Hanging Out In Parking Lots

[Teresa]

An older woman and twenty-something girl are sitting in an idling white Lexus beside my car.  From their rearview mirror hangs a wooden crucifix and a small red plastic tractor. 

 

The tan upholstery is stained dark gray where limbs frequently rest and rub, a big hole chewed into the driver's door exposing a ragged butterscotch foam. 

 

There is a chaotic stack of mail on the driver's dash which the older woman sorts through while the younger passenger tears red tissue paper into small jagged bits then drops them without looking to see where they land.  

 

A gray Rat Terrier is barking in the back seat, its rigid body surrounded by torn envelopes, paper cups and plastic bags, and it is for this frantic dog that the woman and girl leave the car running while they go into Petsmart several yards away. 

 

A sticker on the crooked rear bumper reads:  Support Piercing. 

[Stephen Torelli]

Captivating scene and an excellent write.

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

These are the people who vote for those who represent us.  Excellent observations.

[Mike Handley]

I live for these observational pieces, and this is very satisfying. THIS is MY kind of prompt writing: Spend an hour in a parking lot, in Wal-Mart, the emergency room, a funeral ... It's what I'd really like to see several of my friends here try, to step out of their comfort zones and just conjure the power of descriptive writing, which can be achieved as much through composition as word choices.

[Gita]

All of the below.

Fave.

[Angela]

Wow.  Totally visual, and almost nothing happened.  Love it a bunch.

[Robert Morschel]

You sure do know how to whet the imagination. So many possible stories here. I felt like I was right there, peering in to see what was in the letters.

[Bill Floyd]

Sharply observed and experienced.  

[Ron. Lavalette]

Way to keep your eyes open, or -if this is fiction- our eyes open.

Attention to detail is everything. 

[Naomi Leake]

I think they love the dog but they're maybe not so sure about themselves? Fab last line.

[Travis Smith]

I am not sure if I am happy they are shopping for the dog, or sorry they own it