“You can stop the crocodile tears. You know whining gets you nowhere with me.”
I try to keep my voice even, not needing to share our conversation with my fellow cafe denizens. All I want is a quiet morning to just sit and sip my latte.
“This is settled. I’m not arguing with you.”
Holding the phone away from my mouth, I blow on my hot tea. I don’t want to ruin what’s left of my day by burning my mouth.
“I treat you like one of my kids, because you act like one of my kids. No, wait. My kids understand the concept of ‘gratitude’.”
I can envision my sister actually stomping her foot as she delivers her mothering accusation.
“You’re not interested in setting your life right, you know what to do, you just won’t.” I hate how I do sound more like her parent than her sibling. “It’s all about the drama. You love the attention more.”
Holding the phone at arm’s length, I roll my eyes at her histrionics, silently snickering at my unintended, but apropos, pun.
“You know that I did not call you that. More, more… you love the attention MORE.”
Resting my head in my free hand, I realize how tired I suddenly am.
“Roger said he would buy a bus ticket for you, but that was beneath you. The fumes, the smell, you might have to share space with the Great Unwashed. You’ll just have to put up with me for the four-hour drive.”
I can hear her sniffing, but know it’s all for effect.
“You’re right, nothing can melt my cold, cold heart.”
My tea, no longer hot, has lost its appeal.
“Just be ready by the time I get there,” I wasn’t looking forward to our trip. “You are going to move in with me, no more excuses. I know… it’s only until you get back on your feet.”
Closing the call, I enter a Google search, “Do crocodiles eat their young?”
Thin spiral notebook 
So touching! Holiday times truly make things like this reality!
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Got it! Been there.
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Reminds me of my brother. Same conversation. He was a lost soul. On his way down to Florida to stay with me and sort his life out he was killed. It is still like an open ended wound even thirty years later. I therefore say try and try again.
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I am so sorry for your loss. Family is still family, no matter what…
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Good point. I have started this blog seven months ago and have never rewritten about my brother. Long past and to most very forgotten. Somewhere I have a nephew who I have not seen for thirty years. You probably would say look him up but sometimes it is better to let the past stay the past.
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I am estranged from my only biological brother, and have not spoken to in him in years. Still, if he were ever in trouble, I would do whatever I could to help him… whether he wanted me to or not. Only you know what is best for you. Good luck.
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Great one-sided “dialog”, Tara. It definitely transmits a questionably-trustworthy narrator.
I have one nitpicky crit. Unless I’ve been out of the country too long, isn’t “latte” coffee?
This other point might be me. I was kind of annoyed that I couldn’t decide if she was stopped on her way to pick her up or not. It was a bit distracting trying to figure it out. Still unsure.
I did love the googling at the end!
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When I stop at my local coffee shop, I typically order a chai tea latte, so “latte” doesn’t necessarily have to only be coffee. I also imagined that the narrater sister was making her daily stop and got into this phone conversation, again, about a planned picked up. I could add a definite date, “Just be ready by the time I get there TOMORROW.” That would clear up the time line.
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Ha! This is why I ask. I have been out of the country too long (or not watching enough American TV)! Thanks for updating me : )
As far as a date goes, that’s why I said it could be me. It is me, so don’t!
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I have actually had this conversation. Several times. It’s like you were in my head instead of sitting in that cafe!!!
Yes, crocodiles do eat their young. At least the males do, if they can get the mother out of the way. In case your character is really wondering…
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That’s a good sister to put up with so much – and also good writing to paint a full scene while only letting us hear half the dialogue. Nice one!
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Interesting approach to the prompt. I was tense by the end of it, so, yeah. Realism attained.
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Family drama. Tis the season 🙂 (I just don’t have the patience to deal with them, so I often practice avoidance!)
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I love the dialogue.
It’s amazing how family can be so cruel and loving at the same time. well done
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Interesting take. I must admit I got a bit confused with the quotes, I feel you may need a bit more attribution to who is saying what. And don’t you just love sisters??? 😉
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p.s. I wrote that without realizing you were under the Trifecta word count challenge… never mind! Ha!
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The word-count restraints can be frustrating sometimes. I was trying to show only one side of a telephone conversation, and let the reader fill in the other sister’s part. Maybe she is a whiner, or maybe this sister is just being controlling.
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Well that explains it! I thought it looked one-sided. Sometimes I wonder about my slowness to understand stuff…
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