Dinner at Charlie's

Funny Contemporary Fiction

Written in response to: "Write a story where a character’s life completely changes over the course of a meal." as part of Bon Appétit.

When I’m done dumping you, I’m going to get trashed on mimosas made from real champagne and a bucket of your tears. That’s what you get for never listening to me.

Yes, Miranda, we’re at Charlie’s Kitchen tonight. Yes, Miranda, I made reservations to your stupid favourite restaurant, even though I hate this overpriced garbage trough. It’s pretentious. I even looked that word up to make sure it’s the right word, and it is! Pretentious!

What’s that, Miranda? You want to know what the occasion is?

“It’s a surprise.”

Bitch.

Tonight is the night of my emancipation! Tonight is the last time I’ll have to listen to your shrill nagging. Tonight – oh my god! Are those new shoes!? Did you buy another new pair of shoes? Didn’t you just ride my ass for when I wanted to buy a GoPro because ‘Blah-blah-blah you gotta cover your half of the rent!’

Jesus! It’s not a toy, Miranda! It could be my new career! I’d just need to buy one of those drones too, but that’s what Payday loans are for. I’m sure they’d spot me another one. And anyway, it’s not like you can’t afford to cover the rent, you greedy witch.

Oh, waiter’s here. That’s actually pretty fast service, for a crap hill like this place.

“Yes, hello. We’d like your most expensive bottle of Domper Gonan. Yes, Dom Perignon, that’s what I said. Relax, Miranda, it’s okay. Tonight’s a special occasion.”

Oh yes it is. I’m going to dump your soggy ass, and I’m going to do it in your stupid favourite trash hole and ruin this rancid restaurant for you. And I’m going to leave you with the bill, you plastic vampire.

“So, Miranda–”

Oh my god! Did you seriously just shush me? With those nasty mile-long hooker nails of yours? Why do you even have nails like that? Are you hookering on the side? I bet you are. Every time I turn my head you turn a trick. You don’t even know the meaning of the word loyalty. Man, I can’t wait to dump you and shatter your frozen onion heart.

Why are you rifling around in that moldy bucket you call a purse? Oh, great. You’re digging your phone out. This is unbelievable. What kind of sociopath buries their face in their stupid phone while on a date? This is why I’m dumping you, Miranda! I can’t believe the disrespect–

Hold on, I’m getting a text. Oh, it’s Alice.

ya boo ill cu 2nite :)

God she’s hot. Can’t wait to dump Miranda and get out of here.

Oh, what now? Why are you crying, Miranda? Did one of your stupid idiot friends call you to tell you one of your stupid idiot celebrities got voted off the stupid idiot island ‘cause they can’t stupid idiot sing? Boo-friggin’-cry me a river. Well, that’s all right. I like this. Make a scene, Miranda. Make it rain! I want everyone here to see what a train wreck you are.

Hmm, Waiter’s back. Yeah, and of course you’re going to ignore him, aren’t you, Miranda? Well, don’t sweat. I got it.

“No, wait, we’re ready to order. Yes, I’m sure. No, don’t worry about her; look at me. We’ll both have the crab legs and steak. Well done. Like, black. Uh… the 20oz steak. Extra gravy. Can we get cheese sauce on the side? You don’t have a cheese sauce? Well can we just have cheese on the side? Fine, extra garlic butter then. Double–triple it. Yes, fries, who cares! Oh? Sure, cheese curds on the fries then. Thanks!”

Idiot.

Still blubbering, Miranda? Got some bad news, did ya? Not as bad as I’m going to give you in a moment. But first, that’s right: steak and crab, you vegan circus. You’re going to hate it – see, I do listen to you. I hope the animals suffered as much as I suffered ever since I moved into your smelly apartment. And you know just as well as I do that the smell was there before I moved in! Don’t deny it. I can’t wait to move in with Alice. She doesn’t shout, she’s got a giant TV, and she eats food like a human. Celiac’s a made up disease and you know it, Miranda! I’m going to OD on bread tonight.

Man, just look at all those tears, freshly squeezed from the crocodile. What? What are you trying to say, Miranda? Oh, it’s your wretched mother, is it? And she’s calling to tell you your uncle Maurice died? Really, Miranda? Another uncle died? That’s what, like, three this year? If you don’t want to go to work just don’t go, no need to keep inventing dead relatives and fake funerals. It’s not like we don’t all know you’re lazy, making me get a job.

