Writingcamp + Afterlife

Week 3: How to write the beginning/Afterlife character

Of all awkward situations, Helen might not think of any other day so full of those. She was late at an important meeting; she lost her favorite hairpin; a car, rushing past her on the street, decorated her wonderful new business suit with a fresh spray of mud.

Finally, to make things even worse, Helen forgot the name of a person who must have been meeting her at that foyer - meet and show her around the building. If there could be a worse idea to spoil the first day of her first really important task - Helen would personally thank anyone who could imagine that.

She noticed a younger executive, wearing his ubiquitous suit and a ubiquitous standard smile, and hurried to him.

"I'm sorry, sir, don't you know how can I find Mr. Dowell? I am late for the meeting with him", explained she, as if anyone could really care about that meeting.

"Assuming I know", was the bleak response, "what makes you think I will tell you?"

Indeed. Nothing makes. But returning back  and reporting that she was unable to find that person... even worse.

Helen felt angry. It was a creative and inspiring sort of anger: she was no longer afraid of the situation. Hell, anyone could be lost in this maze of rooms, foyers, whatever.

"That name is written on your badge", responded Helen back, keeping her voice imbued with due amount of acid. "I assume you know of my visit, otherwise you wouldn't bother to come here. All I want to know at the moment is why you are such an asshole - most probably you were sent to meet me and show me the room where we shall meet with him".

Having blurted all the above, Helen became momentarily frightened. A short time after that - and she's calm and concentrated again.

It was weird -- but it wasn't, again. And the behavior of Mr. Dowell was even more unexpected.

"Welcome aboard", greeted he, startled and confused at the same time. Finally, he burst into laughter.

"Come with me", managed Mr. Dowell to tell and showed to a general direction with his arm. "Sorry for those words".

And it was the first time when Mr. Dowell told he was sorry for something.