TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "GREEN"

 

    Welcome! This week the word prompt is "green". We have a snippet from my new story, still yet to be named. Tyler Bentley is a football kicker out of a job. We join him as he faces the reality of returning home in disgrace. Don't forget to read all the Tuesday Tales stories. You can find them HERE. Thanks for stopping by. 

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As he approached a darkened street breaking off from Cedar, the streetlamp shone on the sign. Stepping Stone Lane. He stopped and stared. Blackness greeted him. All the houses were dark. He twisted his lips into a rueful grin. With only a week left until Christmas, people must be out shopping. Everyone couldn’t be at that damn firehouse party, could they? Did he really care where everyone was? Not really. In fact, it was comforting to see all the empty houses. Fewer people to rub his face in his failure.  

He peered down the street once more. “Merrily Adams,” he muttered, nodding. She probably didn’t live with her parents anymore. His mother had kept him up-to-date on Merrily’s life. A successful writer, she’d be living in a tony apartment in the city, he figured.  Good thing, too. How could he face her after such a monumental disaster?

The cold sent a chill up his spine, or was it at the notion of facing his old high school girlfriend? What difference did it make? He quickened his pace to leave the street, and the disturbing thoughts behind.

As he walked along, Christmas lights strung up around doors and windows, and outlining evergreen trees caught his eye. Christmas spirit? He had none. How could he think about buying gifts, opening presents, laughing, snarfing down eggnog and going sledding on his favorite hill? None of it mattered. His bought gifts for his family and friends online and had them shipped.

The one welcome sight was the light layer of snow covering the ground. Sure didn’t have that in Las Vegas. In fact, he hated Vegas, except for the team, he’d never live there in a million years.

A rueful smile twisted his lips. He wouldn’t have to face the gaudy, phony, garish city anymore. He rounded the bend and approached his mother’s small house. The light on the front porch glowed. His mom always left it on when he went out. The lights on her modest Christmas tree blinked, shining colors then white light through the living room window.

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "RED" - NEW EPISODE, NEW STORY

 

And another Tuesday rolls around! This week we are starting a new story. It's a sports romance story with no name as of yet. Hopefully one will come to me in the next week or two. Here's the first episode. I hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to read all the Tuesday Tales stories. Find them HERE. Thanks for stopping by!

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Tyler Bentley parked in his parents’ driveway. The house was dark, nobody home. Oh, yeah, his family would be at the tree decorating party at the firehouse. One of the biggest Pine Grove events of the year drew everybody from babies to grandpas.

Stupid hick town. Tyler kicked some loose stones as he made his way to the street. No sidewalk on Cedar Road, but he’d go for a walk anyway. He zipped his jacket higher against the icy wind blowing off the lake, probably frozen by now. He bent his head to protect his face and trudged down the road.

In the light of the streetlamp he noticed his fingers getting red. He shoved his hands into his pockets and kept going. Ty wasn’t headed anywhere, maybe the cold would help him figure out how to tell his family.

Of course, they’d watched his disastrous performance at the last game. Twice he’d muffed the kick for the extra point. Twice! Probably a new failure record for the Connecticut Kings. And then there was the kick for the field goal he’d blown. He’d single-handedly cost the team five points. They’d lost by fourteen, but the glares in the locker room didn’t help.

He’d hid out the next day, sleeping late, and hanging around his apartment, trying to muster the courage to face the team when he got the call.

“Coach wants to see you.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Now.” Click.

Uh oh. Nope, it couldn’t be good. He’d jumped into his sweats and drove to the stadium. He knew he’d get yelled at. Maybe fined? Possibly put on the block to be traded?  

Waiting outside the Coach’s office, sweat moistened his underarms. He wasn’t the first guy to have a bad day, to fuck up, and cost the team the game. Or at least some points. What’s the worst thing they could do?

“Come in,” the Coach called.

Tyler placed a sweaty palm on the doorknob and twisted it.

“Bentley, what the fuck happened out there?” Coach rose up from behind his desk.

“I don’t know, Coach. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“You’re right it won’t. Because you’re fired. Clean out your locker today. Last check is being cut now. Excuse me. I’ve got a meeting.” The Coach pushed past him and out the door.

Open-mouthed, Tyler turned and watched him leave. Now on the freezing walk, he searched his mind. What would he tell his mother? Or Uncle Charlie?

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "PERSUASIVE"

 

Welcome! This week the word prompt is "persuasive."  We have another episode of "Sarah's Dilemma." Hope you like it. Don't forget to read all the wonderful stories. Find them HERE. 

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“I have to get going! At this rate, I’m going to be late.” Ben frowned and his brows knitted. He drummed his fingers on his knee.

