Short Story | Lamp And Shower

By Eddlynn Jennifer Mangaoang

Please do not repost or copy to another site. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

Note: As part of our writing assignment for Week 13: Character "Flaws," How Characters See Their World, my professor, who had us read Bonnie Jo Campbell's American Salvage's short story "King Cole's American Salvage," instructed us to write a story based on it. Below is the full instruction from my professor, copy-pasted:

Due before class next Monday, May 3. Please, read carefully the Bonnie Jo Campbell story, "King Cole's American Salvage." Briefly, answer one question: why are you, or why are you not able to feel compassion for this man who has committed such a violent act? Then write a 1-page scene of the trial, using setting details and specific details, but from the first-person point-of-view of King Cole, the man who was so badly injured in the attack. Try to capture his consciousness, his mind, his voice, his memory, his way of thinking. The scene should flash back and forth between his recent past and the trial itself, as he struggles to remember all that's happened.   

Later on, my professor said to write about any of the characters. 

The use of names, location names, etc. from "King Cole's American Salvage" is only for the assignment above. No copyright infringement intended.

    Wanda's unfocused eyes flickered, and with a start, she pushed herself from the unmade bed, but pain shot through her skull, banging loudly like a hammer on a nail, and her waist, throbbing like an irregular heart rate after she drank too much coffee. It fucking hurts. She inhaled the stale air deeply and sucked in the odor of last night's activities. When she got her equilibrium back, Wanda scanned the quiet room, her and Slocum's strewn clothes were on the floor, hanging by the ceiling fan, and covering the still glimmering lamplight.

    "Ugh," Slocum extended his hand to touch the space beside him. He opened his eyes when he realized that Wanda's warm skin was out of reach. "Wanda?" 

    "get up, Willie. It's morning."

    Slocum scooted up and leaned towards her, intending on wrapping his arms around her waist, but Wanda shot up from the bed and scuttled towards the restroom and locked the door behind her. Slocum frowned when he heard the clicking sound.

    When Wanda unlocked the door almost an hour later and reappeared in the room, Slocum's already in his jeans and long-sleeved shirt perusing his now fat wallet.

    "You're not taking a shower?'

    "Nah," Slocum folded his sleeves to his elbows. " I gotta make an errand down Stoddard Street. See you later, love."

    Slocum tilted down to catch Wansa's lips. When Wanda heard the front door closed, she rubbed her lips with her left palm. "Che--."