19 October, 2011
WoW - Sunshine in a Cup
It's time for Write on Wednesday and this weeks exercise is to take inspiration from the words of Emily Dickinson by writing 'Bring me sunshine in a cup' at the top of your page and write the first thing that comes into your head.
I'm not too sure what my results of this exercise say about me, but the line immediately brought the idea of alcohol to mind. Hope you enjoy.
“Bring me sunshine in a cup” she said, turning her face up towards me and offering a slack smile. Putting a hand on each side of her face, I held her head in my hands and stroked her cheeks lightly with my thumbs. “I think you’ve had enough sunshine in a cup for today, don’t you?” I asked, knowing she could never quench her thirst for the drink. “Nooooooo” she said musically, shaking her head weakly from side to side.
“Yeeeeeees” I said, mimicking her singsong voice, trying to inject some humour into the situation. “C’mon” I said, “I’m tired, let’s lie down and have a nap”. “But it’s only 10 in the morning” she slurred. “I know but I didn’t sleep very well last night, aren’t you tired” I asked, shepherding her from where she’d fallen on the couch.
“No!” she shouted, pushing me away and knocking over the remnants of the whiskey as her legs lost control and put her on the floor with a thud. Her temple had grazed the coffee table and was slowly leaking blood. She touched her hand to her head, saw it come away red and started giggling before sadly proclaiming “I got a owie”. I sighed and gathered her up, “I know, come on and let me make it better”. Right now, that sunshine in a cup didn’t seem so sunny anymore.
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14 comments (+add yours?)
Very interesting take on the prompt. Such a poignant picture of addiction and a caretaker's love. Well done!
Thanks Lillie, I think this idea has been kicking around in my head for a few weeks. I heard some lyrics to a song the other day, something along the lines of 'my good old buddy whiskey keeps me warmer than sunshine' and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I guess when I read the prompt this week that idea just jumped right into my head.
I enjoyed it but wanted to know more about the relationship between the two.
I thought maybe it was a bartender at the start?
Or maybe they are as Lillie mentioned above.
I love your realistic and natural dialogue.
Thanks very much HoP, dialogue can be tricky! The time limit prevented me from going too deep but if I had the time I think this story would branch out into a study of struggle. The struggle of addiction and the struggle of someone as an enabler and fighting to be strong and nurse the addict back to health. I guess when it comes down to it, the first person is both carer and bartender ;)
Visiting from WoW.
I'm always amazed at what comes out on the page when you (me, anyone) write(s) stream of consciousness. Great use of words like "shepherding" to create the picture of enabler and addict. There is a lot of sadness in this piece.
--Feisty Cat
Thanks FC, I know what you mean...aside from knowing I wanted to end on that last line, this piece even had me guessing where it was going right up to the end.
I often find the same thing Sheri.
There's an idea kicking around or a line from a song or even something someones said and somehow (she may just be a witch:) Gill come up with a prompt that fits!
Such a sad story but written so beautifully and with such compassion.
A piece that mixes poignant sadness with compassion and hope of recovery. Good job and interesting take on the prompt.
Thanks very much guys :) One of the things I really loved about this prompt is that the possibilities for where you could take it are pretty much endless.
I like that you wrote this from the carer's point of view, rather than that of the addict. We get a more reliable narrator. You've created some very sympathetic characters. Well done.
I love the different pieces that come from prompts like this. You have done a wonderful job capturing a sad, real-life scenario of a person succumbing to addiction and an enabling but caring loved one or helper. Nice job.
Another interesting take on 'sunshine in a cup' - or rather, the dark side of sunshine in a cup! I enjoyed the dark edge to this piece, and the brittleness of the characters. Well done!
Great comment from Jayne - I agree. I think you really worked the prompt this week. It was unique and made the prompt fit naturally. I think the idea of alcohol being the sunshine in cup made a lot of sense. Perhaps you could work on this further?
Great interpretation of this exercise. I love the darkness and sadness evident in this piece.
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