Dandy Day is a thirty-five year old free-spirited, commitment-phobic, Venice Boardwalk roller skating waitress. When Dandy is suddenly dumped by her therapist, right when they were on the brink of figuring out why her relationships last only a whopping three months, Dandy decides to take her relationship issues into her own hands. With the reluctant help of her lifelong best friend, Simon, Dandy tracks down her exes one by one and does a relationship autopsy on each of them in order to get to the bottom of her relationship challenged life.
A short novel about love, friendship and grown ups (sort of) growing up (sort of).
Dandy Day by Annie Wood
CHAPTER 5
debbie:
Yes, I’m Dandy’s bestie, and I have something to say about that. The role of “The Best Friend” is always played by a B or C lister. It’s the not-as-cute-as-or-smart-as-the-star-but-still-sexy-funny-in-a quirky-way role. The second banana. Well, that ain't the case here. And I used the word ain’t ironically. I know it’s not a proper word. But this best friend is no second banana. I don’t mean that in a bitchy, competitive way, I just mean that I am way too cute to be a sidekick.
I shared a joint with Dandy and Simon six years ago at a Bob Marley festival. I can’t remember who originated the joint, but I do remember that the three of us were flying high and confessed that we never smoked pot before. How weird is that? All three of us, total pot virgins at a Bob Marley festival? We decide right then and there that it’s kismet that we should all be friends. I got Dandy this job at the café, and she’s managed to keep it, even though she’s broken more dishes than she serves. I don’t hang out with them as much as they hang out with one another. I mean, they have such a close friendship, it’s difficult to penetrate it. I often feel like the third wheel when we are all together, so I pretty much just keep my friendship with Dandy in the confines of our job. Me and Simon have a great “Hey, what’s up?” type of friendship. It doesn’t go much deeper than that, and we like it that way.
Unlike many female friendships, I don’t feel competitive with Dandy. I mean, we’re different people, we want different things, and we have totally different taste in men, so that keeps things simple. Dandy likes to analyze everything, and I seldom analyze anything.
Dandy tells me all about her new “heal thyself” plan while we skate around work, setting up for the lunch crowd. I try to reason with her.
“I just don’t get why you think they’ll want to talk to you. It’s not like they’re your friends.”
I’ve been non-stop dating since I was twelve years old, so this is a subject I am fluent in. The only subject I am fluent in. I explain to her that men, as a rule, are suspect of women with an agenda.
“What if I pay them fifty bucks?” Dandy asks.
“That should do it for the actor, but I’m not sure about the others.”
I then explain to her how men like to know what they will get from what they give. And they are usually big fans of rules. Like in sports, war and sex.
“Deb, I need answers, so I have to ask questions.”
I’m about to tell her that there’s no shortage of shrinks in L.A., so she could easily find another, but customers are now coming in, so it’s time to be all perky, bright eyed and bushy tailed. I skate over to the old-timer who was just seated at my table. I swing by and grab a coffee carafe first.
“Hey toots, how’d ya know?” Old timer smiles, as I pour him a cup of Joe.
“I’m good like that,” I tell him.
CRASH! Dandy dropped something. Again.
“Dandy? You okay?” I yell from across the patio.
She can’t seem to find the words. Instead she puts one hand in front of her mouth, and then, with the other, she points to table fourteen. I recognize him immediately. It’s Brent. One of the exes on Dandy’s list. Well, I guess this plan of hers has been set into motion by the powers that be. I motion to her to go over there. She looks like she might faint.
On second thought, this project of hers could be a lot of fun.
Review Rating: 4 LIGHTNING BOLTS
Review: Dandy Day is smart, witty and laugh out loud hilarious! You take a character who has a bit of dysfunction as she tries to sort out what's wrong with her relationships, and well...the end result had me laughing, smiling and rooting for the heroine. This is a fun, somewhat short book that delves into the world of Dandy...be ready, this is a character that you don't want to miss!
Author Bio:
Annie was born in Hollywood, raised in the valley. She avoided the valley girl accent by speaking backwards for the first 15 years of her life. As an actress she has guest starred on several TV shows. You may remember her best in her recurring role on Becker with Ted Danson, Lara in Good Luck Chuck and as the host of her own nationally syndicated dating show, BZZZ! which she also co-produced. As a writer, she is a produced and published playwright and recently had a comedic scene in the NBC/UNIVERSAL showcase. Her web-series, Karma’s a B*tch
THE WEB and season 2 is now in the works. Her books of comedic scenes, Snapshots! & Act Up & Make a Scene have been performed on Hollywood stages and is available on Amazon. She lives in Los Angeles with her charming, Italian husband and her equally charming, Jewish/Buddhist/Italian dog, Lucy.
Connect with Annie!
Website: www.anniewood.com
Blog: I only occasionally blog at SheWrites:
And my dog, Lucy, blog’s when we travel each year to Italy, where my husband is from.
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