The Real LJ Idol: "Clarity"

[halfshellvenus]

Clarity
real lj idol | week 21 | 1024 words
Bridge - an Idol Intersection with similiesslip (her story is here).

x-x-x-x-x

Comments

[halfshellvenus]

This really was a collaboration-- this basic story option was a suggestion I had for the prompts, but how my part turned out was in response to similiesslip's part, after some negotiations.

My story is the other side of drifting into a bad situation without ever meaning to or even realizing that you've gotten there. It's an everyday tragedy of when 'well-meaning' isn't good enough.

One of the things I think men don't talk about much is the expectation that of course they're all about the job, and of course things that bleed into their personal time (like schmoozing) are part of the deal. How does a man tell an employer (who already expected that the guy would be 'on board' with that overtime) that he wants to work less and spend more time with his family? Women feel trapped enough when that issue comes up, but men are often expected not to even question whatever they're asked to do-- not if their job really matters. It's such an impossible bind.

I'm glad you liked this, and I'm curious to see what other people did with these prompts. Which, as similiesslip said, first provoked the reaction of, "Ugh. Really?"