So...I'm really sick so I spend most of my time in bed. I've read all the books within arms reach of me, and so I've turned to editing and/or rewriting old stories. Here is one I started about a year ago that I thought was a fun premise, but I'm kinda stuck as to where it should go next. And thus this is your task, should you choose to accept it: give me ideas on an ending. Or even whether to scrap it, or change it, or whatever. This is a writing democracy. Cast yo' vote.
The as-yet-untitled story we'll call "The Name Game"
Tiffani was born in the early 1980s, when such names were popular and parents gave little regard as to whether such a name would fall out of favor less than 20 years later. Tiffani does not like her name at all, and will make that point abundantly clear if the opportunity presents itself. Every day in class she hears the more classic names of those around her: the Jennifers, Megans, Katies, Amys, Julias, Samanthas--and gloomily plots the demise of Tiffani Ann McMantry and the phoneix of the new, as yet unnamed Ms. McMantry.
Tiffani has found that the best time to reinvent herself is during class, and thus her notebooks are filled with pages and pages of crossed-off lists and derivative spellings, and strangely void of actual notes.
The names immediately discarded include those other, trendy names of the late 20th century.
Gone is Brittany, Ashley, Amber, Erin, Cindy, Heather, Lindsey, Crystal, Brooke, Dawn, Nikki, Stephanie, Kristen and whatever derivations of spelling exist within their realms.
Gone are names that are too popular, like Jennifer, Jessica, Katherine, Sarah or Elizabeth.
Gone are names that are too famous, like Marylin, Jackie, Madonna, Reba, Lucille, Dolly, Wynonna, Aretha or even Anna Nicole.
Tiffani is against renaming herself after states, presidents or other geographic and/or political monuments, so gone is Madison, Montana, Dakota, Georgia, Virginia, Jackson, Dallas, Rushmore, Yellowstone or Indiana.Not that she knows anyone who has ever been named Yellowstone, but she feels it's better to set the precedent high.
Gone are names mentioned in famous songs, so Eileen, Caroline, Jolene, Mandy, Jesse, Jenny (or Jenny Rebecca), Amie, Jude, Michelle, Gloria, Lola, Cecilia, or Benny (and the Jets) are all out.
Gone are names that sound too old and/or motherly, like Linda, Carol, Agnes, Constance, Joan, Nancy, Martha, Beatrice, Priscilla, Janet, Phyllis, Pamela, Wanda, Gertrude, Gretchen, Dorothy, Francine or Bertha.
Tiffani is not keen on an ambiguous name, so she quickly nixed Jaime, Leslie, Sam, Chris, Charlie, Terri, Billy and yes, even Pat.
She started to run out of names, so she went online and printed out lists from baby websites. Her housemate found this list and hyperventilated, thinking Tiffani was pregnant. Tiffani gravely said yes. Her housemate almost passed out. She squealed out sentences like a muscle car. Ten minutes into the fun Tiffani recanted and said it is actually for a class project. Her housemate started breathing normal again and threw a pillow at her. She was red faced and speechless. Tiffani smiled.
"A rose is a rose by any other name," She read in her Brit lit class, so she crossed Rose off that list as well. And Juliet too, because who wants to feel destined to marry a Romeo? And come to think of it, all those "West Side Story" names were nixed too. She doesn't look like a Maria anyway.
And that's all I got.
2 comments:
I know this is an old old post. Ok well, i don't ever write, but spooner you have inspired my to give it a go. Intriguing setup could go many ways..this is my favorite ending. Let me know what you think sarah, i would love to hear from you.
The task of unbecoming herself begins to weigh heavily on Tifanni. She begins to reject the things in her life that she feels define her. She breaks her old routines, neglects her hobbies, and dissassociates with her friends.
In a manefestation of her attmpts to break free of her obvious Type A personality, she decides without yet having thought of name to start the proccess of changing it. She quickly gathers all of her Tiffani identification and heads to the city office and hurridly begins to fill out the name change form. The fateful moment arrives when all but one blank remains on the name change form.
She pauses, hoping the correct entry will suddenly make itself known. She puts the pen to paper in an effort to coax the ink to the paper, desperatly hoping her fingers will simply decide for her.
The moment passes, no epiphanes come, the reality of her decision come crashing down around her as she reflects on what she has been abandoning. The pen drops, she leaves the paper and exits quickly. The clerk mindlessly snaps up the paper and files it.
Weeks go by, Tiffani goes back to her normal life, falls back into her routines, mends her relationships with her friends. She resigns to the fact that this must be the fate she is destined for.
Weeks later she recievs a letter inorming her that form has been accepted and proccessed and included is her new legal name.
Jane Doe.
Brett I really liked that ending! Super impressed with how you turned it--like I was sorta stuck as to where to take it, and your direction is WONDERFUL!
Thanks for that! I feel now Tiffani can rest in peace in my imagination...
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