Seeing Red - everywhere he looked he was seeing red. At work she wore a red blouse, which made him think back to the party last winter when she wore a red dress, which reminded him of the day at the park last fall when she wore a red sweatshirt then took his red baseball hat. Her hair seemed to bob out of the back of the cap - mocking his lack of courage.

He lacked it a year ago and he lacked it now. Truthfully, he had lacked courage from the moment he had met her. The courage to just say what was on his mind. He had hoped she would get the hint when he had shown up to take her to the bureau party last winter – that was a great red dress…but things had remained the same. Of they spent time together, hanging out with friends, working late together, they had even gone to the beach this summer - the red swimsuit had almost completely done him in. He stumbled and mumbled and tried to carry on a conversation but she hadn’t seemed to notice. Who knows what would have happened to him if it had been a bikini?

So his life went on and his friends now laughed at him rather than just smirking behind his back. If they could see it then why couldn’t she? Maybe she was playing hard to get or maybe he just didn’t know how to play. Although after today, he thought, maybe she didn’t want to be got!

Yay! Another challenge story by Duckfan!

A great start with Jack in full
armor! But what happened today to make him think this? Does Jack have a

Lynn

Great start with Turtle Jack..
Now, I don't like that last line:

What happened???
Josy

Interesting start! What an ingenious way to use the "seeing red" title! Now, this SOUNDS like a depressed Jack, but you haven't really TOLD us that it's Jack, so I'll wait and see! Looking forward to more!

I love your take on the Seeing Red theme. I am anxious to read more.

A Duckfan Challenge story - Life doesn't get any better than this!!!

I'm guesssing it's Jack and that turtles are even passing him by!! It also sounds like Sue may be getting tired of waiting!!!

Can't wait to see where you take us with this, Pam!!!

Joy

Today had been one of their more spirited discussions. He had to admit that he had disagreed at first just for the sake of disagreement. It was a slow day in the bullpen, in fact it had been a slow week and he could only take so many days of paperwork without some sort of entertainment. When he challenged her opinion she had taken the bait and thus spirited discussion had ensued. Hers was much more factual and researched based that is until he had gotten the best of her emotions. Once the emotions became involved, he knew he had her. The Bullpen had since become disinterested in these verbal sparring matches. They had played along to begin with but now it was met with much eye-rolling and he guessed instant messaging back and forth.

Today had been a little different though. The spirited discussion had been good to a point but then it became a little less about the issue and a little more about the two individuals involved. Randy’s sudden appearance in the Bullpen had put an end to all of it as he was demanding reports and requisitions and anything else he could think to demand. Randy did not elicit spirited discussion, until he left the room and then it was really more of a Bullpen bonding session with everyone comparing Randy horror stories.

Even that had been off today though. She had refused to bond; in fact she didn’t speak to anyone for the rest of the afternoon. He had tried to head her off at the door, see if she wanted to grab something to eat but her answer had been “Are you kidding?” before he could even ask the question. She was annoyed with him no doubt but he couldn’t quite figure out what was different this time around.

Pam, what a nice surprise it was to see this on the front page!! I haven't had much time for reading online lately (okay, reading---period!) but I am going to make an effort to follow this one. Your posts are usually short enough for me to read in one sitting!!! lol Looking forward to reading more soon!!

I am VERY intrigued . . . IS this Jack? Whoever it is, he needs to quit acting like such a GUY!

OK, it has to be more than just the "spirited discussions" that are getting next to Sue... (Sue? Right?)... what's Jack done... or not done? I think I'm leaning toward the latter. It's what he hasn't done that's got her so annoyed...

Want to affirm that... soon? Or blow my theory out of the water? Soon??? Whichever, just as long as it's SOON!

Tina

Wheee! I'm doing my happy leaf dance!!! You've posted a story! But you're leaving us in the dark as to whose mind we're inside right now. It has to be one of two guys, I think and I'm waffling at the moment.

love that line, which swayed me towards Jack and Sue but...

A very astute observation which leads me to wonder...

so -- I guess I have to wait and see what you're cooking up.

kav

I don't know what you are cooking up, Pam, but I'm definitely loving it!!!

