Wednesday, June 26, 2013

To-do List

by Joyce Soule from the July 1, 13 issue

Tagline: Being totally unprepared for the drenching summer storm was a stroke of good fortune for Cheryl!

In a Nutshell: Cheryl has just moved to Florida and is caught unprepared when the rain comes pouring down out of a sunny sky. A man shelters her with his umbrella then gives it to her because he's a weatherman and he has a pile of them. After the storm abates, he asks her to coffee.

Observations: This was a nice tight first meet, man-to-the-rescue story, but nothing to write home about. Right off the bat we see her goals via her to-do list. As a veteran Woman's World story reader, the minute I saw the list--New job, groceries (check), new friends, car--I knew that one of the unfinished items would be checked off by the end, and I was right.

Their conversation is cute. I liked Cheryl. She was a proactive, confident woman who reminded me a little of Mary Tyler Moore for some reason.

One of my favorite parts was where she repeats his "bio" word for word in her thoughts...

I looked up the avenue, hoping the bus wouldn't come any time soon. A rain delay, maybe? I was enjoying my chat with Ron Byers, on at five on Bay News Nine.

But the ending, where she checks off the "new friends" to-do item, was good too.

Photo by: Colin McMillen


10 comments:

Pat said...

The things I liked about this story, besides the fact that it was well written, are the characters and the setting...both were new and fresh. It was a simple story that warmed your heart. Just what I expect from a WW romance.

Chris said...

I agree, I enjoyed this story a lot. Original (to my eyes anyway) and nicely written, it engaged me from the start, held my attention all through, and ended well. A fresh take on a WW romance.

Jody E. Lebel said...

This story was as cute as a blueberry. Just the fact he had grabbed a Hello Kitty umbrella and used it made me smile. I liked the way Cheryl said, Ron Byers, on at five on Bay News Nine. I lived in Florida for many years. The rain comes down so hard people do pull off the road and sit it out for a few minutes because you can't see the road in front of you. On the highway when you get to an underpass, it's almost a parking lot. Nice job all around, Joyce.

Jody E. Lebel said...

For some reason only the Google gods know, I can't vote, but I would have voted Loved It.

Kate Willoughby said...

Thanks for enlightening me about Florida rain. I was dubious about that in the story and am glad to know it has a basis in fact.

Lucy Naylor Kubash said...

I thought it was neat to have a weatherman as the hero. You don't often see that used as a profession in a story. Loved the kitty umbrella, too.

Unknown said...

I was not able to register my vote either but I LOVED the story. I live in Florida and yes, it can be sunny skies one minute and a deluge the next. We often get caught without an umbrella but how many get rescued by a handsome weatherman with a (of all things) Hello Kitty umbrella. Loved the fun repartee. Good job, Joyce.

Anonymous said...

I had such a smile by the end. Checking off her to-do list surprised me -- I'd forgotten about it! I liked your review, Kate. Mary Tyler Moore, as a sort of archetype, is a great role model for a WW story!
--Sheila

Chris said...

I adore your baby picture, Toni. Is that you when you were young, or your daughter? What a great expression.

Deb Noone said...

Rains like that in Washington D.C. too - on and off like a faucet and can't see a thing. Loved the umbrella! Cute story.
-Deb