THE WINNING SIDE OF THE WISHBONE

Contest Entry: www.Writing.com
The Writers Cramp

Prompt: You win the largest side of the wishbone against your sister. What is your wish and how does it come true the day after Thanksgiving?


Another Thanksgiving alone, the life of a workaholic, but still with a need to eat, so why not still celebrate the holiday with a turkey dinner? Without a spot that doesn't have work, I sit on the floor for my celebration watching a favorite video, Outrageous Fortune. With the sight of $20M flying everywhere, I finish my turkey dinner to set aside the wishbone for later to follow another tradition.

The magic wishbone is finally dry and brittle ready for an annual tradition for a holiday wish. The tradition will still work alone, as my sister, who is an angel, lost many years ago as a baby, is before me. Dressed lavishly is white with her wings spread wide she has the other end. With a smirk she pretends to pull hard, but lets me win with the largest end now in my hand. She mouths, "Be happy" before she vanishes to be with other the heavenly bodies. With tears at her departure I wish her happiness as well.

Now is the time to decide on my annual wish. Remembering the lonely Thanksgiving I make my wish to find love, to not be alone again next year.

* * *

It's the day after Thanksgiving now. Love isn’t before me magically, as men don’t always cooperate. There is a plan to be the best person I can be, to hold my head up high and act happy. After all “There’s no business like show business. We smile when we are low.” People know that I write-in my friends for stories. I will write a screenplay that will attract love and friendship. Bruce Willis or Robert Redford could smell the part 800 miles away. I won’t be alone next year. Their agents are probably reading this right now.

I put the CD in and click MS Word to begin the screenplay, the work that will change my life forever, the magic answer to my Thanksgiving wish.

REFLECTION
TEASER

FADE IN:

OUTSIDE LAX, LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

where we experience the hustle and bustle of travelers from every walk of life going through the motions of travel. Some are on vacations and some are on boondoggles, time away from the office, when an Airport Shuttle parks for a single traveler. An older man dressed for a vacation gets out beginning an adventure after 40 years tied to a desk in an office. The driver puts his suitcase on the sidewalk awaiting the tip. Handing the man the money:

CONRAD BLAKE

Thank you. I feel free, like a weight is lifted. I’m going on an adventure. My wife is no longer with me. There was a woman I met 40 years ago off Hawaii. I’m going to find her. She will be old like me, but her spirit will still be there. I remember the adventure we had as our sailboat overturned on a holiday. There were six of us clinging to the boat awaiting help in the middle of the Pacific. We met the whale we called Bubbles. He was ferocious.

DRIVER

He sounds ferocious with the name Bubbles. Was he a baby?

Shocked at the man’s cynical attitude:

CONRAD BLAKE

When you are in the middle of the Pacific anything looks ferocious. They eventually eat people.

DRIVER

His Mama was nearby.

Realizing he was in grave danger:

CONRAD BLAKE

Yes. Wish me luck.

The driver nods and watches the Conrad take his baggage and enter the airport terminal seeking an adventure. It’s time for his break and he can’t help but imagine Conrad Blake 40 years ago, just a young whippersnapper. What caused the accident? It had to be the woman, the one a man couldn’t forget after 40 years.

FLASH BACK…

* * *

Well. The screenplay is started. Robert Redford, Bruce Willis or another famous actor will call. I know one will. He has to get me to write him a bigger part. Thanksgiving weill be better next year.

THE END

JULIE CAULFIELD