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Furnace

February 17, 2020 3 Comments

Furnace
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Our famously eccentric producer kept aspiring actresses waiting in the lobby to audition (too busy smoking imported cigars). His room was heated like a furnace filled with cigar smoke, scant lighting, and a luxurious couch. Nora’s lips twitched; Szu chewed nails; Sasha smiled at imaginary cameras, pouted occasionally. When he called over the intercom, I sent Nora in. She rushed out, fumbled with her blouse, slammed the door. Szu lasted no longer, stormed past cursing under her breath. Sasha was different. The couch creaked for an hour before she emerged, cast as the vestal virgin in his next epic period blockbuster.

By Mandira Pattnaik

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rosemary Reader and Writer says

    February 17, 2020 at 12:11 pm

    No prizes for guessing who this was about! You brought it all to life.

    Reply
  2. Mary E Falkner says

    February 20, 2020 at 12:25 am

    Clever take on hackneyed casting- couch.

    Reply
  3. K8Ghost says

    February 27, 2020 at 2:09 pm

    Makes the dastardly business clear. Hard to take.

    Reply

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