WIP: My NaNoWriMo Story

This is my first stab at fiction. Earlier this week I was playing around with writing some scenes in my planning notebook. Would love to know what you think. I’m intending this for a YA audience I think…but things could change.

I’m thinking this will be the opening scene for my NaNoWriMo novel. Thoughts? Ideas? Feedback? 1st draft. Totally rough.

“Omerta”

He didn’t come home last night. Brooklyn to Jersey–a common commute. He usually calls if he’s out late, but dad is a silent type. He always has his reasons.

I urged mom to call the police and report dad missing. She insists that everything will be fine–but I sure can’t tell that from looking at her. She’s fidgeting around the house. Cleaning, tidying. The cleaners were here yesterday, but it looks like she’s expecting company. It’s making me nervous so I’m headed to my room to study.

At least, I’ll pretend to study.

This morning, in drippy black paint on our red front door was the word Omerta and a black hand print. Stupid vandals. Seriously–who tags in this neighborhood? It’s gated–of course, every pizza delivery man has the code–maybe one has a creepy artistic streak?

I miss my dad. He’s not my “real dad” but he’s been in the picture for a long time. He’s a great stepfather and has always treated mom and I as the center of the world. His business keeps him busy though. He’s the biggest diamond seller in New York. Being the biggest anything in New York will keep a person busy.

My dictionary didn’t have “Omerta” but Google tells me it’s an Italian noun meaning “secrecy sworn by oath; or a code of silence.”

Now I’m sure it’s the creepy pizza delivery guy. The goth one that’s always so twitchy and won’t make eye contact. Pizza, Italians–they go together. At least that’s what my dad says. He’s Italian–fourth generation, he should know.

I knew that pizza guy was a freak.