Day Five: Working with Religious Symbolism

You're killing me, Fred White!

I'm playing catch-up 'cause I'm sick today. Was hoping for an easy one, but noooo!

Because of the whole catch-up thing, I'm not going to summarize or quote from the meditation.Right now you can get a copy (new!)for only .22 cents from an amazon affiliate and the Kindle version is 9.ish.

Try this:
Write a story in which the viewpoint character lives out the complex associations derived from a single religious symbol, such as the Yin Yang circle, the Star of David, or Hinduism's dancing Shiva.

Later

(Yin Yang Circle which, in my interpretation, symbolizes balance)

*Bitty Boppy Betty

By Laurie Guerin

Billy walks in the door, strips off his tie, cracks open a beer and starts a bubble bath. While the tub’s filling he makes a phone call.

“Home at last, Kelli Baby,” he says into the receiver. “This case is busting my balls.” Billy opens the fridge, pulls out a wedge of brie and a bowl of fresh raspberries, grabs a box of crackers off a shelf and assembles everything on a tray. “Hell yeah! Are you kidding? Do I or do I not live for my weekends?  Pick me up in two hours. I need some ‘me’ time first.” His call waiting signal sounds and he squints at the caller ID. “Got to go, it’s our royal mayor—until I’m sitting on his throne that is,” he clicks over, starts unbuttoning his shirt.

“Ed! What can I do ya for?” He turns the water off, adds some lavender oil and breaths in deeply. “I want that too, Ed.  You and I both know he screwed those poor woman out of their life savings.” He carries the tray into the bathroom, sets it on the granite frame surrounding the tub. Opens the French door that leads to his rose garden.  “I agree, taking the dog was just plain sadistic.” He closes his hand over the pink petals of a Tiffany rose and gently releases them from the stigma. “Let him send his goons. I’m going for the maximum.” He reenters the bathroom and drops the petals one-by-one into the water. “Great to know, Ed. Will I see you tonight? Well you know, weekends it's Betty.  Haha! Fantastic!” He hangs up, takes off the rest of his clothes and sinks into the steamy bath, his exhale audible. He aims the remote at the flat screen and puts on footage from the 49ers 1984 season. He pops a raspberry into his mouth and  closes his eyes. Pure heaven. 

The cool temperature of the water wakes him. One hour and three coats of mascara later he adjusts the straps of his cocktail dress, slips into his red stilettos and heads out the door.

Kelli pulls up in her Jeep, rolls down the window wolf whistles. “Lookin' good, Betty. Need a ride?”

“That’ll be ‘Sir’ to you,” he says. He opens the passenger door and slides in. 

*Inspiration for the exercise came from my favorite band, Pink Martini and my friend, K :)