Alice isn’t lazy. She works three jobs. She’s a go-getter and she can support us both.

Aww. There, there. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

I bet he died because you’re terrible. You probably shouted at him on his birthday, just because he wanted a well-deserved boys’ night out, and anyway Miranda, it wasn’t a strip club, it was a gentleman’s club! Everyone was wearing top hats! It was very classy and you’d know that if you ever let me have fun!

Holy balls, how long is this phone call? Your mother sure does yap. I see where you get it from. No wonder the men in your family keep dying. And how come I’ve never heard of this uncle Maurice? You just keep pulling random estranged relatives out of your butt whenever you feel like it.

Wait, why are you so surprised now? What did she say? And why did you stop crying? Ah, well, no matter. This is better. Take a break, grab a breather, because you’re about to reap the tornado. It’s almost game time, baby, and the horses are chomping at the writing on the wall. We are going to make such a scene that you’ll never forget this night, and when you come crawling back to me I’m just going to make you beg and then still tell you no, just like every time I wanted some nookie and you said, ‘No, I just don’t feel good because of the chemo.’

Pfft. You’re about to really not feel good.

What the hell? Did you just smile? Oh, that’s real nice, Miranda. Your fake uncle Maurice dies, and you’re giggling. The apple doesn’t fall far from your pit bull mother. Yes, cover your mouth, hide your shame. What kind of a person revels in someone else’s misery? Disgusting.

“Is everything all right?”

Yeah, uncle Maurice. Yeah, died. I already know that part, hurry it up. Yeah, you didn’t even know you had an uncle Maurice – yeah, we all know that, Miranda. It’s because he’s fake. Because your human goiter of a mother made him up because she’s old and nasty and just wants attention. Keep it moving. Oh really? He was an industrialist of some renown, you say? Holy crap, Miranda. You sure do invent some stupid backstories for your stupid fake relatives. You should write for the internet. Oh, uh-huh, and he named you in his will, did he?

Wait.

“He named you in his will?”

A wealthy industrialist of some renown? Wait, how much?

Five million!?

Holy nuts! We’re rich! After all my hard work, I’ve finally made it!

Wait, why are you making that face now? Oh, right. The steak and crab that the waiter just put down in front of you.

“I can explain–”

Stop yelling at me. I can’t explain if you keep interrupting me! Did you just call your plate a charnel house? I don’t even know what that is, and I’m pretty sure neither do you. No, I know you’re a vegan, that was the point.

“I do listen to you–”

Wait, why did you get up? Why are you frowning?

“What do you mean we should see other people? After all I’ve done for you?”

Where are you going, Miranda?

“But I love you! Let’s get married!”

Come back! Oh, now this stupid mouth breathing waiter’s in my way, with his stupid mouth breathing waiter buddies. What do they want?

Right, the bill. Jesus, it’s how much!?

“Miranda!”

Posted Sep 05, 2022
Share:

You must sign up or log in to submit a comment.

60 likes 68 comments

Aeris Walker
September 06, 2022 21:36

Its like someone said, “Michal, we need you write a story using these phrases: plastic vampire, hooker nails, onion heart, moldy bucket purse, vegan circus, and nookie” and you said HOLD MY BEER.
SO much to laugh at here, as well as *gasp* at. What a truly terrible main character.
And I can’t remember you using this 1st/2nd person perspective before, but I think it worked well here to make this character‘s shocking behavior really hit home.
Thank you for bringing us this thoroughly entertaining story. :D

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 06, 2022 22:10

Heh :D

Yup, this 1st/2nd person approach is a new experiment for me. 2nd has frequently boggled my mind, outside of choose-your-own-adventure book, but I've read far too many good 2nd person stories on this site not to finally try it.

I'm glad it was funny, because yeah, the narrator's a nasty person :) Perhaps he got what was coming to him.

And yeah, I definitely took the opportunity to play around with some phrases. It wouldn't fit every story, but it's definitely fun to do.

