Ginger did not know why she agreed to go on this lunch date. Jan would be absolutely insufferable since she had nailed that big account. Everybody at work was talking about it. Even though Jan worked in the claims department, research was a gossip hub. Preening in the mirror for the last time, making certain that she wore her designer clothes like the armor they were, Ginger headed to Mak Blanc’s to meet her oldest frenemy.
Jan was already seated at a table and waved beckoningly at her. Pasting on a smile, Ginger greeted her with a gush. “Jan darling, how are you?” she asked complementing how well she looked. Jan replied as expected, signaling Ginger to jab, “You know you really are so brave to wear that color, you being a Winter an all. You totally pull it off, though,” she cooed before turning to the waiter.
“I’d like a Peregrino in a chilled glass, please, sliced lime on the side,” Ginger delivered the drink order and waited patiently for Jan to give hers. “So how are things,” she asked brightly, while glancing around.
“Things are really, really good,” Jan replied with a wan smile. Ginger was not fooled. Jan needed her to help her research her case, no doubt and that is why she asked to meet for lunch. Well, Miss Fancy Pants could do her own research. Forcing a very fake grin, she encouraged Jan to get to the point.
“Oh, do tell!” Ginger cooed, then abruptly looked at her menu. Sighing softly, Jan did the same.
“Oh, you know. Work is going really well, and Matt and I just celebrated our one-year anniversary,” She offered while perusing the salad menu.
“Matt? That debt collector? Are you still seeing him?” Ginger asked, aghast. Jan had to chew her lip for several beats before clarifying.
“Matt is not a debt collector. He’s a financial counselor. And yes, I’m still seeing him. We are quite happy.” Noting Jan’s irritation with glee, Ginger tried not to look smug.
“Oh. Well. That’s good, dear. No need to rush into anything permanent, you know.” She quipped, noting the frown on Jan’s face with pleasure. Lunch was more fun than she’d thought it would be.
I really enjoy Ginger’s voice and her perfectly composed jabs. This metaphor — “she wore her designer clothes like the armor they were” — I fell in love with. Punchy, dense, and a perfect piece of character work that shows Ginger’s insecurity without ever naming it. I also love how much Ginger’s name reflects her “spicy” nature — it feels intentional and playful in the best way.
The paragraphing is much clearer now, which creates a rhythm and flow that’s easy to follow.
Somehow, I get the sense that they might have been friends long before they became frenemies — at least from Ginger’s point of view. Jan, especially, seems genuinely confused at this stage. That made me curious about what actually happened between them. Was there a moment when their friendship ruptured? Did Jan unintentionally betray Ginger in some way? What does Ginger really want from Jan now — and what kind of reaction from Jan would throw her off balance? These questions don’t arise because anything is missing or unclear. On the contrary, they come purely from curiosity and from already being engaged with the story.
I also keep wondering what would happen if Jan gently challenged Ginger a little more later — not necessarily directly, but simply by staying calm, positive, and grounded. I’d love to see Ginger’s confidence slip in small ways because of that. Even if her words stay polished, her body could give her away: a pause, a stiffening, a moment where her reaction doesn’t quite match her intention. Those small betrayals would let the tension grow naturally and deepen the conflict.
Despite being a slow-burn, character-driven reader — or rather, because of that — I truly enjoy this writing of yours. This isn’t the first piece of yours with such high potential, and I’m very much tuned in, looking forward to reading more.
I LOVE the way you pick up on things like the spicy nature of Ginger reflected in her name. Honestly, the name just came to me. SO much of my writing pops into my head, or I see it in my mind and try to translate it. I absolutely love your writing, in what you wrote and in the feedback you give. I believe I read somewhere that English is not your first language. To that I say BRAVO! You wield it like a natural, which is amazing to me. It makes me wonder how many languages you know, since you have such an infinity for understanding the flavor of words, not just the information they carry. Looking forward to reading more from you!
I can feel your enthusiasm, and I’m genuinely happy my feedback landed with such an emotional effect. I can be very specific about craft, but I also want the writer to feel seen. That’s why I love spending time discovering the layers within a piece of writing.
You remember correctly—English is a second language for me. I’m a native Hungarian speaker, and I’m comfortable with English. I used to speak German as well, but that’s a clear case of use it or lose it.
Working in a corporate environment for the past two decades, with English as the official language, has helped a great deal. At the same time, such a functional environment tends to flatten my voice, and erode my grammar as I work with non-natives. When I’m around native speakers, my English actually skyrockets. Writing suits me particularly well, because it gives me the time to contemplate, refine, and edit.
I’m also deeply interested in executive-level communication, power dynamics (sometimes political), and all the subtle nuances that come with them. Studying psychology and human behavior is another passion of mine—it strongly impacts my character-driven stories and how I approach micro-tensions.
I truly admire your intuitive writing; I find it fascinating! Even though Ginger wasn’t a consciously calculated choice, your nervous system already knew—this character felt like a Ginger long before cognitively understanding why. That knowing lives in you. My feedback simply helps make it visible.
I’m so excited to read more from you! Let’s stay in touch.
Hungarian, German and English! Amazing! Words are magical, aren’t they? They are these collectively agreed upon sound symbols coming together in culturally dictated ways to be carriers of meanings. Words have the supernatural ability to telepathically convey pictures from one mind to another by the science of sound and Sociology. And there are so many different colors, smells even ethereal senses that they carry as well, some obvious and some hidden in the mundane dirt of well-worn usage.
I became fascinated with words at a very early age upon discovering their magic. I studied French and Spanish when I was younger but never mastered either because while I love words, I fear my intellect was not as flexible as yours! Although I can still sing every word of La Marseillaise and recite a French poem about picking cherries! LOL! I’m so excited to be on this adventure with you and yes, please and for real let’s definitely stay in touch!
I wish I could speak French — such a beautiful language! I love chansons. I don’t understand the lyrics, yet I love them all the same, just as I love the French of fashion and cuisine.
I’ve been fascinated by my native language since I was a child. Later, as I learned foreign languages — especially English — I realized it’s not just about different words, but about a completely different way of thinking. When I write or speak in English, I sometimes catch myself being a slightly different person: still the same, yet also different — if that makes sense. Almost like daydreaming in different viewpoint characters. Language truly carries the energy of its culture, and I find that endlessly fascinating.
Please feel free to email me anytime (you can find my address on the dashboard). And if you’re on social media, I’d be happy to connect — I’m on Facebook as Márta Vajai (Vadvirág), with the same profile picture.
Happy New Year, and warmest regards from Hungary! 🙂
Well done. I’m impressed by how well you deployed the 3rd person limited (or personal) POV. You established and maintained Ginger’s experience as the defining limit of the POV. There aren’t any observations that would be out of Ginger’s perception.
I appreciate that! POV is something I have struggled with in the past and I do try to keep it focused!