Ivy emptied her handbag onto the faded bedspread: two wallets, a ration book, and a wad of fivers. She’d been working the railways for three months now, sex and shame her weapons of choice.
That nice young man, he’d been a proper gent. Remembering, she took a slug of whisky from the chipped cup. He’d make a good catch, for someone like the girl she used to be. Who was she kidding; that bent bookie was more her type.
As she tossed the young man’s passport onto the bed, Ivy tipped back her lovely chin and laughed long and loud.
M J Lewis ©2015
It’s a glorious spring day, the tulips are bloomin’ gorgeous and I’m turning to grimy 1950s Britain for some sleazy crime. It was that Jennifer Pendergast wot made me do it, it were her picture. And that Rochelle, she’s the real mastermind behind the Friday Fiction Gang, honest guv. If you want the rest of the stash you’ll have to click here, if you dare. Oi! That’s’ my real hair when you’ve finished.
Ivy sounds like a femme fatale in the making… Good job of invoking the era with the ration book. I love this line: ‘He’d make a good catch, for someone like the girl she used to be.’
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Ivy’s pretty sleazy, or pretty and sleazy.
Thanks for coming over.
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That’s one way to make a living I guess.
After her thought that the bent bookie was more her type and then she laughed, I think she’s laughing at herself – I get the impression she really wants to go back to the way she was before, but doesn’t know how.
Great story!
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Yep – she has to laugh, that or cry. I reckon she’s in too far to go back. And it’s unlikely to end well.
Just looked up Twenty Thousand Streets under the Sky (Patrick Hamilton) which I watched years ago (2008?). Can’t possibly compare, but this was sort of at the back of my mind – Daisy gets into prostitution and can’t get back, even when a lovely boy falls in love with her. There seems to be loads of it on youtube, but I need to actually read it!
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What a rascal, that Ivy! I thought your characterisation of her was spot on. She comes over as beyond redemption. Well written.
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This is great — That first sentence really reels a reader in! It’s hard to do that kind of thing in 100-word fiction. 🙂
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Thanks ZombieSymmetry. Wonder what Ivy’s line is for reeling them in – probably just a simple, Is this seat taken?
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Now Sarah, is anyone beyond redemption?
Perhaps she’ll meet a man of the cloth next….No,no,no!
Better to leave her, as you say, beyond redemption.
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Ivy may, or not, have any redeeming qualities, but still it’s hard not to root for her. Great story. I could picture her in my mind.
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Thanks for your comments. I always find it fascinating how people read and respond to characters. Some people are empathisers
and others more judgemental – I guess we need both skills in life.
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sex and shame her weapons of choice – gorgeous line. Story very well told.
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Really nicely written! I was so hoping for her to see the error of her ways at the end, and then I was rather pleased that you didn’t feel you needed to do that.
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Thanks Claire.
Ivy did have a male accomplice (with a flick knife) in one longer version and she could afford to be more wistful. This 100 words is such an interesting process – in the distillation process she lost him and had to by necessity toughen up. No room for real regrets or remorse! She’s got to eat.
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“sex and shame her weapons of choice” – terrific line. Well done.
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Better to be in control of your life than someone else’s whore. Ivy has gumption and it doesn’t sound like she’s a victim but a survivor. Keep writing her.
Be well,
Tracey
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Readers’ reactions – sooo interesting! Ivy certainly has gumption – no morals, no safety nets, but a lot of gumption.
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It’s all in the little details, especially that ration book, that we see how she came to be who she is now. We might well find her despicable, and yet, we feel for her.
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She doesn’t forget who she is. I hope it’s not too late for her to find love. Nicely told tale.
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Fantastic little story portrait. Ivy’s situation comes through loud and clear, and I love how she laughs: there are so many possible interpretations of that laugh.
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Thanks for your comments. I like that you see her laughter as having many interpretations – the ridiculousness of the men she dupes occurs to me, but could be wrong. Only Ivy knows!
My husband on the other hand has been tipping back his lovely chin and laughing like a hyena all weekend after reading this – the only possible interpretation, he’s a bit of a silly twit.
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Such a great title, and story too. 🙂
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You set the scene and time period well. Ivy seems to be making light of her situation – I think she could make something of herself yet.
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Dear MJ,
Ivy’s quite the little conniving operator isn’t she? And just for the record, don’t blame me. 😉 Well done. I love the tone of this story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for your comments Rochelle. Yep, Ivy knows thing or two and looks after herself.
Cheers,
MJ
PS I was singing like a canary – gave them the whole gang of fictioneers! Not quite as tough as Ivy. 🙂
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Ooooh. I did not like that laugh.
Randy
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Dear MJ, You really know how to get a lot more out of your 100 words. Fantastic tale and I like Ivy – she knows just what she has to do to stay comfortable. Maybe someday she will meet her match. Very well done! Nan
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I’m discovering ‘bad’ characters can be fun to write and to read! Thanks for your comments.MJ
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