Reply

Aeris Walker
September 06, 2022 22:31

I love experimenting with style and perspective, but I haven’t done one in perfect second person yet.
But yeah, I can confidently say I’ve never heard someone described as a plastic vampire with an onion heart, so points for novelty for sure 😆

Reply

Riel Rosehill
September 08, 2022 07:13

Oh how the tables have turned 😂 I really enjoyed this story: the MC's voice, how angry he is and how he is thinking of Miranda as an awful person whilst to his reader it's more and more obvious how there's nothing wrong with Miranda and it's the narrator who is a horrible human being, revealed to be worse and worse as the story progressed. The twist was the perfect one for this story - thinking about it, it reminded me just a bit of another one of your stories where a certain tarred and feathered someone was complaining about his wife, Gemma, yet missing her at the end.

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 08, 2022 21:49

Heh, yes indeed :)

I was talking with someone recently about people projecting, and it kind of bled into this story. The narrator here is certainly a bit of an arse.

Now that you mention it, I can see the similarities between this and Ralph. I'd like to think Ralph wasn't cruel so much as clueless, shameless, and without a filter, but there's definitely some overlap.

Anyway. This guy got what was coming to him. I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

Reply

Riel Rosehill
September 09, 2022 05:37

Oh, Ralph was a LOT more likable than this guy, I don't mean to offend him 😃

Reply

Wendy M
September 06, 2022 21:46

Very clever, very enjoyable and an interesting approach, loved it.

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 07, 2022 20:58

Thanks, Wendy!

I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

Reply

Tommy Goround
September 06, 2022 06:55

Hello again,

(Ignore that whole idea about new location. I see how it _has_ to be in a restaurant).

1.) Mirnanda never actually talks?
2.) Miranda is vegan / wheat spazdic / has cancer and LOL @ "dump your soggy ass"
The narrator has a backup plan; he's a planner: Alice isn’t lazy. She works three jobs. She’s a go-getter and she can support us both.

<Unclear about how long Miranda was on the phone with Mom...seemed like long time>
Ok... She's on the phone the whole time he is ordering / texting / making allusions. Got it.

The Reveal: “I can explain–”

I looked at breaking up the text with bold parts... doesn't work. Too many italics for internal thought ruins the read... so if anyone else needs a few reads... it gets better each time.

sidenote: would personally love it if he has to do dishes and gets stabbed to death by forks.

Reply

Tommy Goround
September 06, 2022 07:04

about 1397 words right now. You do have time to kill the narrator... pretty please... make the world right.

I've been researching "cruel and unusual punishment" (amendment 8) and It appears you can pretty much kill the narrator however you want as long as Texas tried it first.

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 06, 2022 23:05

LOL gotta have precedent :)

I've given some thought to where this story might go. I actually like the open end, since there's a lot of implications -- first off, I think fairly obviously, he can't afford it. And so yeah, dishes it is. Also, ending it here kind of keeps it in the scope of the prompt, the course of the meal.

This isn't canon, because it's not written down, but I figure he tries to make a run for it and the waiters have a go at him. Then he works in the kitchen, and sure, nicks himself with a knife. Maybe makes a mess, which pisses off the staff and adds to his debt. But he won't die, oh no, because of course -- thanks to her windfall -- Miranda purchases her favourite restaurant, and now the narrator is working for her, for free.

Maybe that's enough material for a follow up. Not sure I love it though. Hmm... don't hate it either.

Reply

Tommy Goround
September 07, 2022 05:41

Hmmm...good balance.

Are you holding yourself to "scope of prompt"? I figure if I write something after seeing prompt...the imagination has no boundaries.

Ok. You give me excuse to read it again in few days.

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 07, 2022 21:00

Sometimes I'll hold to the prompt pretty tight, yeah, and this is one of them.

I do like to twist them normally and see how far we can bend a story and still technically touch the prompt, but none of my initial ideas were landing this week, so I took a more literal approach with this dinner. A bit swamped for time this week in real life.

Reply

September 06, 2022 03:15

First of all, great opening. The internal monolgues can be hard to pull off, but you did really well. It took me a bit to figure out the POV, but I went back and read it again. As always, your stories are great on the second read.

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 06, 2022 03:31

Thanks, Jaden!

Yeah, this monologue style is a new thing for me. I've seen other people pull off great stories using it, and it just blows my mind. Had to give it a shot.

I'm glad it was more-or-less understandable. I'll see if I can smooth it out a bit, make it more clear from the get go.

I appreciate the feedback :)

Reply

Kevin Marlow
September 05, 2022 23:43

Fave line, 'I hope the animals suffered as much as I suffered ever since I moved into your smelly apartment.'

