Still Scribbling
Mary Mackie - Writer and Speaker
Home | About | Latest | Occasional Blog | Fiction | Non-fiction | Read | Gallery | Hints & Tips | Chris's Page | Contact

Short stories (3)

D is for…

                             DIRE DIALOGUE
               (Dino’s Downtown Drinking Dive)

            ‘Dodo’s dead.’
            ‘Dodo?’
            ‘Dodo Decourcy – Dorothy Decourcy.’
            ‘Dancer Dodo?!... Dead?’
            ‘Decapitated.’
            ‘Dahling!... Damn!’
            ‘Ditto, dahling… Dirk’s devastated.’
            ‘Dirk?’
            ‘Distinguished director Dirk Donnolly, Dodo’s discoverer.’
            ‘Didn’t Dirk Donnolly —‘
            ‘Direct Dodo’s dazzling debut? Deification, dahling! Dirk daringly duplicated Diaghilev’s ‘Duckpond’ -- Dorking, December. Dodo danced divinely, daintily… Dear, doomed Dodo…’
            ‘Don’t dwell, dahling – discuss. Disclose dreadful deed, discreetly. Did Dodo die… dancing? drink-driving?’
            ‘During dining.’
            ‘Desperate!’
            ‘Devouring dahl-dipped dumplings.’
            ‘Diabolical!’
            ‘Definitely.’
            ‘Didn’t Dodo diet? Dutiful dancers diet devoutly, demonstrating determined dedication.’
            ‘Dodo’s downfall… Duleep’s Darjeeling deli, downtown Devizes. Duleep does divine duck dishes, delicious diabetic desserts – de-sugared. Dodo desired dhoti-draped Duleep’s devourables, daily.’
            ‘Daft, duckie. Diet dichotomy dictates dyspepsia, dietary disorders.’
            ‘Dodo did develop dreadful diarrhoea. Disgusting.’
            ‘Dahling, don’t digress. Deliver detailed descriptions – Dodo’s demise. Did doctors diagnose… devilled duck? debauchery? dysentery? deadly dermatological disease?’
            ‘Dynamite.’
            ‘Damnation!’
            ‘Decidedly.’
            ‘Describe.’
            ‘During Diwali, Dodo dated disreputable Dwight Dewpoint.’
            ‘”Dinky Diamond” Dewpoint?’
            ‘Degenerate Delaware diplomat Dewpoint! Divorced, dissolute, double-dealing demagogue.’
            ‘Damnably dapper, dryly droll…’
            ‘Don’t disagree, dahling. Deep distress doesn’t deserve derision.’
            ‘Desolated, dahling. Dumb.’
            ‘During dysfunctional domestic disturbances, daggers-drawn, Dewpoint’s debutante daughter Deanna disappeared.’
            ‘Didn’t dustmen discover delinquent Deanna dismembered?’
            ‘Drowned, dahling. Daddy Dewpoint denied doing dirty deed. Delivered definitive, dogmatic defence data. Detectives didn’t dare dissent.’
            ‘Dark doings, dahling!’
            ‘Dear doting Dodo, devotedly duped, discounted damaging disclosures. Dodo deemed devious Dewpoint distinctly desirable. Daily Dirt-Ditcher’s dreary diary drivel divulged, “Delicate dancer Dodo Decourcy, discreetly dating/dining ‘Diamond’ Dewpoint…”’
            ‘Doubtless Dodo dreamed delightful destinies – designer dresses, deluging dosh, divorce dividends divisioning Dewpoint’s dollars...’
            ‘Don’t deprecate Dodo, dahling. Dear Dodo’s deceased.’
            ‘Deviation, duckie. Don’t dilly-dally. Describe Dodo’s deathblow.’
            ‘Dating Dwight Dewpoint, Dodo dined Duleep’s. During dinner, desperate die-hards dynamited deli.’
            ‘Dire dramas, dahling!’
            ‘Detectives deduced… Dastardly desperadoes – dyslexic dipsticks – decided diamonds definitely deposited down deli’s drain, deli’s dustbin, deli’s deep-freeze…’
            ‘Dullards.’
            ‘Devils, dahling. Dodo’s dead. Duleep’s deli’s destroyed…’
            ‘Dewpoint?’
            ‘Done, dahling. Deported.’
            ‘Due daughter’s drowning?’
            ‘Due Dewpoint’s duplicitous drug-dealing.’
            ‘Denouement!’
            ‘Deeply disturbing. Dolorous. Dreadfully depressing.’
            ‘Drown despair, dahling. Dismiss dreadful day. Dream, drift, drowse... Distraction’s desirable --- Dino, dearest drinks-dispenser, dash, dash, dash… Drinkies, dahling?’
            ‘Danke, dahling.’
            ‘Daiquiri?’
            ‘Drambuie. Double.’

Back to Read central

 

D is for...

... a few difficulties. Despite dollops of delightful word-choices, initial attempts at a descriptive narrative failed to go beyond a few lines. However, this section did involve very helpful time and relationship words such as December and Daddy (not to mention the handy little verb ‘to do’). Useful.

The words Dodo and dead chimed harmoniously together as they appeared on my screen. We all know the dodo’s dead, don’t we? So why should someone suddenly announce it so dolefully?

Then I realised… this was the start of a discussion, between a duo of decided dahlings. All I had to do was eavesdrop and record their diatribe…