The Yard Sale
Notes on Characters:
Amy Phillips - protagonist
Amy is a 30 something woman who is average to pretty looking not that she would ever call herself “pretty”. She has low self-esteem which is reflected in her confidence when interacting with people especially of the opposite sex. Her last boyfriend has walked out on her and she is truly sick and tired of the role she plays in all her relationships to date - a doormat. She wants to make a change but first, she needs a hair dryer because her ex took all their small appliances with him when he left and she didn’t want to confront him to get them back.
A behavioral tendency of hers is to be nice at all cost - to make people feel comfortable - it is also her curse.
Desire - to be loved and respected.
Fears - to be alone for the rest of her life.
motive - to find love.
Curtis French - protagonist #2
Curtis French is a 30 something man with a very quirky personality and an avid collector of bargains - any bargain. He especially loves haggling at yard sales. He has been divorced for a few years from a woman who got tired of how self-centered he was. Curtis thinks he knows women - he has read every self-help book geared at them that he has been able to get his hands on. His favorite one is “He’s just not that into you” which he considers brilliant.
Curtis has a tendency to behave in a pushy yet friendly way. He really seems to enjoy the moment and can’t understand why more people don’t just go with it.
He desires a woman who understands and appreciates him for who he is.
He fears emotional confrontation - it bewilders him.
His motivation is to outwit those around him because he feels he just might be slightly superior - though at times he has some self doubts.
Woman holding yard sale
The woman holding the yard sale has had a messy divorce and is super bitter at men. She’s feeling almost giddy in her hostility at the opposite sex and she may have added a bit of whiskey to her coffee.
Woman in moo moo at yard sale
This character is at every yard sale I have every been to - what’s with that? They are always very focused and a bit territorial. They seem to hold the unwritten protocols that one needs to abide by at a yard sale as well.
The protagonist’s likability factor:
Amy is every woman that I have ever known - at least at one point in her life. We (women) are brain washed from an early age to “be nice”. In fact, my husband and I were watching my 9 year old daughter the other day and he commented that she was so sweet and kind (wonderful characteristics - don’t get me wrong) and I snapped back, “Yea, she’ll make some guy a wonderful doormat someday.” Luckily we both started laughing so marriage is still intact. I was joking but behind every joke some truth lies. My point is that is how I see Amy. Who wouldn’t love her for how nice she is but the doormat thing though at first is endearing - can then start getting on my nerves (yes, yes, Freud would have a field day). So, we have to teach Amy a lesson but that lesson isn’t that every man wants to use women as doormats but that she has more of a backbone then she is allowing herself to use so Curtis - a clueless, eccentric comes into the picture. Does he want to wipe his feet on Amy or is he capable of learning how to treat another person with a dose of Amy’s new found backbone?
OK - having said that. I actually don’t think people really change all that much but maybe it only takes a small change to make a difference? Yes, I think I can stand by that as a belief. At some point in the story Curtis must show Amy a kindness that is unique - hence motivating her to consider the possibility of him as a partner - at least to have a desire to explore the possibilities.
Character sense of purpose:
Amy definitely needs more motivation to enter the yard sale house as you said but I think I have that figured out. I almost thought of throwing in a dog to get her through the door but instead I think I will have Curtis with an armful of stuff that he has already collected. He overhears the yard sale woman say she is going to bringing up more stuff from the basement so, he decides to follow her in the hopes of seeing what she has first - but she gets a phone call and doesn’t go to the basement. Curtis tries to wait but gets too impatient so he asks Amy to hold the door for him because his arms are full of stuff and she does but of course seeing him struggle offers to hold some of it. He quickly goes downstairs and she goes after him to give him his stuff with the intention of leaving just as quickly but ends up lingering just a bit too long and hears the woman coming down the stairs and story continues . . .
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