By Eileen
MAIN MALE CHARACTER
Name: Lindsey Edwards
Age: 41
Occupation: Banker
Likes: Working, wine and good food, holidays, shows
Dislikes: Whingers and lazy people
Something else about him: He is six feet one inch tall, dark and good lookingMAIN FEMALE CHARACTER
Name: Linda Clark
Age: 24
Occupation: House Painter
Likes: Dancing, AFL football and swimming
Dislikes: Housework and gardening
Something else about her: She gets drunk on the weekendA PLACE
Be fairly specific:
Tuscany, ItalyGENRE OF STORY
i.e. is it a romance, a mystery, a western, a science fiction, a fantasy, a thriller, a comedy or something else?
A comedyWHO IS THE AUDIENCE?
Are you writing for children, young adults or adults?
AdultsAND JUST FOR FUN ….
Pick
a colour: Red
something to eat: Pizza
a n item of clothing: Shorts
an animal: Cat
Lindsey Evans came out of Fumicanio airport in Rome and turned onto the autostrada on his way to Tuscany.
He was humming along to a CD and was feeling very relaxed and looking forward to spending three weeks at his Tuscany farmhouse.
He had been working very hard at his bank in London and thought he really deserved his time off. He didn’t get to the farmhouse as often as he liked, but he really enjoyed his job and the vast amount of money it brought him.
As he came to the town of Singaluna he started to wonder how the farmhouse would look; he had arranged through an agent for a house painter to paint the lounge and study for him. He thought it should be finished by now and was looking forward to seeing it. He hoped the painter had done a good job. The agent had told him the painter had a very good name in the trade.
He turned the corner and came to the little road that led up to the farmhouse. As usual, he hoped this road wouldn’t damage the car; he really loved his Porsche. Soon he went over the little bridge and on up the winding bumpy road.
He drove up to the front door and stopped the car. The farmhouse never failed to make him feel happy. It was a lovely big two storey house made out of old cream and peach coloured bricks.
He noticed the door was open but thought he was expected and that the cleaner had left it open for him.
He bounded up the steps and into the house. The next moment he felt himself falling over something. He hurtled into the lounge room and banged his head on the sofa. As he felt, he caught a glimpse of the thing he had tripped over. It was the ugliest cat he had ever seen and it was making an appalling noise screeching its head off. He put his foot out to kick it but passed out instead.
“Mr Evans, Mr Evans!” As though from a great distance he could hear his name being called, as if in a dream. Then he felt his face being patted and his hands rubbed.
When he finally opened his eyes, he looked into the face of a young woman. “Oh Mr Evans,” she said, “I’m so glad you are coming round. You fell and knocked yourself out. Do you think you are all right, or should I call an ambulance?”
Lindsey had managed to get up from the floor.
“No,” he said. “I’m okay, but I’ve got a hell of a headache. And who are you and what are you doing here and is that revolting monster yours?”
“I’m Linda Clark, your house painter, and the cat is mine.”
Lindsey stared at the woman in amazement. “What are you still doing here? You should have been gone last week.” He sat down on the sofa and took a good look at her. She was wearing a pair of the shortest shorts he had ever seen. Her legs seemed to go on for ever. She appeared to be half asleep as she stood there in front of him.
“Well, you see,” Linda said in a whining voice, “I’m afraid I haven’t been able to do much painting. I have been going dancing and drinking and I’ve had a couple of really bad hangovers. But it’s not my fault though,” she whined. “It’s my boyfriend’s. He likes me to go out with him on the weekend and I can’t really say no to him.”
Lindsey was horrified at hearing this, being a hard worker himself. He couldn’t stand whingers and lazy people, and this person seemed to be suffering from both complaints.
“So what have you done? I can see nothing has been done in here, so have you done anything?”
“Well,” Linda said, “I have made a start in the study.”
“Made a start, made a start!” Lindsey screamed. “You should have finished!” He got up and stormed angrily to the study.
At the door he stopped in his tracks.
Only one wall had been painted, and it was done in the brightest shade of red he had ever seen.
“Red!” he shouted. “You’ve painted the wall red. It’s a study, you stupid woman! You were told neutral colours for both rooms.”
Linda stood there and said, “Well, I had a lot of red paint on hand so I thought I would use that. I have quite a lot of yellow paint too, so I can use that for the other walls if you would prefer it.”
Lindsey was furious.
“Yellow! I’ll give you yellow. If you don’t take yourself and your revolting cat out of my house this minute, I will not be responsible for my actions.”
“But Mr Evans, “ Linda began, “I will have to be paid for the work I have done.”
Lindsey was beside himself.
“What?” he screamed. “I’ve a good mind to call the police and have you charged with vandalism and vicious assault – “
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw what remained of a pizza on his desk. He reached out and threw it at her and it hit her full in the face.
Linda realised she had gone too far. Hurriedly she gathered up her belongings and her cat and she raced out of the house into her van. She shot off down the path as fast as the bumpy road would let her.
Lindsey watched her go and went inside to ring the agent and to give him a piece of his mind too.
* * * * * * *