared at her before mumbling “Tuna”
“Uh huh, know don’t think I’m being ungrateful towards you. Because I am. But you’re my partner not my nursemaid. I’ve been looking after myself for a long time, even when I’m ill, and well all this attention is just a little” she paused for a moment trying to find the right word “too much” She watched Alex slump his shoulders and bit her lip trying to explain herself without being too harsh. “I mean you’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty coming in here to look clean this dump and feed my and all, I know I’m not an easy person to get on with when I’m sick” she continued her voice growing gravely and coughed before going on. “But I’m just not used to this.” She finished waving her hand about in the food remains general direction. She watched Alex’s reaction with baited breath and sighed with relief when he looked up and smiled.
“Ok I should have realised. I’ll ease up” Kelly nodded and returned the smiled. Walking over she hugged him and relaxed when she felt his arms around her.
“So no more tuna?” she asked her voice muffled by his chest, his chest rumbled with laughter.
“No more tuna” he said above her. “I’ll call for a pizza” Kelly smiled and squeezed him.
“And Alex?” She squeaked. “Can I get that folder now?” There was moment of silence and Alex hugged her tightly.
“Not a chance Strauss”
Basic edit, all characters, illegal use of grammar all mine.
‘Tuna’
Sarah Dobson
Kelly coughed and wiped her nose on the back of her hand idly as she watched the soap on the TV before her. She half concentrated on the shrill voices coming from the box as the actors played out their scripted argument before her. Sniffing again she tugged up the covers on her bed trying to keep warm, not taking her eyes off the television at the foot of the bed. Rolling her eyes she sniffed again as the other two occupiers of her room ranted and raved at each other. Dinner that was what they were fighting about, where to go for dinner. Kelly crossed her arms grumpily and glared at the screen wondering how someone could get paid for writing this type of crap. I mean really she thought the whole idea was absurd. Groping for the remote hidden in the covers of her sick bed she turned off the TV and rubbed her face in irritation.
She hated being sick, not like a normal person would hate being sick, But she loathed it beyond all reason. Normally it was hard to keep her in one place. She was constantly rushing around due to work or her hectic social life and being consigned to bed for a week was making her crazy. Looking out of the door for movement she quickly rummaged around in the drawer by her bed and took out a folder. Flipping it open she glanced to the entrance again before starting to organise the papers inside. As she concentrated on the case notes all thoughts about the rest of the world disappeared. Including the reason why she had hidden the case report in the first place, which was currently walking into her room.
“Here I thought you would like a drink” he stopped short as he saw Kelly riffling through the pages laid out in front of her. “What do you think you’re doing Detective Strauss?” he asked his voice gruff. Kelly startled out of her thoughts jumped at his question and quickly shuffled the papers back into the folder.
“Oh, hi there Alex! You know you shouldn’t really sneak into a girl’s room like that, they might get the wrong idea you know” she said giving a charming smile whilst hiding the folder under the pillow next to her. Alex walked over and put the glass next to her sat on the edge of the bed.
“Don’t give me that crap, what where you doing?” he questioned looking her right in the eyes.
“Nothing” she lied, her eyes not wavering from his stare.
“Oh ok I must have imagined you sitting here reading what looked suspiciously like a report then” he drawled.
“Must have” the smile still in place. She watched as he sighed and looked out the window.
“Kelly you have to rest otherwise your not going to get better” he chided.
“Alex it’s a cold not the plague” she retorted not liking the tone of his voice.
“You had a fever not that long ago and you look like crap” he continued patiently. He turned and looked at her again. “So will you just get some sleep” he ordered. Kelly’s smile dropped as she pouted and crossed her arms again.
“You sure know how to charm a lady don’t you?” she groused.
Alex smiled at her seeming defeat and chuckled slightly as he stood up and made his way to the door.
“I know, I know, I’m a complete monster” he drawled. Kelly peeked up at him from under her hair and gave a small smile.
“I wouldn’t say that” her voice soft. They looked at each other for a moment before he shook his head slightly. Just as he seemed to turn for the door he leaped across to the bed and grabbed under the pillows next to Kelly. She gave a growl as her hands shot out to stop him but he was already at the door again folder in hand. He waved it tauntingly from the door frame and laughed as Kelly started swearing and throwing whatever was close at hand. She hammered her hands and feet on the mattress and gave an angry yell of frustration. “I lied!” She screamed “You are a monster!” her yells only answered by laugher coming from the hall outside. Calming down a little she moved the pillows back down and thumping them a few times hard with her fist before laying her head on it. Mumbling to herself how she wasn’t tired and wouldn’t sleep closed her eyes and despite herself she fell asleep.
When she opened them again it was getting dark outside. The autumn sun casting long shadows across her room. Blinking the sleep out of her eyes she frowned as she heard noises coming from her somewhere in her flat. Getting up slowly she dragged herself through her flat stopping on the way to grab her dressing gown. Upon arrival of the source of the noise she stood leaning against the door frame and watched as a rear end wiggle slightly as it seemed to be searching for something in one of her bottom cupboards.
“My Grandma what a big ass you have” she drawled her voice low from sleep. The bum stilled.
“You’re up?”
“I’m up”
The body rose, knees creaking slightly at the movement. Kelly watched as Alex turned around slowly and gave a smile.
“Was trying to look for a tray” he said in some explanation. Kelly nodded and pointed to where a tray was hidden in-between two cupboards. As Alex reached for it and started rummaging around the kitchen Kelly noticed the mess of tins, vegetables and dishes everywhere. Shuffling forward slightly she looked over the remains on the chopping boards hoping to get some clue to what the smell was that was coming from her oven. Suddenly a label caught her eye and she picked it up.
“Tuna?” she asked incredulously. “Again?” Alex stilled from what he was doing and turned to look at her.
“What’s wrong with tuna?” he asked his voice sounding very patient.
“Nothing but for the fact that that’s all I’ve had to eat for the past four days.” Her tone teasing.
“I thought you liked tuna?” he asked in his defence.
“Yeah but not everyday for every meal” she retorted.
“You haven’t had it for ‘every meal’” he said irritation creeping into his voice.
“Alex what did you make me for breakfast this morning?”
“An omelette”
“With what in?”
Alex paused and glared at her before mumbling “Tuna”
“Uh huh, know don’t think I’m being ungrateful towards you. Because I am. But you’re my partner not my nursemaid. I’ve been looking after myself for a long time, even when I’m ill, and well all this attention is just a little” she paused for a moment trying to find the right word “too much” She watched Alex slump his shoulders and bit her lip trying to explain herself without being too harsh. “I mean you’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty coming in here to look clean this dump and feed my and all, I know I’m not an easy person to get on with when I’m sick” she continued her voice growing gravely and coughed before going on. “But I’m just not used to this.” She finished waving her hand about in the food remains general direction. She watched Alex’s reaction with baited breath and sighed with relief when he looked up and smiled.
“Ok I should have realised. I’ll ease up” Kelly nodded and returned the smiled. Walking over she hugged him and relaxed when she felt his arms around her.
“So no more tuna?” she asked her voice muffled by his chest, his chest rumbled with laughter.
“No more tuna” he said above her. “I’ll call for a pizza” Kelly smiled and squeezed him.
“And Alex?” She squeaked. “Can I get that folder now?” There was moment of silence and Alex hugged her tightly.
“Not a chance Strauss”