Elijah narrowed his eyes as he stared at his son. “Itchin’ to get at that Chesney girl are you?

“If you must know, yes.”

“Not gonna propose to that wench, are you?”

“None of your business.”

“Damn right it’s my business and you’re my son. I will have a say about who you marry. And the Chesney girl isn’t good enough. Hasn’t got the family.”

“She’s a Wolcott. Mother said that family’s just as good as ours.”

“But what of the Chesney side? Her grandfather a logger, her father a farmer and her grandmother an innkeeper? Not good enough for the likes of a Fitch.”

Ann Fitch sashayed out the front door, clad in an elegant black velvet dress with gold braid trim. White lace at the cuffs and the bodice gave the outfit a softness. Benjamin looked up. “Mother!” he called out to her as she left the house. “Hurry! It’s almost sundown.”

“Worried that Quint fellow will beat you to Miss Sarah Chesney?” An evil smile stretched Elijah’s lips.

“She prefers me.” Benjamin replied, opening the door and descending to the ground. He took his mother’s elbow and moved into the carriage and dumped her on the seat next to his father.”

“Oof! Benjamin!” Ann Fitch reached up to straight her hat, which had lurched dangerously to the left.

Ben climbed in, shut the door, and hollered up to the coachman. “Go, Digby! Go!”

Elijah threw his head back and roared with laughter. Then he rested his arm around the shoulders of his stunning wife.

“Sarah’s not going anywhere, Benjamin,” Ann huffed.

“But Quint set out for the dance before our Benjamin was even dressed. Mighty spiffed up. Guess he’s hopin’ to win the Chesney girl, too. And he’s got a mighty good headstart.”

Ben opened the coach window and leaned out. “Digby! Faster!”

Elijah cackled. “Hurry up, Digby. Quint’s getting’ there first!”

Ann shot a stern look at her husband. “Elijah! Leave Ben alone.”

Although he hated to give his father any satisfaction, his word worried the young man. Josiah Quint could be mighty persuasive. He’d set his sights on Sarah Chesney before Benjamin had even met her. How could he be sure she wouldn’t accept him?

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.  NOTE: This is the last episode from "Sarah's Dilemma". Next week will start a new story. "Sarah's Dilemma" will be published soon, watch for more information. 

Welcome! This week, our word prompt is "fabric". This week we have another episode of "Sarah's Dilemma." Don't forget to hop to the other blogs with great stories. Find them HERE .  Thanks for stopping by. 

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Sarah moseyed over to the ribbons. She loved the colors, bright pinks and turquoises, and some in a delicate lavender shade, too. 

“He’s free. Go right on back, Mrs. Tanner.” Virginia showed Abigail the way. Sarah fingered the satin ribbons, enjoying the smooth feel of the fabric. The bell over the front door tinkled. She looked up and dropped the ribbon on the floor. Benjamin Fitch stood crowding the doorway with his powerful frame.

Flustered, she bent to pick it up and knocked her head against a table when she attempted to stand.

“Are you hurt, Miss Chesney?”

She looked up to find Ben standing within a foot or two, his brows knitted, his expression concerned. Rubbing her temple, she straightened and gave a small curtsy. “I’m fine, Mr. Fitch. Thank you for asking.” She raised her gaze to his. He looked fine, dressed in black breeches, blue waistcoat and white shirt. She noticed the blue was the same shade as his eyes. 

His stare reflected warmth for a moment before icing over. “Very well.” He brushed by her to the counter, where Mrs. Rhodes awaited.

Too disconcerted to listen, she only heard a buzz as he presented his order to Virginia Rhodes. The deep timbre of his voice vibrated through her, sending a tiny thrill down her spine. She’d always loved the sound of him, and that hadn’t changed.

As she caught her breath, her mother returned to the shop. Mrs. Rhodes had packed up their goods. Abby shouldered one bag and gave the other to Sarah.

“Good day, Mrs. Rhodes,” Abby said.

“Good day, Mrs. Tanner, Miss Chesney.”

Benjamin turned toward her for a second. She swore there was the ghost of a smile on his handsome face. He tipped his hat again. She nodded and smiled. She simply couldn’t help it.

They hurried out of the store and back to the Inn. Sarah’s thoughts swirled around her encounter with Ben. Had he been happy to see her? She thought so. But maybe she shouldn’t presume anything. Get her hopes up. He was simply being polite, as any well-bred young man would be. Nothing more, nothing less, right?

“Ben seemed almost happy to see you, Sarah,” Abigail said.

“Really? You think so?”

“You still care for him, don’t you?”

“I can’t help it. Ben’s a good person. Underneath. He’s not like his father, more compassionate, like his mother.”

Abby smiled. “You’re just like your father. Always seeing the good in people.”