[Critique Group 1] June submission

[Deanna Noriega]

Resolution

                It was the start of a new year and Stacy contemplated what
she should try to change on her negatives list. She wasn't ever going to be
tall, or gorgeous, but there were a few things that she didn't like about
herself that she could do something about. Last year, she had vowed to learn
to control her temper and for the most part, she thought she had done pretty
well. At least she hadn't thrown anything at anyone, screamed at them or
just lost it and burst in to tears.. This year though, she thought perhaps
she had to take it to the next level. As her brush slid through her long
hair for the hundredth stroke, she vowed, "I will not let anyone push my
buttons." *** 

 

Star Johnson rolled her eyes and glanced back at her klick of toadies and
drawled, "That plaid flannel shirt you have on makes you look like a hick
Stacy! Don't you know that kind of farmer look is just not cool?" 

 

Stacy took a deep breath and replied, "I guess I would rather be warm than
worry about looking cool." 

 

Toby Larson grinned down at Stacy and said quietly, "I think you look cute
in flannel shirts and jeans, girls who try to look like fashion models scare
me. They are like Barbie doll plastic clones." ***

"Stacy Anne! You have to be the laziest sixteen-year-old on the planet!
Can't you see that the kitchen is a disaster? Shouted Stacy's mother Brenda
as she looked for an uncluttered spot to put down her grocery bags.

 

"Oh, let me take those, I got so involved in trying to read my English
homework, I didn't notice that the boys had trashed the kitchen. I will
clear this stuff away and get things straightened up. Then I'll get us some
iced tea. Oh, you got the cereal I like! Thanks mom!"

 

"That sounds good honey. Sorry I snapped at you, I am just so tired trying
to work all week, then do the shopping and house chores, laundry, and all
that on the weekends. I know you try to help-out with your part-time job and
keeping your grades up. I shouldn't take my frustrations out on you."

 

"Maybe we can make a chart to assign chores to all of us so you don't feel
like you have to do it all mom," offered Stacy. ***

 

                It was a really busy night at the pizza shop. Stacy had
scrambled all evening to keep the make line filled with toppings and the
phone answered. There hadn't been a single lull since she started her shift
and she was starving. Oh no! Mr. Woodruff from church had just worked his
way to the order counter with his usual scowl on his face. He was never
happy about anything and he felt he should make sure that no one else was
either. Squaring her shoulders, Stacy stepped to the counter with a smile
and said, "Good evening Mr. Woodruff, will it be you're usual, A small Meat
Lover's with extra sauce and double pepperoni, isn't it?"

                Mr. Woodruff looked surprised. He grunted "That's right, and
make it snappy girlie!"

                Stacy smiled at him over her shoulder as she moved quickly
to the makeline. She slipped on a pair of plastic gloves and snatched up the
sauce brush. Deftly she spread a thick layer of sauce over the dough making
sure she covered the whole surface all the way to the edge. "Is this
enough," she called.

 

"Yaa, that looks good," Mr. Woodruff replied.

Stacy moved down the make line assembling the pizza being careful to spread
the toppings evenly so that every bite would have all of the ingredients.
Swiftly she wrapped the take and bake pizza and handed it over the counter.
As the grumpy old man took his purchase she called out "Did you get that
sweater for Christmas? The blue is the same color as your eyes. See you in
church next Sunday sir!"

 

Jill's mouth fell open and she paused as she slid a new tub of pizza sauce
in to place. "My God! I think he actually smiled at you! I didn't think he
had the facial muscles to do that!"

 

Stacy shrugged, "maybe he just thinks no one will notice him unless he makes
a fuss. I just thought I would see if my grandmother's old saying that you
can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar really worked!"

  

 

 

DeAnna Quietwater Noriega

Cell: 573-544-3511

Email:  <mailto:dqnoriega at gmail.com> dqnoriega at gmail.com

Author of Fifty Years of Walking with Friends

https://www.dldbooks.com/dqnoriega/

 

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