Wednesday Excerpts #3
One of the themes in Book 2 of the Lighthouse Island series is about Red, the main character, facing mounting obstacles, while her support system of friends and family are all otherwise occupied. Today’s excerpt is from a mini-subplot I’m playing with for her cousin, Donnie. The story takes place in 2022, while Jimmy Buffett is still alive and touring.
Prompt: Joyous
“So now you’re engaged?”
“Yeah.”
Red opened a bottle of fine sipping tequila and poured two shots. “Never thought I’d see it, but I’m happy for you. Congratulations.”
Red downed her shot, but Donnie left his on the bar.
“Hey! When did you ever turn down a shot of tequila? Tiffany’s the one who can’t drink, not you!” She poured herself another and tried again to engage Donnie in a toast, to no avail.
“Come on, Donnie! Aren’t you happy? Why won’t you toast the joyous occasion with me?”
“There’s more I have to say.”
“OK, spit it out!”
“I wanted to ask if we could have an engagement party here be—”
“Of cou—”
“—fore we leave.”
“Leave? Where you going?”
“Remember we have tickets to that Jimmy Buffett concert out west?”
“Yeah, so when is it? Soon? We can always do it when you get back.”
“Well,” Donnie gulped his tequila shot and held his glass out for more. “The thing is, we’re not coming back. We’ve decided to elope.”
“What are you saying? You’re going straight from the concert to some justice of the peace?”
Donnie pushed his refilled glass back and forth. “Actually, we’re trying to arrange for an ordained minister to marry us at the concert.”
“You’re getting married at a concert?”
“Before the concert, actually. At the tailgate party.”
NOTE: Given that Jim and I missed the whole tailgating thing in favor of vacationing on islands, I’m not sure how much of the event I will try to show. To paraphrase Jimmy B., maybe I shouldn’t try to describe a tailgate if I’ve never seen it . . . (But I’ve seen plenty on YouTube, and have a number of friends who could beta read it for me!)