Under the Microscope
Author James McCreet puts a reader’s first 300 words under his forensic gaze
Pearl and Doreen1
Does it have be at Irene’s?’2 said Pearl looking over the top of her teacup at Doreen.3 The two women were sitting up4 in the huge double bed Doreen had inherited from her parents.5
‘Does Writers have to be at Irene’s?’6 Pearl went on.7 ‘Can’t we have it here sometimes?’8
‘No. You know she likes a blazing fire to sit by.9 If she wants to spend that much money on coal it’s alright by me.10 It’s only three bus stops away and we save five-pence each if it’s fine and we walk.’11 Doreen turned to Pearl12
‘What’s wrong with Irene’s? We’ve met there ever since Friday Writers started.’13
But it was more than Pearl’s life was worth to mention the reason.14
Doreen sipped her steaming molasses,15 took a sidelong glance at Pearl,16 and thought how like a King Charles Spaniel she looked in her fluffy brown dressing gown,17 with her hair done up in curlers.18 She felt Pearl,19 five years her junior and her lodger for twenty, was inclined to be babyish at times.20
‘What you want doesn’t count very much,’ Doreen continued,21 ‘there are six of us who are quite happy to enjoy the warmth of Irene’s fire and the delicious high tea she puts on afterwards.’22
Pearl sat looking downcast,23 so in a rare streak of kindness Doreen smiled, patted her hand and said, ‘Read me what you’ve written to take to Writers this week.’