What a wonderful stream of consciousness flow from a shameless narcissist. I loved the flip at the end where she left him with the bill.

I would have liked a full description of Alice just to round out the train wreck.

Lovely, pointed piece, full of vitriol.

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 06, 2022 00:16

Thanks, Kevin!

Yeah, this guy was asking for it, and I suspect Miranda was pretty fed up with him anyway :)

A more full description of Alice is a good idea. I still have a few days, so I'll see if I can get that in.

I appreciate the feedback!

Reply

Wally Schmidt
November 18, 2022 08:36

So funny and I must admit, I didn't see it coming. Thought it was going to end up a different way. The dorky main character is so well written and the pace is fast enough to keep the reader interested. Well written-keep at it.

Reply

Michał Przywara
November 18, 2022 21:33

Thanks, Wally!

Yeah, the POV was a piece of work, but fun to write nonetheless. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading :)

Reply

Rama Shaar
September 18, 2022 04:14

This was a very funny read. I like how we started off actually siding with the narrator, until he shamelessly continues justifying his actions. I hope that there are very few such people in the world though😅 thanks for the laughs!

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 18, 2022 18:30

Thanks, Rama!

And yeah, definitely! People like this are better in stories than in real life :)

Reply

Zoë Page
September 15, 2022 16:02

I was waiting for the plot twist, and it delivered!

Such a fun voice! I like how such a horrible guy can be made loveable in a certain way. The phrases you used, too, were amusing additions ("freshly squeezed from the crocodile" and "vegan circus" being some of them)! The tone can influence how enjoyable a story is for sure, and this was great.

The twist really works with the prompt, quite literally. The narrator's life does change completely over the course of a meal - although, of course, they don't even get to the meal part, that's how drastically it changes. I thought it'd just be it changing that he'd break up with Miranda, however he ends up, in seconds, wanting to stay and marry her just because she's inherited five million. Crazy how money can out rule other more important qualities in a person in some people's opinions.

Miranda dumps him just as dramatically as he'd intended to do for her and leaves him suffering in embarrassment and regret. Perfectly ironic plot... he comes to the expensive place so she will be left with the towering bill, but karma hits him right in the face.

Love it! :)

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 15, 2022 21:12

Thanks, Zoë!

Heh, I'm glad you liked it! Karma in the face indeed :) I like when characters trip themselves up, and there's something satisfying about it when someone like this narrator does it. And yeah, we seem to turn a blind eye to a lot when money's involved :)

I appreciate the feedback!

Reply

Susan Catucci
September 15, 2022 15:12

Beautiful. Super entertaining and delicious ending!

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 15, 2022 21:14

Thanks, Susan!

Very happy the ending worked out :)

Thanks for your feedback.

Reply

Becky B
September 15, 2022 07:54

This was just brilliant. Really got (and disliked!) the narrator. The descriptions were so easy to imagine and I was immediately in the setting and experience. Such a great read. I didn't look up until I was finished - which was worth the commitment for the ending! Also, very funny in many parts. Very much enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing!

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 15, 2022 21:16

Thanks, Becky :)

I'm glad you enjoyed it! The narrator is definitely a bit of a miserable character, but was fun to write.

I appreciate the feedback!

Reply

Hannah Barton
September 15, 2022 00:55

I liked this story. I wanted to be on the narrator's side so bad but then ended up hating him. I love stories where you can relate to someone to only find out in the end they were the bad guy. Well written!

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 15, 2022 01:10

Thanks, Hannah!

Yeah, he's a bit full of himself, I suspect :) I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Reply

Ela Mikh
September 14, 2022 03:21

Nice twist!

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 14, 2022 20:56

Thanks, Ela!

I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

Reply

Daniel Allen
September 13, 2022 16:57

I really liked this. You managed to use the narrator's voice perfectly to build his character and reveal the truth of the situation.

My favourite moment was at the end, when the narrator changes his mind about breaking up with Miranda but then realises that it's too late and his plan is already in motion. I think the line 'After all my hard work, I've finally made it!' sums up their character brilliantly.

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 13, 2022 20:52

Thanks, Daniel!

Yup, he caused his own downfall :) I think characters that trip themselves can lead to fun stories.

I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I appreciate the feedback!

