Today’s Daily Prompt-Good Tidings:

Present-day you meets 10-years-ago you for coffee. Share with your younger self the most challenging thing, the most rewarding thing, and the most fun thing they have to look forward to.

This is my contribution!

Positively Dickensian

Two women sit across from each other at a table in a coffee shop. They take their tea the same way: Earl Grey, strong, two sugars. Turbinado, please, stirred clock-wise.

Their conversation goes like this:

2004 Mae: Hey, why are we blonde? We haven’t been blonde since we were seven, and we both know that was way more than ten years ago–yours or mine.

2014 Mae: We’ve met before, right? We’ve been radically altering our hair every few months since we were twelve. Some things don’t change. Wait until you get to 2012. That was a great hair year for us, even if we got sick of the Miley comparisons.

2004: Who is Miley?

2014: Never mind. We’ll know soon enough, and we’ll wish we didn’t.

2004: Oh, okay. Anyhoo, this is kind of weird. Why are we here, again? Do you have big news for me? Because I’m not sure that I want to know. Even if it doesn’t suck.

2014: Good, because I didn’t plan on giving you specifics, anyway.

2004: Well, what if I changed my mind? What if I want to know now?

2014: Too fucking bad. It doesn’t work that way.

2004: Did you bend time and space just to have tea with me? Honestly, that is kind of creepy. Is this some next-level Miss Havisham shit? Future me is so bereft that she finds a way to come back to a point when life was better? Oh, my god. Do I really turn into Miss Havisham? Seriously, is my future that pitiful?

2014: I’m not wearing a tattered wedding dress, am I? So, no. I forgot how kooky we can be.

2004: Wait. Wait! Do I-do we-become…normal? I’d rather be Miss Havisham.

2014: Haha, no! We’re amusing, too!

2004: Hey, don’t take credit for that line! I said it, so I am the amusing one.

2014: This is silly. We’re the same person. Besides, don’t you want to know why I came here?

2004: Yes, but you said you couldn’t tell me. This is exasperating. Why are we like this?

2014: Oh, shut up! I said I couldn’t give you specifics. However, I was tasked with telling you three things about our-your-future.

2004: That sounds like next-level the three Ghosts of Christmas and Ebenezer Scrooge shit. Oooh, wait? Are we filthy rich? I knew it!

2014: No, we’re not. Why does this conversation keep returning to Dickens? Did we go through a Dickens fangirl phase in 2004 I’ve forgotten about?

2004: No, but we’ve always liked him. Haven’t we? Anyway, why are we talking about Dickens again?

2014: We’re not! Focus! I was tasked with telling you three things about your future. They are, in no particular order…

2004: That’s why! The phrase “I was tasked with telling you three things about your future” just smacks of Dickens, no? Sorry. You were saying?

2014: Stop it! They are, in no particular order…the most challenging thing, the most rewarding thing, and the most fun thing that we-you-have to look forward to.

2004: Oh, goodie! Is the most fun thing winning a Grammy or having a hit song? That would be cool!

2014: You know we can’t sing.

2004: I know, but a lot can happen in ten years!

2014: A lot has happened! I shouldn’t tell you this, because it isn’t within the parameters of my challenge, but you’ll be happy to know that in 2014 we are still writing. Writing, editing, and blogging! Full-time. Our life-long dream!

2004: Blogging, eh? I’m not so sure about that one.

2014: Don’t knock it until we’ve tried it, okay? Trust me!

2004: Fine, I’ll trust you. But only because I have no choice.

2014: Anyway, the most challenging thing, the most rewarding thing, and the most fun thing that we-you-have to look forward to in the next ten years are, in no particular order…well, they’ve all to do with the same person.

2004: A guy?

2014: Yes.

2004: Are you telling me that my-our- future is dependent on a man?

2014: Definitely not! We don’t change that much in ten years! It’s…hard to explain, though. We don’t need him, and he doesn’t need us, but we choose to go through life together. It’s really kind of lovely. He’s smart and hilarious and, well, a lot of other things that we’ll figure out in time. It’s not perfect, but it is right. Okay? It’s just right, and we’ll know it when it happens. Which, incidentally, isn’t too far in our-your-future.

2004: Wow. That’s a lot to take in. Are we happy?

2014: Happy, and always entertained! And various upbeat words that are going to make me barf if I have to keep talking like this, okay? You know that we don’t do sentimental.

2004: No. We’ve never done sentimental. Is he going to make us want to pull our hair out sometimes?

2014: Yes. He’s not perfect. I’m pretty sure we drive him batty, too. In a good way. Usually. He’s…he’s weird like we are.

2004: Yay! Now, that is good news. I’m so happy we got together today, even if I’ve absolutely no idea how this is even possible.

2014: That doesn’t matter! It’s a future thing. I’m glad too, by the way. It’s been….interesting. I forgot how trying we can be.

2004: Wait, what?

2004: Nothing, you! Me!

2004: Why do you keep looking at the door?

2014: I…I keep hoping that 2024 us shows up. I know it probably sounds ridiculous, but I’d like to be reassured that nothing much changes in the next-my next-ten years.

2004: That would be nice.

2014: More than you can know. At least for ten years!