Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The Trouble With Oscar (An excerpt from Journey To Forgiveness)

Setting up the Scene:

Oscar Ellwood III is the pampered guy who lives next door to Jenny's aunt. Tall and gangly, wearing coke bottle glasses, he has joined the mission trip. Oscar catches the church bus, enroute to the mission, equipped with binoculars, and clad in bermuda shorts, knee socks, complete with a Panama hat. His goal? To pursue Jenny Hinson, who tries her best to divert his attentions.

Austin Grant throws a cog in the wheel when he walks in on what suspiciously appears to be a romantic scene between Oscar and Jenny.
************

As soon as the truck pulled away, a whining Oscar trudged in to seek minor medical attention. The man had picked up a rough board and swiped it across his jaw. He showed Jenny the splinter embedded in his chin. A tiny piece protruded.

"I tried to remove it," he wailed, "but apparently it broke off when I attempted the delicate procedure."

"Follow me." Jenny gestured and led him to the area where the first aid supplies were shelved. He reached up and pulled down the supplies she requested. Jenny located the tweezers and set the rubbing alcohol and cotton to one side. After disinfecting the tweezers, she attempted to calm the nervous patient. "You sit down on that stool, close your eyes and relax. Think of something pleasant."

She soaked a cotton ball in the alcohol and spoke softly. "Now this may sting a little. Just take a deep breath and bear with me."

"Will it hurt v-ver-y much?" Oscar's voice quivered.

"Nothing a grown man can't handle." She patted his shoulder to reassure him.
It seemed to calm him.

Oscar took a deep breath and croaked, "Okay, Miss Hinson, I am now prepared for surgery."

"Good. Keep taking those deep breaths and hold onto my arms.

The patient did as he was told, and squeezed Jenny's arms. "Not so tight, Oscar."

He loosened his grip slightly. "Now tilt your chin up and look at me."

The trembling patient complied. Jenny planted one hand on his shoulder, and leaned in closer to inspect the angle of the splinter.

She was eye to eye with Oscar when Austin tramped in. "Exactly what is going on here, Ellwood? Remove your hands from her or I will see to it that you don't have hands to grab any other woman!"

Oscar yanked his hands down to cup his knobby knees. Jenny was more pleased than upset with Austin's display of jealousy. But she could not let him get by with insulting her patient.

"Austin, can't you see that I'm treating this man for an embedded splinter?" She thumbed toward the kitchen. "Why don't you just prance yourself right back in there and finish your lunch? We'll be there in a minute."

"Okay. I will." Austin took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes. "But Oscar will keep his hands to himself."

Oscar gripped his knees tighter as if his hands might have a mind all their own. When Austin turned to leave, Jenny shook her head. "Sorry, Oscar. I have no idea what got into him. He's not usually like that."

"Miss Hinson, from my observation, I would say that Mr. Grant is in love."

Jenny smiled as she closed the tweezers around the embedded splinter, and snatched it from Oscar's chin. "Ouch! That hurt!" Oscar shielded his jaw with one hand.

She held up the offending sliver for his inspection. "Got it! Now let's get back to the kitchen before Austin brings Al Capone back with him."

"You won't catch me dawdling," Oscar retorted, and leaped off the stool.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, I read this part...hee hee...Good ole Oscar! :)

Laurean Brooks said...

'Twas pretty funny, don't you think? That Oscar was a hilarious character.

Thanks for dropping by, Miss Mae.

Donna Hatch said...

Cute excerpt. I think it's funny how big tough guys are so manly about huge cuts yet turn into big babies when they get small things like splinters.

Sharon Donovan said...

Oh well, Oscar. You gave it your best shot, right!

Laurean Brooks said...

Yeah, Donna. I got the inspiration for this scene from my "big baby" of a husband. LOL

Laurean Brooks said...

Yep, Sharon. He sure did. That Oscar never gives up, does he? LOL

Thanks for commenting. Here's a French Vanilla Latte.

DanielleThorne said...

Being as I know what happened to good old Oscar--I was happy he changed from icky to okay. I have to confess, I would much rather have a neighbor like Austin than an Oscar!

Martha Eskuchen said...

I am really looking forward to reading this book! It sounds so cute! My DH can handle all sorts of cuts and scrapes but faints when he gives blood! :)

Laurean Brooks said...

Danielle,

"Icky" is a good word to describe Oscar. Imagine Jenny's relief to see him mooning over another girl. LOL.

Thanks for dropping by.

Laurean Brooks said...

Martha,

You haven't read it yet? I fully understand. I'm not a reviewer and still I can't read over one book per week. Especially if it's 300 pages or more.

Glad you are interested in it. I look forward to reading your review. Thank you for posting.

Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen said...

Thanks for the teaser. :)

Heather Justesen said...

That's one way to get a woman to put her hands on you. I never would have thought to intentionally embed a sliver in my face! Fund excerpt

Joyce DiPastena said...

LOVE your characterizatin/description of Oscar, Laurean! He just jumps off the page at the reader. And I always enjoy Jenny's spunk. She's a delightful heroine, and you are a delightful writer!

Laurean Brooks said...

Ronda: Glad you liked it.

Heather: You don't REALLY think Oscar would go that far, do you?

Joyce: Thanks! These compliments coming from a talented lady, herself. I am grateful and humbled.

prashant said...

'Twas pretty funny, don't you think? That Oscar was a hilarious character.
data entry work from home

Laurean Brooks said...

Yeah, Prashant,

Oscar's the type guy you hope your daughter DOESN'T end up with. A real mama's boy.

Though I must admit, a rather cool, witty character.