While
crossing the street, Cassandra quickly steps back to avoid being run over by
Alistair's hunky sports car. A skyscraper heel is a casualty
in a drain. Snap! Should she condemn this now trashed pair of shoes to the garbage? But they are treasured, and she doesn't want to throw them away. She could do with a silver lining in her life.
In my local area, three or four times a year the council arranges a collection of items which either are not allowed or don't fit into the usual bins. So at the moment the grass verges in front of the houses hold a variety of unwanted items waiting for the council truck sometime this week. I really do have something better to occupy my time, but I admit to being intrigued by what people throw out. From my study window overlooking the street, I noticed an armchair with threadbare arms and seat cushion. Could this not be repaired/renovated? Does it have a history? Was it loved by the person who had relaxed in it? I could write a story about this chair. On the second day it was out, two men in a small truck loaded it, I'd like to think they would fix it up and give it a longer life. Two mattresses are clearly unpopular as now, four days into trash awaiting council removal, they are still there. A small white-painted item with three shelves attracted me as yet another place to stash my large treasure of books and magazines. But before I decided I could find room for it, overnight it disappeared. Someone's trash had found a hopefully good home.
I use this trash or treasure option in my contemporary fiction writing. My first draft usually contains a trashy plot. Should these characters demonstrate more appropriate behaviour and lifestyles? Can this be rewritten into something readable? Or is it destined for the computer's recycle bin? Eventually it may be revived with new ideas and patience, and end up as what for me as the author is a treasured piece of creative writing.
Enjoy your reading, best wishes, Priscilla