Tag: omma odiya

After speed walking two blocks and feeling certain that there was no chance of being spotted again, Alexa looked up to get her bearings. It was still too early to go home as she knew her roommate would still be there and wasn’t yet ready to face her after their fight that morning.

It hadn’t been about anything when thinking about it superficially, but her roommate had again been complaining about something her mother had said and it had pushed Alexa over the edge. She knew she should have just listened and been supportive as she usually was, but lately Alexa had become sensitive to anything Sylvie said creating unusual tension between them.

She needed time to process, which was what had brought her to the playground in the first place.

While she knew when the niggling started, Alexa wasn’t quite sure how to verbalize it in a way that could be rationally discussed yet. 

It was a few days ago, when Sylvie had come home complaining about her mother – again. It wasn’t uncommon for Sylvie to rage about something her mom said or did. Usually, it was a misunderstood conversation or a disapproval of something that the independent daughter had done. Alexa was familiar with that feeling herself from her own parents, but her relationship with her mom and dad was an open one, so negative feelings rarely brewed long enough to fester into a sour taste between them.

Most of the time, Alexa was a quiet supporter and listener to Sylvie’s rants, but it was when Sylvie said to her off-handedly, “I wish I was adopted like you” in the midst of her lamenting that Alexa went from quietly supporting to silently raging.

She knew it wasn’t an intentionally dismissive comment about Alexa’s life as she and Sylvie had often talked about her feelings about being adopted. However, something about this comment thrown out as if it were a choice or some kind of preferred option hit Alexa like a sour patch kid mixing sweetness and tartness in one emotional outburst. Although at the time Alexa just smiled encouragingly so as not to make the situation about her, she knew that was the moment that the spark of fury was ignited.

This is the beginning of a new novel I am beginning called “Omma, odiya [Mother, where are you?]. I’ve not followed rules recommended by book coaches; however, with my writer’s hat on, so be it. 🙂 Anyway, please feel free to leave a comment with feedback!

Alexa sat watching the children running around on the playground. Her eyes moving from those who were just learning how to use their legs and the smiling faces of their mother or father encouraging them to test out the speed of their newfound two-legged stance, to the well-practiced toddlers laughing with confidence as they scream down the slides, to the elementary school age kids not sure if they have yet become too cool for the little kids playground. Although she found herself smiling in a way that many might attribute as wistful, in her mind she was musing as to why anyone would have one of these little creatures in their home.

“Isn’t she just the cutest?” 

“What? Oh, um, yeah, she is pretty cute.” Alexa smiled at the woman realizing that she had been staring at a little Asian girl whom this woman probably assumed was hers. It was a natural assumption, for why would anyone be in a children’s playground if their own kid wasn’t there?

“Is she yours?” The woman smiled with an expected answer of Yes written on her face.

“Oh, no. Actually, I don’t have any kids. I just come here sometimes to watch them play. It helps me think.”

“Oh!” an initial look of confusion slowly shifts into a sympathetic look. Another common assumption was likely being processed:  Alexa must be there because she really wants kids, but for whatever reason can’t have them. 

When the look of sympathy starts to deepen, Alexa puts a stop to it though she knows she doesn’t have to explain herself to a perfect stranger. Still, she often feels the need to justify her presence.

“I’m a writer. I just come here sometimes to watch how they interact and process ideas for my characters.” 

“Oh, I see. Do you write children’s books? Would I know anything you have written?”

Alexa wasn’t prepared to answer such questions since the truth was that she was an aspiring writer and had hoped that her answer would dissuade the interrogator from continuing with the inquisition.

Seeing a message pop up on her phone, Alexa saw her opening to get away.

“I’m so sorry, I have to reply to this. It might be my editor about my recent manuscript.”

“Of course, go on. I’m sure I’ll see you again. My little Joseph loves this playground so we come almost every day.” 

“Oh, that’s great. Yeah, okay, I’ll look for you again next time. So sorry, but I really have to go.” With that, Alexa grabbed her bag giving a quick wave and a flash of an apologetic smile as she made her way while pretending to look at her phone.

Questions for feedback:
1. Does it grab you as the start of the novel?
2. Are you interested in Alexa now?
3. What insights did you find in who Alexa is just from this first scene?