Developing a Character

Task: Write a short character sketch – no more than 200 words – in which you concentrate on appearance and any particular mannerisms you noted.

There is a grand piano at the train station. It is black and imposing and ready to be played by anyone – which mostly means ready to be played by any three-year-old with a Machiavellian mother ready to slaughter all passerby's ears.

This time was different.

On the black, slick piano stool sat a young man in his early twenties. He had white sneakers and black baggy pants. His puffy winter jacket had tiger prints that matched his baseball cap, which he wore backwards. Around his neck hanged a set of red-colored Beats by Dr. Dre. His long hair was slick with a month's worth styling gel, all combed back. It shined almost as much as the fake diamond earring in his right ear. He sat upright, his arms in a perfect arch and from his chocolate colored fingers flowed Chopin's Etude Op. 25 No. 11. His head was triumphantly looking up, his slightly slanted eyes wrinkled to match his perfect, defiant, wild smile. Daring the world to judge him by his looks.