She was Screwed
Aug 06
Cami really screwed up this time. When would she ever learn? What was she going to tell her father? She had no idea, but she didn’t have much time to figure it out; he would be there any minute.
When she was ten Cami’s father gave her a charm bracelet. It had 3 charms; a roller skate, a cat and the letter ‘C.’ She loved that bracelet, not just because of the future charms she would add to it, but because her father was so clever with his choice. As the years passed, charms were added based on Cami’s current interests. There was the soccer ball, the dragonfly, the tiny photoframe with the picture of her parents and then when she graduated from high school she added a cap with hanging fringe. By the time she started college she had acquired over 20 charms, each with its own story.
Cami never took that bracelet off. When she worked at the frozen yogurt shop it would jingle against the register, always garnering the attention of the patrons. When she started college, the charms brushed against the desk as she furiously took notes, and at social functions the charms with stones in them would reflect against the lights flashing in the dark rooms.
Weekends in college started on Thursdays and ended on Tuesdays, and if you lived in the dorms beer was as easy to access as bubble gum. There were frat parties, sorority parties, parties with athletes and just plain dorm parties. Cami attended them all with her newly acquired friends, enjoying them equally.
Cami wasn’t one to overdrink or mess around with boys very frequently but on the night in question she met a boy at a fraternity party whom she had never seen before; he said he had only lived in the house for one year but he still belonged to the fraternity. She hardly listened, as preoccupied as she was with the contrast of his black hair to his eyes so blue they looked like they belonged off the sandy shore in Tahiti. He called himself Scotty. He kept her cup filled with beer and eventually walked her back to her dorm room, where Cami let him do whatever he wanted. When he complained that her bracelet was making too much noise she took it off.
When they were finished, Scotty went on his way with her phone number and a promise to call, and Cami went directly to sleep. When she awoke in the morning she immediately noticed the quiet of her left wrist and after a brief panic her eyes shot over to the dresser where she had placed it at Scotty’s request, only to see an empty spot where it used to be.
After several frantic phone calls, Cami finally came to the realization that “Scotty” was known by nobody. She really screwed up this time.
Cami heard the buzz of the intercom. Time to face the music.
Ugh that sucks that someone stole your bracelet. I would have been ready to beat someone..
Naaah…it’s just a short story, not a real story.
I’m going to pretend this is fiction whether you say it is or not because I can’t stand the thought of that bracelet lost forever: the living, jingling record of all those years and shifting interests, the link to home and family, the symbol of a girl who is loyal and levelheaded but capable of the occasional bad decision. I’ll also pretend that you’re going to write a sequel next week in which the bracelet is found under the dresser and in which Cami is not pregnant! Well done.
Hahaha! It isn’t real. I love your interpretation of the story, more than just a stolen bracelet.
I, too, am going to hope that this is fiction. My heart just sank. I think we can all relate to this feeling of dread, knowing that we really f’ed up and we can’t turn back the clock.
I’ve had those moments (oh have I ever), but this wasn’t one of them.
I lost my wedding ring for awhile. I felt like I was going to vomit each and every time I looked at my bare left hand. It’s an awful feeling. I’m sure you were so heartbroken.
It was just a short story.
Cami is fictional. She does represent a lot of me, but not a stolen bracelet.
Oh, man… I hope this is fiction, too. Losing that bracelet seems to be the loss of childhood. Cami gave away more than she thought that night, huh?
Yes fiction and YES, she DID give away more than that. Thank you for seeing that.
My heart sank. You crafted the emotions I know so well because we were robbed and my charm bracelet from kindergarten, my pearls from my wedding, and my earrings from my first child’s birth were stolen, along with my piece of mind. I could feel the extra burden of it being her fault and all the other implications, too. Ellen
Oh how AWFUL!!! I’m so sorry Ellen. Thanks for understanding the “extra burden.” I really wanted everyone to see how much she gave that night.
I don’t know if this is fiction or not but as I read I was totally expecting that the girl was going to be murdered and the chram bracelet was the only clue or something. Given my expectation I was relieved that the bracelet was stolen!
