Playing a board game in the lobby of my dorm is a common occurrence. Playing Scattergories with a group of girls at 11:00 P.M. on a Sunday night is a common occurrence. Having my little sister is calling me at 11:30 P.M. on a Sunday night, however, is not a common occurrence. “Hey I’m in the middle of something can I call you later?” I hurriedly said, as I laughed at the notion of “hair,” being an appropriate answer for “things found in an arcade.”
“Oh... um, yeah, I guess.” Said my little sister, Kelly, clearly trying to conceal the tears behind her words. I became worried.
“Kelly, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I’ll just call you later.”
I was less than satisfied.
“Are you crying?!”
“No... I was. But it was funny." The game went on as I spoke to Kelly.
“Did you laugh so hard you cried?” I asked. I could hear her chest expand and the lump in her throat rise to her mouth, as she she literally opened the floodgates of her face. “I just watched the Hannah... Montana finale and... I’m really sad!”
Kelly is sixteen years old.
I like this piece, particularly the detail of how you were thinking about the answer "hair." Watch out for details that don't match the way the story came to you (i.e. "as she she literally opened the floodgates of her face" when you are speaking on the phone rather than face to face).
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