Elaine M DeGroot

What follows is an excerpt from my short story, The Challenge Seekers.

 

A Saturday Afternoon

 

"Hey, Cherie. Want your regular?" a cheerful coffee shop barista asked.

 

"Yeah, but add one of those orange-cranberry scones, too. I missed lunch." Cherie clutched a notebook, her favorite pen, and an egg timer.

 

"Sure thing. The others are in front of the fireplace. I'll bring your order over."

 

"Thanks, Lori."

 

"Cherie! You arrived on time today." The most belligerent member of the writing group hid her frown with a sip of coffee.

 

"Maureen, good seeing you, too. Everyone ready to begin?"

 

"Not yet. Tina's friend is joining us today. Remember, she emailed yesterday about a friend joining us," Maureen objected with her typical loud voice.

 

"No problem. She'll get here when she gets here. Did anyone bring prints of their work in progress to share?" As the leader of the small writers' group, Cherie began with her usual agenda.

 

"I brought some dialogue for critique," Tina said.

 

"And I need help with an action scene," pleaded Collette.

 

"Not more ninja action?" jeered Maureen.

 

"Not this time. What I wrote is a sword fight between pirates and navy personnel."

 

"Pirates? Didn't you try pirates last year?" Tina recalled.

 

"Yes, but they were present-day pirates. This time I'm going historical."

 

"Did you say historical or hysterical?" Cherie joked.

 

"Oh, for Pete's sake, Cherie, be serious for a change. Not everyone shares your sense of humor. You're the current leader of this group, try to act like one once in a while." Maureen had a knack for knocking you down without trying.

 

"Lighten up, Maureen," Cherie and Collette said simultaneously.

 

"Well, let's begin. We're already fifteen minutes late," Maureen barked.

 

"Pass out your pages, ladies. We'll start with Collette's action scene," Cherie ordered.

 

A polite quiet descended on the group, interrupted by the rustle of turned pages and sips of coffee.

 

"I think they'd use sabers, not foils, Collette," suggested Cherie.

 

"So much for researching your topic."

 

"Really, Maureen? Again, with the research? I recall your serious lack of research when your romance focused on circus performers," reminded Collette.

 

"Oh my God! You're right. I remember the whole trapeze artist and lion tamer fiasco. In light of that, you shouldn't harass Collette about her lack of research," Cherie scolded.

 

"Well, I watched three circus movies. Besides, each circus is unique," Maureen blustered.

 

"Collette, I like how you described the blood-covered decks pitching. Excellent showing and not telling," Tina spoke up. "I started feeling seasick."

 

"Thanks, I must have nailed my research on that score." She glared at Maureen, daring her to disagree.

 

A woman breached their space. A stuffed tote hung from one shoulder. She carried a muffin on a plate and a large coffee topped with whipped cream.

 

"Hi, Tina. Sorry, I'm late. Thanks, everyone, for allowing me to sit in today. I'm Courtney."

 

"Happy you joined us today. Have you written much?" inquired Cherie.

 

"I started a few projects, but nothing is finished yet."

 

"I suggested she join us as a means for gaining encouragement as well as accountability," Tina clarified.

 

"Please tell us you don't write poorly researched historical fiction," Maureen blurted.

 

"What?" asked Courtney.

 

"Never mind." Maureen rolled her eyes as if the new person fell short of expectations.

 

"What do you write?" asked Collette.

 

"I'm working on an adventure about two women hiking the–"

 

"Surely not Mount Everest," interrupted Maureen.

 

"No, the Appalachian Trail."

 

"Did you conduct any research into this adventure?" Maureen continued her interrogation.

 

"Yes, in a way."

 

"How exactly?" Maureen continued her in-depth questioning.

 

"By hiking the trail myself."

 

"Now that's what I'd call in-depth research," Collette raved.

 

"Ahem! Getting back on track. Courtney, we usually bring printouts for everyone for any portion of our work, giving us problems, or for a friendly but useful critique. Today we're reviewing an action scene from Collette and some dialogue of Tina's," explained Cherie.

 

"Oh, that sounds interesting. Today I only wanted to meet you all and see if we're a good fit," confessed Courtney.

 

"A good fit," spat Maureen. "You make us sound like a new bra you're trying on before buying."

 

"I suppose it is something like that. Last month, I joined a group, but they gossiped more than provided help or encouragement." Courtney defended her process.

 

"One thing we don't do is gossip; do we, ladies?" Cherie defended their little group.

 

"No," Tina said.

 

"Nope." Collette shook her head, causing her ponytail to whip from side to side like a lethal weapon.

 

"Won't happen with this group. Most of us don't have a life outside of home and this group, so we have nothing to gossip about." Maureen excelled at elaborating whenever she could land a jab on the others.

 

"Sounds perfect. Do you do anything else as a group?" asked Courtney.

 

"Besides sharing bits of our work, we run writing sprints and share training, articles, or writing tips," informed Cherie.

 

"And encourage accuracy through thorough research. Although we may need extra training on that topic." Maureen never missed an opportunity to stress her favorite topic, much to the chagrin of the others.

 

"Really, Maureen? Let it rest already. Fiction is fiction, not fact," Collette spat out.

 

"Maybe if you're writing science fiction or fantasy."

 

"ARGH!"

 

"Let's move on to a sprint, shall we? That way, Courtney can participate," Tina interjected.

 

"Sounds fun." Courtney dug out a notebook and a favorite mechanical pencil from her tote.

 

"Look at this picture and write about how it inspires you. What would you be doing there? Write about your feelings, beliefs, or anything this picture inspires within you. Fifteen minutes, and start now," Cherie instructed, setting the ticking egg timer in the center of the table.