Monday, May 24, 2021

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "PICNIC" - MORE OF "TOO LATE FOR GOODBYE"

 


Welcome to Tuesday Tales. This week the word prompt is "picnic" and we have another episode of "Too Late for Goodbye." Don't forget to scroll down and return to Tuesday Tales and read all the stories there. Thanks for stopping by. 


**************************************************************

Arriving at Flint and Cassie’s house for dinner, they barely pulled into the driveway before the kids were unbuckling their seatbelts. The low woof of a small dog greeted their ears.

“Scrooge!” Squealed Sophie. The children raced around from the car to greet Cassie’s pug, “Scrooge”. The little dog licked the kids and raced around to the back door of the house with Sophie and Ethan in hot pursuit.

Carrying a pitcher of margaritas, Flint met Marty and Jen. “With salt or without?”

“With!” Marty said.

“I know what you want. I was asking Jen.”

“Without, please,” she said.

“I knew she’d be the easy one.” Flint grinned.

The children played fetch with the dog until he trotted inside and collapsed on his bed. They followed. Ethan turned on a Disney movie and he and his sister rested on the sofa while Flint tended the burgers and hot dogs outside. Jen and Marty took seats at the wrought iron and glass table picnic. Flint handed them their drinks.

 Cassie, his gorgeous, famous movie star wife, stretched out on a lounge chair next to the grill with her stunning blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail, and glamorous sunglasses resting in her petite nose. 

“I hear you’re getting some of your money back,” she said to Jen.

“Good news travels fast. Yes. The amount she stole directly from my bank account. Drew said the bank was at fault for giving it to her. I think they are now pursuing Carla as well.”

“Well, isn’t Drew the miracle worker? Imagine squeezing cash from a bank? How’d he do it?”

“He pointed out they might not like having this giant mistake on their watch flashed across CNN on the six o’clock news. Besides, they didn’t follow their standard security routine.”

Cassie laughed. “Leave it to Drew.”

Flint took a swallow of his beverage. “Marty said you might use it to print up one edition of the paper. Obviously with fewer copies, to see if the idea flies.”

“I’m thinking about it. I can’t pay for the kids’ tuition at private school and do that at the same time, though.” Jen stared into her glass.

“Of course, now that we’re getting married, the kids can go to school here. Jen will have the money to follow her dream, at least a little bit.”

Flint spoke up. “What if you had more money?"


That's it. Please leave a brief comment. They make my day. 

RETURN TO TUESDAY TALES 

My Website

Monday, May 17, 2021

TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT WEEK - MORE OF "TOO LATE FOR GOODBYE."


 


Welcome! This is picture prompt week. We can only use 300 words, too. We have another episode of "Too Late for Goodbye." Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales to read the other wonderful stories. Thanks for stopping by. 


************************************************

“Let’s go to Beans and Books for lunch and ice cream,” Marty suggested.

Silently they piled into the car. Sophie fell asleep on the way. When Marty turned off the car, Ethan leaned over and shoved his sister in the shoulder.

“Wake up, stupid!”

“Ethan! Don’t talk to your sister that way,” Jen said.

Sophie opened her eyes and burst into tears. She slugged her brother’s arm. He hit her back and World War Three broke out in the backseat. Jen tried to interfere but was helpless in the front seat. She got out, opened the back door, and pulled Ethan away from his sister. Marty grabbed Sophie and carried her through the stifling heat of the hot August day into the air-conditioned restaurant. They took an empty booth with one child on each side and not sitting directly across from each other.

“Ethan, gotta tell you, buddy. Guys, good guys, men-type guys don’t hit girls. They don’t hit little kids, and they don’t hit their sisters - ever.”

“She was being a pain.”

“Maybe. But you’ve gotta your use words. You didn’t hurt her, but you could have. So don’t do it again, okay?”

Ethan hung his head, but mumbled, “Okay.” 

Jen trained big eyes on Marty. Did he overstep? Wasn’t he going to be their father? Wasn’t it his job to tell Ethan–as a role model and all?

“Thank you.” Jen reached over and squeezed his hand. 

 They ordered burgers and ice cream sodas. The rumble of thunder meant rain, and a welcome relief from the intense humidity. 

“How about after lunch, we go home, turn on the ceiling fan and watch a movie? I’ll set up the new TV. I think we can all fit on the new sofa?”

“Great idea! Yes, we can,” Jen said.


Back to Tuesday Tales

My website