I tried to model my dialogue as Ms. Holt suggested, by showing what was happening instead of telling it, and emulate realistic conversation rhythms. I didn’t used dialogue tags because I felt that it would interfere with the intended emotions being set up throughout the exchange. I wanted the underlying argument to be apparent through clues in Jason’s reactions.

“Did you eat my cereal?” Jason muted the football game to glance up at his wife holding the empty box in a white-knuckle grip. The wild anger in her eyes startled him.
“No.” He turned back to the game thinking the conversation over. He was confused when she marched over and turned off the TV.
“Promise me you aren’t lying, not when I’m asking point blank.” Her angry eyes misted as her jaw …show more content…
I wouldn’t lie. Not about something like this. If you need to hear it again, I didn’t eat your cereal.” What was happening?
“Yes, you would! You will say anything to get out of trouble.” He was barely able to dodge the cereal box suddenly flying at his head.
“I didn’t do anything!” He felt the fabric of the couch under his fingernails as the anger and guilt flooded him. When had he moved his hands?
“The milk is gone too! Just tell me! Admit it! Stop lying!” Her heaving chest brought an image of a panting woman, Heather, with milky skin unbidden to his mind. He shook his head to clear his mind and focus on his wife.
“I don’t know what happened to your milk or your cereal! I didn’t take them. What do you want me to say?” He saw something shift in her eyes, those eyes he had stared into millions of times over the long years, they just looked sad. Sad and defeated.
“The truth Jason. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Did you do it?” He watched as she folded in on herself, crumbling. This wasn’t how things were supposed to be.
“Why are you asking this?” The tears making the way down her cheeks told him why. She knew what he had done, and now he had lied. He couldn’t move as she turned and walked out the