Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Opposites
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing prompt. The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can. Once you’ve finished, don’t edit, just post in the comments box below.
Today’s prompt: Opposites
Your first character is a shop assistant. They are making it very clear to everyone around them that they are not happy. They are a pessimist.
The customer is having a wonderful day. They are naturally happy and see joy in everything. They are the optimist.
Write a conversation between these two about the weather.
by 
I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.
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Book Club
Justin opened the door to the hardware store. A bell on the door tinkled merrily and he instantly felt welcomed. He wandered through shelves of screws and washers, toilet repair kits and dryer vent hoses until he spotted what he wanted: a digital thermometer that recorded high and low temperatures.
He took it off the peg that it was hanging from and read the features panel, imagining where he would place the outdoor sensor and where he would hang the digital display. He was so excited about his find that he didn’t see the small grey-haired woman standing in front of him, her hands on her hips.
“Howdy,” said Justin amiably.
“Back atcha,” replied the woman. “Do want to buy it or do you just want to read the packaging?”
“Well, I think this will work. I’m going to try and grow tomatoes and need to know when it’s warm enough to put the seedlings in the ground.”
“Tomatoes? Who put that idea in your head?”
Justin looked at her with dismay. “I used to grow them where I lived.”
“Well you don’t live there no more and no one in his right mind grows tomatoes here. It’s too cold in the spring and when it warms up its gets too hot. In the fall, the insects eat everything. Damn dumbest idea…”
“I get that, but I’ve read that certain varieties do well here but you’ve got to plant them just as the soil warms up. You wrap them with garden cloth on the chilly days or when it’s windy.”
“Really? You’re going to spend all that time wrapping and unwrapping a bunch of plants when you can buy tomatoes cheaper than all that.”
“Not heirloom tomatoes. Not the good ones.”
“I’ll take your money,” said the woman. “But don’t come back here whining about dead tomato plants and such.”
Justin looked at the thermometer. It was expensive. Heirloom tomatoes were susceptible to lots of diseases. The old woman was probably right. It was a stupid idea.
“Thanks for the advice,” he said sadly and left the store.
“Who was that?” asked the woman’s husband.
“Just this guy was telling me how to grow heirloom tomatoes.”
“Oh my god,” said the man. “They are the best. You never tasted anything so good.”
The woman went to the shelf and took down the thermometer. Nodding to herself, she yelled to her husband: “Where do we keep the garden cloth?”