Joy

Why Sue is annoyed???
Josy

“Are you kidding?” Was all she had said to him before he could say a word to her. She knew he was going ask if she wanted to have dinner. She was seeing red and it wasn’t just the shirt he was wearing either. She wanted to go to dinner and explain everything that was wrong with his argument, everything that was wrong with him for that matter but she doubted she would be able to do that after this afternoon. That stupid red shirt drove her crazy, well if she was honest he actually drove her crazy – didn’t matter what shirt he was wearing. Maybe if he wasn’t wearing a shirt, she thought idly. No that would make it worse; she had been to the beach with him, argued about sunscreen then watched his shoulders turn a nice shade of red by the end of the day. She didn’t know if it had been the sunburn or what but other than the sunscreen disagreement he had barely talked in complete sentences. She had tried to explain this to her friends, hoping for some insight or at least sympathy instead they laughed at her and told “That’s a great sign”. A great sign for what she wondered? Early insanity? Early retirement? One would certainly lead to the other irregardless of which came first.

With other people she could have logical arguments but with him this was not the case. And he knew and it amused him. One day he put a red rose on her desk because he said it matched the color of her face after their last argument or what he referred to as spirited discussion. If she hadn’t been so touched she would have thrown it away.

Today the discussion had been different though. Today it had felt a little more personal and her feelings had been hurt. She knew she had probably hurt his as well but she didn’t question his area of expertise. Well, she asked questions but she didn’t question his judgment and that was a huge difference. Of course, in retrospect, she supposed he was just asking questions, not questioning her knowledge. Even when he wasn’t here she couldn’t seem to think straight.

She sighed, changed into her sweats and red sweatshirt then headed to the park. Perhaps fresh air would clear her mind.

I still think it's Jack and Sue . . . and I can so identify with the way she feels right now!!

That post raised more questions....looking forward to some answers as this unfolds!! Your use of the color red is quite creative.

Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh.... time for a chance encounter....

Tina

Pam, with your last post, I'm leaning a little to another person other than Jack!! We'll see!!!

Joy

He was out for a jog, the gym hadn’t been the answer today. He was still reeling over her response to his almost question about dinner, still feeling a little angry about the brush off, the very public brush off, still seeing red as his mother would say. He happened to look up at that point and did literally see red. The leaves were putting on quite a show this fall, he noted. Out of the corner of his eye he saw another glimpse of red.

“Hey,” he caught the sleeve of the red sweatshirt. When she turned to look at him, he couldn’t decide if she wanted to kill him or kiss him.

“Bobby,” she acknowledged.

“Seeing red?” he asked.

Following his gaze skyward she sighed then answered “In more ways than one.”


The End

Word Count 1,091

Bravo!!! You have fooled me big time!!!!
I loved how you show ''seeing red'' in this story.
Josy

That was marvelous!

Kim

BRAVO DUCKFAN!!!
Excellent story!! Love it!

Tere

Pam, you had me going in another direction!! VERY well done!! Perfect use of the theme, and wonderful to the end!!!

Thanks for sharing!!!

Joy

Great story! I thought it was Bobby and Michelle.
thanks,
Terie

Oh...Pam, I was hoping for Bobby and Michelle but it wasn't the progress I anticipated for so much...loved the way you used the theme for that last post.

Can I gloat now? I soooo love being right. You do realize you have to really get them together and keep them together for me sometime, don't you? Loved the play of red all through the story.

kav

Wonderful job, Pam! Kept us guessing to the very end!

Bravo!! Masterfully written to keep us guessing right until the end. And GREAT job weaving the color red throughout. Loved it, Pam!!!

I think he would have been eating that rose with that remark.

Well done Pam.

You had me fooled completely! Love how you used the theme.

I don't know what else to say....everyone has already said it about using the title. And you had me snookered right to the end. But, in retrospect, spirited discussion with Tara is something I can see Bobby enjoying. Very well done, Pam!

Lynn

Man I totally didn't get it was Bobby.


Hope ~