Reply

Daniel Rains
September 13, 2022 16:15

The MC had a very interesting voice, which makes it interesting to read. Only hearing from the MC's point of view is an interesting concept. It would be interesting to have a second story from her point of view during this conversation.

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 13, 2022 20:55

Thanks, Daniel!

Yeah, this was a bit of an experiment for me, a bit of a monologue. It was fun to write, but I think you're right, this could be a good story from a different POV too. I doubt the other characters quite see the world the same way as the narrator :)

I appreciate the feedback!

Reply

Ross Dyter
September 12, 2022 20:21

Great story, I really the descriptive phrases you use. The main character being stuck with the bill while she dumps him made me laugh out loud.

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 12, 2022 22:32

Thanks, Ross!

I'm glad to hear that :) That was certainly my goal.

I appreciate the feedback!

Reply

Laurie Roy
September 12, 2022 17:42

Love a unreliable narrator. Enjoyed seeing him get his just desserts.

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 12, 2022 21:29

Thanks, Laurie!

Yep! There's something pleasing about self-inflicted justice :)

I appreciate the feedback.

Reply

September 12, 2022 06:15

I absolutely love this. Very clever choice of character voice. This describes some people very well. As soon as Miranda inherited that money, he was happy to stay with her. I must ask how you came up with this? I would love some tips on writing myself. Again, a very enjoyable story to read.

Reply

September 12, 2022 07:09

It also seems like this story was written for me (Dinner at Charlie's). 😂

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 12, 2022 21:35

Thanks, Charlie! I'm glad you liked it :)

I liked the idea of a life changing over a dinner and so I wrote down a couple ways that might happen. Dieing is obvious (poison/choking) but it felt too dramatic. Work/money/relationships was the next thing, and I thought it would be fun to have multiple people's lives change over the same dinner. So that's the premise.

For the narrator, I wanted someone who *wanted* something obvious, and they wanted it hard and from the beginning. That led to a strong tone. I also like characters who get tripped up by their own flaws - that seems realistic to me - and a flaw I like returning to is misguided beliefs, or accusing others of what you are guilty of.

The rest was looking for ways to make this lighter and funny.

I appreciate the feedback!

Reply

Mustang Patty
September 11, 2022 17:06

OH Good!! I really liked the twist at the end. Now he missed out on all that money. Great pacing and excellent use of the prompt.

Good luck in the contest,
~MP~

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 11, 2022 23:10

Thanks, MP!

It can be satisfying when miserable people shoot themselves in the foot :)

I appreciate the feedback!

Reply

Elliot Moss
September 11, 2022 10:22

This was so cool! I literally got angry at him the more I read, like he was an actual person in front of me.

Then "oh no! She left me now that she's rich! Whatever will I do!" Well, that sucks for you, dude.

Really interesting and cool story!

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 11, 2022 22:57

Thanks, Elliot!

Yep, he's definitely an irritating person. I think that makes it all the more satisfying when he shoots himself in the foot :)

I appreciate the feedback!

Reply

Chris Campbell
September 11, 2022 07:33

Michal, This was Hilariously shallow! The MC seemed to be projecting on Miranda exactly what he is. A person of no depth of moral character. I've met a few "Shallow Hals" in my life, but this one deserved his comeuppance. You did a great job of highlighting how money can change people. A very enjoyable read. Well done!

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 11, 2022 22:44

Thanks, Chris!

Yup, that's exactly what I was going for :) Kind of a shallow arse, just following the alluring scent of money.

Thanks for the feedback!

Reply

Maddie Culwell
September 10, 2022 21:00

I really enjoyed reading this. I was getting more and more worked up at the MC, even actually yelling out when I read the chemo line. Really enjoyed watching a bad person get what they deserved. Go, Miranda!

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 10, 2022 22:28

Thanks, Maddie!

Yup, he got what was coming to him :)

I'm not sure why he's so nasty. I expect he hasn't lived up to his own expectations, and it's just easier to blame others for it. But not everyone has patience for that kind of behaviour.

I appreciate the feedback!

Reply

Zack Powell
September 10, 2022 18:40

The thing I most enjoy about this contest is the freedom to experiment. You wanna write a monologue piece? Go for it. You wanna do all dialogue? Have fun. You wanna do no dialogue? More power to you. I know you've said this to me before, and it's a mindset that I've since adopted: If you try something new out, at most you throw away a week. I mention all that to say, I'm happy you're still experimenting with your stories, both in genre and form.

