Character Sketch - The Mail Carrier
Prompt: Write a short character sketch of someone doing the most mundane task imaginable.
46 mailboxes in the building. Berniece’s favorite 'cause it’s the last one. Usually, she gets here a little sooner, but it’s been a long day. New dentist in the neighborhood who wants to get the word out. Dr. Peters. Dr. Raymond J. Peters. Sounds more like an attorney, Berniece thought. She looked at his face and family staring back at her as she had done at every mailbox in the neighborhood today. Nice-looking smile but a little light on hair at his age, Berniece thought. She turned the key, opened the box for 1A, and placed the glossy print inside. Cute family, too. Berniece chuckled and thought, if you’re into that sort of thing. A few people began to trickle into the mailroom to get their mail, their first stop after coming home. Berniece could feel someone waiting behind her, but she continued to the mailbox for 1B. A man shyly said, “Excuse me,” and Berniece loudly and proudly said, “Oh, am I in your way, dear? Which box is yours?” He pointed to his mailbox and said, “That’s me. I’m 1A.” Berniece usually didn’t pay much attention, but she took a good, hard look at this man’s teeth and noticed he had one of those old silver fillings just like her. He got his mail out of the box, said thank you, and left the mailroom. Berniece gathered the next apartment’s mail and watched as he exited the mailroom with his full head of jet-black hair.