Sherry Takes a Project

Fresh from the shower, Michelle gets a surprise, and Sherry finds a mission.

Michelle and Sherry are two characters first introduced in my story

STATIC

Love Your Neighbors  (13+) Michelle's neighbors have boundary issues, and she just wants to weed her flowerbed. #2031557 by Jimmy E. Durham, RN

and visited again in my story

STATIC

Neighbors and the Deluge  (13+) Michelle is more at home in the neighborhood as the residents experience water problems. #2035057 by Jimmy E. Durham, RN

This is a rough draft.







         Michelle walked downstairs into her kitchen. She enjoyed the aroma of lavender that her soap left after showering, and the softness of her new towels impressed her. She adjusted the towel wrapped around her head as she made her way to her refrigerator, reaching inside for a bottle of water. As she took a drink, a voice startled her.

"You're out of yogurt, and you know I hate strawberry."

"Oh my God!" Michelle jumped; she lost the towel on her head spilling her wet hair down around her shoulders, and came close to losing the towel wrapped around her body. Sherry watched this unfold seated with her feet propped up on the kitchen table eating the last of Michelle's strawberry yogurt.

"What are you doing here Sherry? I'm naked!" Michelle cried, turning red.

"Pfft. Michelle, please, I spent four days on South Padre Island, and my skin never saw a stitch of material the whole time. That was naked."

Michelle's heart was slowing down and she set her bottle of water on the counter, "I'm not in the mood to hear another one of your crazy college spring break party stories from 20 years ago, Sherry."

Sherry's brow furrowed and she squinted at Michelle, "This wasn't college. That was last summer."

Michelle cleared her throat, "Anyway, why are you here? How did you get in?"

"I used my key," Sherry answered spooning more strawberry yogurt into her mouth.

"I never gave you a key."

"Yeah huh you did; the one under the ceramic turtle on your porch," said Sherry.

"That was my spare key hiding spot!" Michelle cried.

"But I told you how I loved turtles. When I picked it up to admire it, the key was under there; I assumed it was our own secret code," Sherry said with a mouth full of yogurt looking disappointed.

"How long have you had my key Sherry?" Michelle asked with alarm.

"Oh, not long; that was weeks ago," replied Sherry.

"Oh my God; have you been just coming over, and helping yourself to my life?" Michelle demanded as realization dawned on her.

"What? Best friends share things, Michelle. You make it sound creepy."

"Sherry, I hardly know you. I thought I was going crazy or at best, someone was gas lighting me! Now, I find out it was worse than I imagined: I've been running out of food and my stuff hasn't been where I thought I left it because you have an all access pass to my house!"

Sherry scoffed and slid the key across the table in Michelle's direction, "God, if you're going to be so sensitive, I don't know why you gave it to me in the first place."

"I never gave it to you!" Michelle cried.

"Michelle, you have got to work on your communication skills. You're lucky God brought me into your life."

"What are you talking about?" Michelle asked.

"Look at yourself Michelle: your hair is a wreck."

Michelle touched her still wet hair.

Sherry continued, "You're going to your refrigerator in a towel instead of to the mailbox, you disappear for hours on end during the week and never come back with a man."

"I go to work!" Michelle cried.

"Irregardless! Then you spend beautiful sun filled weekends outside digging around those flowers in your yard instead of at the movies or in a bar like a normal person," Sherry said, "Face it Michelle, you're kind of a mess. But don't worry. I'm gonna help you."

Michelle paused for a moment and asked, "What’s that behind your ear Sherry?"

Sherry felt behind her right ear and her face brightened, "Oh! My tampon. I have been looking everywhere for this. Feels like I'm gonna be needing him soon!" she placed her hand on her abdomen for emphasis, "Now, where was I?"

"I'm a mess, and you're going to help," Michelle answered.

"Oh, right. Michelle you need to get yourself together. And I'm gonna help. I can't watch you spend another evening watching Laura Norder."

"Who's Laura Norder?" Michelle asked.

"You know. That show. Laura Norder. Where someone ugly dies, and some boring people try to find out why, for, God only knows what reason, and then I cry a little inside."

"That's Law and Order" Michelle corrected.

"No, Michelle, it's just sad is what it is," Sherry replied, "The only thing sadder is that I've been around to see it."

"I like Law and Order. And my life!"

"No one likes Laura Norder, Michelle, "Sherry explained, "It's just something to pass the time until death comes. And as for your life, we need to get you a man. Someone classy. Someone with a bench ad or something. Like that realator Michael Murray!" Sherry's eyes lit up, "I smell a man-catching plan coming together!"

"No man catching plans, Sherry," Michelle said.

"Get your net! It'll be fun! You'll wear a hat, and I'll direct stuff," Sherry's wheels were already turning.

"I don't even want to begin to think about how to 'catch a man'; it's unseemly," Michelle said.

"If people didn't think about half the things you find unseemly, network television wouldn't have a fall lineup, Michelle. We're finding you a man. To be continued!" Sherry got up, grabbed the key on the table, and walked out the back door leaving the empty yogurt container and dirty spoon on the table.

         Like bare breasts at Mardi Gras, Michelle knew it was inevitable; Sherry was going to find a man for her to date. Worse, she was going to continue to teach her phrases like " bare breasts at Mardi Gras." Like it or not, Sherry had a taken a project.