Post by melindajo2000 on Aug 14, 2010 19:39:26 GMT -6
This is based on Hot in Cleveland, the Jane Leeves and Betty White show where 4 friends pack up and move to a new town. It's just written for fun.
Ever since Melinda’s husband Doug died it seemed like her life had fallen apart. She had tried dating but nothing had felt right. No one had compared to him. They were nice, but no one measured up. It wasn’t fair to the men but she couldn’t help herself. Doug was a great man and it wasn’t fair that his life had ended so early. He was the victim of a drunk driver and no one should have to go like that. Melinda had poured herself into work, but it didn’t seem to be going anywhere. Thankfully she had her friends Sanda and Jessie to help her through the tough times but she still struggled. Sometimes she wondered if she would ever make it through the dark days.
Sanda was working really hard, but like Melinda, still couldn’t seem to get ahead. It seemed like she was stuck in the old boys club. She was well qualified for the promotions she’d tried out for, with her bachelor’s degree and years of volunteer work, but was overlooked somehow. She tried to find her fulfillment elsewhere, through dating and her friends, but hadn’t managed to find the right one. It was frustrating, but she still persevered. She was happy with her life otherwise, she was a very optimistic person. She loved her friends and they were supportive of her no matter what.
Jessie couldn’t believe that another relationship had ended. Phil was a jerk, but he was her jerk, and she had been determined to make this one work. She always thought that she would settle down and have kids with him. He’d promised that one day they would but he never managed to commit. One day she walked into a restaurant and caught him with his secretary, and she was devastated. She would never forget how she felt. He was awful, and she hated herself for ever trusting him. She didn’t know what she would have done if it weren’t for Sanda and Melinda.
“Guess what?” Melinda said as Sanda and Jessie met her for thingytails.
“What?” Sanda smiled. “It must be good. I haven’t seen you this excited in a long time.”
“I won tickets to the final Brooks and Dunn concert. They’ve been sold out for months!”
“I didn’t know they were playing here in Cleveland,” Jessie remarked.
“They’re not. They’re playing in Dallas.”
“Are you crazy? We can’t go to Dallas!”
“Why not? We haven’t gone on vacation in forever. We need to do something for ourselves. We’ve all been in a funk for a long time. This might just be what the doctor ordered.”
“I don’t know, it sounds sort of out there.”
“Come on, Jessie,” Sanda interjected. “Melinda’s right. We really need to forget about our troubles. If Melinda says it’s a good idea then it is. I don’t know about you but I’m sick and tired of thinking about how hard life is. It might be good to get out there and have fun for once. Besides who knows? We might pick ourselves up some real live cowboys.” She laughed.
“Sanda you’ve been watching too many movies,” Melinda and Jessie laughed.
“I guess you’re right. If you want to miss work than that says a lot. Come on girls grab your cowboy hats and let’s saddle up. This might be the trip of a lifetime!” Jessie smiled.
00000
Melinda wore a pink cowboy hat while Jessie and Sanda opted for traditional ones, and they arrived at the concert early. They couldn’t believe their luck: they had front row seats. Dallas was an exciting city and they couldn’t wait to see the sights during the rest of the week.
“Don’t look now but the men beside us keep checking us out,” Melinda whispered.
“Don’t be silly. They must be looking for their seats.” Sanda replied.
The three men sat down next to them, effectively replying to Sanda’s concern.
“And you were afraid we wouldn’t pick up any cowboys,” Jessie laughed.
“Ssh. They’ll hear you.” Sanda looked ahead, but she couldn’t help but take a sneak peek at the men, who were looking over and smiling at them.
“Excuse us, can we buy you a drink?” asked the dark haired one.
“No thank you,” Jessie replied.
“They bring the drinks right to you. They are coming around right now.”
The girls looked at each other. “That would be nice, thank you,” Sanda smiled. She liked him already. There was something irrisistable about his smile that she liked already,
He got the beers and then handed them to the girls. “I’m Bobby and these are my brothers Gary and Ray. It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’m Sanda and this is my friend Jessie and Melinda. Nice to meet you too.”
“I can’t believe that Brooks and Dunn are retiring. They are a great group.”
“I know. They are one of my favorite groups.”
“I love country music.”
“George Strait is my favorite,” Sanda smiled.
“Clint Black is my favorite,” Melinda spoke up.
“Dolly Parton is my favorite,” Jessie added.
“I have a soft spot for the classics,” Gary said. “The man in black is my favorite.”
