ENGLISH Narrative Modes Assignment

Assignment: to write 2 pages starring 2 adults in an unequal situation displaying all 5 narrative modes (you'd be bored to hear them). Please post comments!



He was watching “Family Guy”, an obscure cartoon comedy made for adults, very risqué. He loved it, especially that smart mouthed kid. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his wife saunter into the room. Her beauty was just as striking as it was when they first met, three years ago, but “Family Guy” is on only once a week.
“Honey?” she prodded him. Charlie pretended he hadn’t heard her, hoping she’d lose interest.
“Honey.” Dana was more insistent this time. He groaned, couldn’t it wait until the end of the show?
“Yes dear?” That was something his uncle had taught him, women rarely wanted an honest answer. He watched her gnaw at her lower lip, toy with her wedding band, glance down at her lap. He braced himself for the long talk that he was knew was coming.
“I was chatting with Cindy today. Her and Tom are going to start trying again. She asked me when we were going to expand our family?” She left that last part hanging in the air. Talks with his sister Cindy always seem to trigger these conversations. Charlie wiped his sweaty palms on the front of his jeans and in doing so missed the look of yearning on her face.
“Aw, hon you know I don’t want kids.” Wrong Answer.
“What!?” she exploded, jumped off the couch, tears spilling over. “I need a family Charlie. I’ve dreamt of having babies ever since I was a little girl. I don’t want to be old with no one to take care of us.”
He needed to diffuse this bomb. “I meant, I don’t want to have kids right now.” It had worked, Dana settled back onto the couch. What was she thinking? He’d been working out of town a lot; didn’t he deserve time with his kids? To see them grow up? He wasn’t going to be like his dad. Plus Dana was making debits out of their shared account almost daily for stuff they “needed” for this new place. How could they afford a baby right now?
“Why do you always do that?” She not so playfully punched his leg. It kind of hurt. “There’s a big difference between not wanting kids and not wanting kids right now.” Women. Did those two words really make a difference to her? He’d have to make a mental note of that.
“So if not now, when?” Her voice pierced his ears as it hit that high note. They had talked about this. Endlessly. In fact, he was pretty sure she didn’t want wailing, pooping babies right now either - a wait in line at Wal-mart always re-enforced that. Sleeping in, her favorite spur of the moment road trips, and her hair styles that always reflecting the current trends: all would fall to the wayside when baby showed up. She knew it too.
Ringing. Dana sprang up to answer the phone; a reprieve that would allow him a few moments to think, when would be a good time? There was no perfect time for kids. If they waited for that they’d wait forever and he did want to have them someday.
“…no we’re happy with our long distance carrier, thank you,” Charlie heard her rebuff the telemarketer on the kitchen line and then hang up. He saw the “Family Guy” credits stream on the screen. Damn it. He’d missed it again. Dana marched back into the room, ready for battle? How could he appease her without making a promise that would almost definitely be a mistake in their lives right now?
“I’d like to wait a few years.” He finally spit out.
“A few years? I’ll be ancient by then.” Ancient? Wonder when 27 had become ancient?
“Come on, baby.” He was pleading now. Then, desperate “What about getting a puppy? Freddy is really cute, we could get one just like Tina’s.” She wouldn’t look at him, but her mouth twitched. He knew he was on to something.
“A baby pug? Or a cairn terrier maybe? Something that doesn’t shed so that when the baby does come, it won’t be too much trouble.” He sprinkled that baby part in, trick her into thinking he wasn’t just buying time. Between house breaking and training she should be busy for at least a year. That should give him enough time to get their finances in order. But would it be enough time for their relationship? Was he ready to be a dad?
“A Maltese?” She suggested, her eyes daring him.
“Don’t they shed?” It was a weak attempt. He knew they didn’t shed. She was testing him. He got bit by a Maltese when he was five and still had the scar to prove it. Psycho dog. Wait, don’t kids bit too? He would need more than a year.