If this is not fiction that really sucks that he stole your bracelet.
Don’t trust anyone named Scotty (my husbands name is Scott lol
It’s totally fiction and I’ve only known one Scotty and he shouldn’t trust me. I blamed him for breaking the glass figurine in 3rd grade after I squeezed it to death. I still feel bad about that.
Can you email me Cami’s address so I can send her a morning after pill and a charm containing some kind of douche repellant? This story made me feel really angry at Scotty which is a good thing. I love it when stories can make me feel. Nice post!
Awesome. Thanks. Cami’s dad revoked her internet rights when he made her move home because he didn’t want her to turn into a slut. He didn’t know she kinda already was.
Poor thing, losing something like that charm bracelet would be heart breaking… the memories alone. This was written so well. Can’t wait to hear more… hope this story continues!!!!
I never thought about continuing it…hmmm…
Oh MAN. I liked ending it before Dad actually got there, and I could NOT figure out why this asshat woudl screw her AND rob her, then I realized the bracelet probably was valuable in more than sentimental ways.
He would screw her and rob her BECAUSE he’s an asshat. And yeah, this was bigger than the bracelet.
Bravo! Please say there’s a continuation – I just GOTTA know what happens. By the way – where do you post your shorts? Umm, stories, I mean.
I never HAVE. I only have my Passat Girl Saga. Maybe I should try this more often. Nami…you may have started something!!!!
This is such an engaging story of what Cami lost…both physically and emotionally. Would love to read more!
I appreciate that you understand what I wrote! We shall see if I add to the story.
You did such a great job with this story!
You added so many perfect little details that it’s hard to believe that you didn’t experience any of these things yourself. Don’t worry, I do believe you though. Haha.
You brought the bracelet to life in all of it’s jangling and shining glory, and even I felt empty when it was stolen.
I really enjoyed the story, and like Louise said I would love to read a sequel where the bracelet is found and Cami isn’t pregnant.
Thank you Dawn!!! What if Cami is pregnant, and it’s twins?
That was a nicely written short story.
Thank you!!
I’m wondering if it was Scotty at the door? Yes?
Totally your interpretation! Maybe it was! I love short stories. It could have also just been some random stranger selling candybars.
Ugh – that feeling of knowing you need to own up to a really bad choice. That feeling is the worst. Nicely done.
Thanks Michelle.
You did a great job on this! I was hooked in right from the first line, and the story has so many layers and things that you could interpret from it. Very nice
Thank you! That’s what I was hoping for.
I have that my sacred charm bracelet, and I can tell you that if some drunk frat boy punk took my shiz after a drunken romp, I would be on the hunt for him with a razor blade and every intention on removing his balls.
Great story.
Can we have a part two? Where, you know, she removes his balls with a razor blade??
Hahahaha! Everyone has their own idea of what part 2 should be. Hmmmm
Great first and last lines. I want to know more about Cami, and how else she has screwed up, or believes herself to have done so….
Okay you most have all have made me think more about her…
I also find myself wanting to know more, the sign of a great story! Hard to believe you weren’t there (but glad you weren’t!
Me too!!
Oh, I loved my charm bracelet. I still do. They made a bit of a comeback a few years later. This post is awesome for the descriptions– at the ice cream place and the quiet of her wrist in the morning. Scotty is an asshat, but Cami is awesome. I hope she gets a better bracelet.
Ugh. I’ve had those early-morning moments like Cami, but thank goodness, my grandmother’s charm bracelet hasn’t ever been the victim. I have a charm bracelet like that and I adore it (although wearing it makes me sound like I’m in a chain gang). Poor Cami…I’m wondering what happens next.
I literally heard the charm bracelet when I was reading the story.
The visuals were easy, Kim. This is a wonderfully written story. (as usual)
What a story of loss and grief. I love how you used the bracelet as a symbol of something so much deeper.
So beautifully written with vivid imagery. It pulled on the heartstrings without being overly sentimental or sappy. I mourned with her in the end. Great piece!