Speaking of which, the form was my favorite thing about this piece. Lot of fun techniques going on here, from the stream-of-consciousness monologuing, to the dialogue only being explicitly spoken by the narrator and implicitly spoken by everyone else, to the strong character voice. Really cool to see some dialogue in this structure too, by the way. Usually when I see these types of stories, they're exclusively told through monologue, so that was a nice touch.

Really well done. Can't say it better than that. Just wanted to say that I enjoyed this (mean-spirited though the narrator may be), I'm wishing you the best of luck in the contest, and I wanted to share with you the master list of lines/phrases/jokes that made me laugh out loud, and why:

"Domper Gonan" (Because who among us hasn't butchered the name of an alcoholic beverage before?)
"Oh yes it is. I’m going to dump your soggy ass, and I’m going to do it in your stupid favourite trash hole and ruin this rancid restaurant for you. And I’m going to leave you with the bill, you plastic vampire." (Points for "soggy," bonus points for "plastic vampire," triple points for the narrator being incredibly petty.)
"Every time I turn my head you turn a trick." (You and I both know how clever this line is.)
"Man, I can’t wait to dump you and shatter your frozen onion heart." (I swear, you must've been playing Mad Libs or something while writing this to get that "frozen onion heart" combination.)
"Why are you rifling around in that moldy bucket you call a purse?" ("Moldy bucket" is the most accurate metaphor for a purse I've ever heard.)
"But first, that’s right: steak and crab, you vegan circus." (Similarly, this is the most eloquent way I've seen of calling someone a clown.)
"Celiac’s a made up disease and you know it, Miranda! I’m going to OD on bread tonight." (I mean, sometimes I wonder about Celiac disease, too.)
"Man, just look at all those tears, freshly squeezed from the crocodile." (Savage.)
"If you don’t want to go to work just don’t go, no need to keep inventing dead relatives and fake funerals." (We've all had a coworker like this.)
"nookie" (It's been a LONG time since I've seen this word in print.)
"It’s almost game time, baby, and the horses are chomping at the writing on the wall." ("Horses are chomping at the writing on the wall" is one hell of a malaphor.)
"Because your human goiter of a mother made him up because she’s old and nasty and just wants attention." ("Human goiter." Enough said.)
"After all my hard work, I’ve finally made it!" (Let some psychology grad students read this story and watch them go to town psychoanalyzing this narrator.)

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 10, 2022 21:58

Heh, thanks Zack :)

Yep, definitely an experimental week, but it turned out better than I hoped, key thing being "comprehendable". One-sided dialogue still makes my skin crawl, but it's actually not too bad in situations most people are familiar with, like ordering food.

There's a lot of words and phrases which just don't belong in most stories, so I figured a more ridiculous one - or a more ridiculous narrator at least - was a great opportunity to get them some game time. I think in the interest of avoiding purple prose, I sometimes take simplicity to a Spartan extreme, so this was a chance to re-examine that and play with words. Heh, I suppose it was a little Mad Libs-y. I'm glad some of the expressions caught your eye.

As always, I appreciate your take.

Reply

Naomi Onyeanakwe
September 10, 2022 10:58

What an enjoyable story! This was so entertaining, so funny, so good. The voice of the character is simply amazing.
Good luck with the contest!

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 10, 2022 18:55

Thanks, Naomi!

I'm glad it was funny! Definitely over the top :)

I appreciate the feedback, and good luck to you too!

Reply

Naomi Onyeanakwe
September 10, 2022 21:25

Thank you!

Reply

Francois Kosie
September 09, 2022 18:29

Really enjoyable, and I couldn’t stop reading it; what a guilty pleasure. I love reading about the villainous POV, a la Richard III.

The twist at the end was great. Ironically, he can still go to Alice and be happy with her as he was planning. But I’m willing to bet he won't be!

Reply

Michał Przywara
September 09, 2022 22:06

Thanks, Francois!

Villainous is a good way of putting it :)

I think you're right, too. He's probably no more loyal to Anna than to Miranda. Seems like kind of a flakey person.

I appreciate the feedback!

Reply

Reedsy | Default — Editors with Marker | 2024-05

Bring your publishing dreams to life

The world's best editors, designers, and marketers are on Reedsy. Come meet them.