Mrs Singh is in her wedding sari again
By Mary Francis
Danilo rolls the fishnet up the old lady's leg and thinks of fishing back home, out in the boat with his tiyo, casting out sheets of netting, dragging in the needlefish and squid. His uncle, a wiry man browned by the sun, never still, always at work like the waves on the shore.
"That good, Mrs H?" he says. She hitches the lace at the top of the stockings and nods.
Danilo knows how it started, but has not told. Not that anyone has asked, exactly, but the wondering is in the air.
"Want me to do your hair?" says Danilo.
He's a favourite on the second floor. He knows this and is pleased about it. They like his quiet voice and gentle manners. The ladies trust him to dress and undress them if they need it, to assist with showers and medications. Even the gentlemen, fewer and more resistant to care, relax when Danilo comes to help. Mr Chin gets confused and speaks Mandarin to him sometimes, but Danilo doesn't mind.
"More height," says Mrs H, examining herself in the hand mirror. Danilo obediently teases her hair further, with the gentlest turns of the comb. He shields her face when he uses the hairspray. The end result is perhaps a little lop-sided, a little unprofessional, but she's happy with it. Next time will be even better, he assures her. He's getting the knack.
"Pauline's wearing ... something," says Kayla in a low voice as they sort cups and saucers. High tea is a Calendar Event. Even Mrs Singh, who is struggling these days, has made it along.
Danilo darts a look over Kayla's shoulder and sees Pauline from number 208. She's in a gold flapper dress.
She has a peacock feather in her hair, and lines of pearls draped around her neck. She has bright red lipstick and teal eyeshadow. She drifts through the ground floor lounge like a tottering bird.
This story is from the September - October 2023 edition of Writer’s Digest.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September - October 2023 edition of Writer’s Digest.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Writing a Great Retelling
When I say retelling, it's Sherlock Holmes who comes to mind. Just in recent film and TV, Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumber-batch stand out for their interpretations of Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved character.
Conflict Avoidance
Setting expectations early in the author-editor relationship can prevent conflict and help manage emotions when the edits come in.
Out to Sea
THE CHALLENGE: Write a drabble-a short story of exactly 100 words-based on the photo prompt below.
Alyssa Cole
In Alyssa Cole's newest thriller, One of Us Knows, the lead character Kenetria Nash is the host of what's known as a \"system,\" a group of personalities that inhabit the same body.
Escalate Conflict to Keep Readers Turning Pages
Draw readers in through physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual conflict.
Better Story Structure Through Musicals and Kung Fu Movies
Build emotion and conflict for your characters and readers by taking a note from the structure of two popular storytelling forms.
The 26" Annual 101 Best Websites for Writers
Creating this list is a yearlong project that involves an overwhelming number of bookmarked sites on our browsers. Th ere are so many great websites for writers—with more popping up practically daily—it’s no wonder this is still one of our most popular features aft er 25 years.
BREAKINGIN
Debut authors: How they did it, what they learned, and why you can do it, too.
WRITERSONWRITING
When I wrote Daughters of Shandong, my biggest challenge was finding a way to convey, in full force, the gravity of what my characters overcame.
A Long-Haul Writer’s Lament
Advice for Those at the Start
