I always knew my name would get me into trouble one day. I just didn’t think it’d take this long. Maybe I have a slow fuse or a short attention span or something, but, anyway, it finally happened - I snapped. And my name got me in trouble.
Seriously, with a name like Irene Goode, the probability ranked pretty high, if you know what I mean. Well, I guess Irene’s not too bad – unless you’re like a certain someone who shall remain nameless (Bridget Taylor), who once told me, “We had a cow named Irene once. We ate it for dinner.”
But she’s one twisted sister. I mean seriously twisted. Even in grade school. Who’d name something and then eat it? Or even say they did? That’s a demented thing for anyone to say, but really disturbing coming from a seven-year old.
Yeah, so tell me something like that and you make an issue out of the first name. But most of the time, it’s not so bad. Not great. (Like Maxie or Roxie, my idols!) But not bad. Oh, no. The problem is the last name.
Goode.
Do you know how hard it is to live up to a name like that?
I do.
Seriously, how many times can one walk into a room to the sounds of someone saying, “Everyone behave now, the Goode girl’s here,” without losing it a little? I’ve heard that phrase – or some variation of it – since the second day I walked into kindergarten.
But she’s one twisted sister. I mean seriously twisted. Even in grade school. Who’d name something and then eat it? Or even say they did? That’s a demented thing for anyone to say, but really disturbing coming from a seven-year old.
Yeah, so tell me something like that and you make an issue out of the first name. But most of the time, it’s not so bad. Not great. (Like Maxie or Roxie, my idols!) But not bad. Oh, no. The problem is the last name.
Goode.
Do you know how hard it is to live up to a name like that?
I do.
Seriously, how many times can one walk into a room to the sounds of someone saying, “Everyone behave now, the Goode girl’s here,” without losing it a little? I’ve heard that phrase – or some variation of it – since the second day I walked into kindergarten.
I have to say I wasn't hooked by this opening. In order to hook me, something really has to draw me in, make me want to keep reading. But the entire opening page just gives back story as to why the main character was named what she was. The voice is strong, but nothing is happening. I really need something to happen, something to intrigue me, to make me want to turn the page.
I found myself wondering when something was going to happen--you hint at it in the first line, and then take us off on a long tangent. Maybe cut the other lines down or move them later?
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