“I have to admit I’m partial to Dolly myself,” Ray smiled.
“Yeah we all know why,” Bobby laughed. Everyone joined in. Just then Brooks and Dunn started singing Cowgirls don’t cry, but no one could take their eyes off each other.
“Who do you like?” Jessie asked.
“I have to say I like Bobby,” Sanda smiled.
“I like Ray. He’s definitely a cowboy.” Jessie said.
“Good thing I like Gary. I would never want to fight over a guy with you guys.”
After a few minutes Bobby leaned over. “Would you three like to go out for a bite to eat afterwards?”
“We’d love to but we’re not really from around here,” Sanda spoke up.
“Do you know where anything is at?”
“We know where the Texas Roadhouse is on Waylon Place is.”
“Okay we’ll meet you there.”
Everyone enjoyed the rest of the concert, looking forward to what the rest the night would bring.
At the restaurant, everyone paired up.
“Sanda, what do you do?”
“I’m a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company. I’ve been there for 12 years.”
“Oh that is a great job.”
“What do you do?” Gary asked Melinda.
“I’m a receptionist at a law firm. I’ve been there for five years.”
“Do you like it?”
“I don’t mind it. It’s not the greatest job but it’s helped me through some difficult times.”
“Jessie what do you do?”Ray asked.
“I’m a RN in a pediatrics ward. I’ve been there ten years and I couldn’t see me doing anything else.”
“I could see you doing that. I can tell you have a big heart.”
“Tell us about you boys,” she smiled.
“Well I’m a ranch hand at my father’s house. It’s hard work but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I knew he was a cowboy,” Melinda laughed. Everyone joined in.
“I work at a car dealership. It’s a long story,” Gary explained. “I don’t actually live in Dallas. I live in California.” For some reason, she didn’t know why, Melinda was disappointed. It wasn’t like she was going to see them again.
“I work at my father’s company. I’m in the oil company,” Bobby spoke up. “ I work with my brother JR. I have to keep him in line most of the time but I do the best I can.”
“He sounds like a handful. You all do,” Melinda teased.
“Oh you have no idea,” Bobby laughed.
“Are you all single?” Melinda asked bluntly.
“Yes, we all are. I was going to ask you the same thing. It’s hard to believe that none of you aren’t taken.”
“We are all single and looking,” Melinda smiled as the girls glared. “As a matter of fact we were thinking of moving. Dallas seems like a nice place to start.”
Jessie and Sanda stared at her. “Will you excuse us for a minute?” Sanda asked.
The men got up and walked over the bar.
“Are you nuts?” Sanda asked. “We can’t just up and leave for three men we don’t even know.”
“And we thought that coming to Dallas for a concert was nuts!” Jessie added.
“Why not? It’s not like we have anything to lose. Sanda, you hate your job. You know they don’t appreciate you. And Jessie you aren’t finding any quality men where we’re at. And I’m tired of being surrounded by memories that I can’t escape. I don’t know about you but I’m ready for a fresh start, a time for a change in my life.”
Jessie looked at her, knowing she was right. “But what about Gary, he doesn’t even live here!”
“I’m not doing this for Gary. I’m doing this for myself. I don’t care what you two decide. My mind’s made up. If I can find a guy on my first day in Dallas whose to say I can’t meet someone new in a lifetime here? I’m staying.”
Jessie and Sanda looked at each other. “I’m with you Melinda. I’m not moving ahead in my life. I’m tired of being dumped on by guys that treat me badly. I’m ready for a fresh start. Let’s do this.”
“Well you know I need you two in my life. I can always find a new job here. And Bobby is awfully cute. Let’s do this!” Sanda agreed.
The girls nodded at the guys who returned to the table.
“What were you three talking about? We were beginning to worry?” Bobby joked.
“We made a decision. We’re moving to Dallas.” Melinda announced.
The guys all broke out into grins.
“It has nothing to do with you guys. Well maybe a little. We’re all ready for a change in our lives. I think this is just a sign that it’s time to move on,” Jessie announced.
‘’This is wonderful. You know what? I think I’ll move here too. My daughter is here and she will be thrilled and so will my mama. I can always get a job at Ewing Oil, right Bobby?” Gary asked.
“JR may not be too happy but he won’t have a say in it. I’ll make sure of that.”
And it was settled. The deal was sealed with a kiss with all of the couples. The girls made a decision to turn their lives around and they never looked back. Things may have been cold for them in Cleveland but it turns out they were Hot in Dallas after all.
The end
