Tuesday Tales - Word Prompt "Foolish"

 

Howdy doodles! This week our word prompt is "foolish". We have another episode of "Two of Hearts." 

Don't forget to stop by and read the excellent stories by the Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE.

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Terry tossed most of the night. He’d tried Clare three more times. Where the hell was she? At five he gave up trying to sleep, eased out of bed, took a shower, and called Clare once more. Voicemail. Was she away overnight? Fuck. Damn! She sure didn’t wait long before she started fucking around, did she?

Anger steamed through his veins. The more he obsessed, the madder he got. He dressed and fed Queenie. While the coffee brewed, he seethed inside. This trip west was just an excuse to sleep around. Seven-year itch? He’d always thought that was a joke, something invented by men to excuse infidelity.  

Terry and Clare were just shy of seven years. In fact, she’d be in L. A. for their anniversary. If she was fucking around, there would be no anniversary celebration –maybe a court date instead.

After a cup of coffee and eggs he’d scrambled himself, he harnessed Queenie. As they headed for the street, Terry’s thoughts turned to Jen. He wondered if her husband had woken up yet. He headed for her block. Directing his gaze down the street, he spied her in the distance, with Willie at her side. He smiled. Her story gave him hope that love was alive and well somewhere.

Willie barked. Queenie answered. Jen turned to face him. Terry let go of the leash, allowing his pug to race down the block to her friend. The two dogs sniffed, wagged and wiggled together. Terry sauntered up to the little group. 

“How are things?”

“Looking up,” she answered.

“Really?”

“They’re taking him off the coma drugs. They expect he’ll wake up today.”

“Hey, that’s great news.”

“It is,” she said, shooting him a wide smile. “At least I hope it is.”

“What did they say?”

She related some of what the doctor had told her. Although he shared her relief that Stan would be back among the living soon, the contrast with his own situation made him frown.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“Is it Clare?”

He shifted his weight. Terry never opened up about personal business to anyone except Clare.

“She’s all right, isn’t she?” she asked.

“I wouldn’t know,” he said, immediately regretting his honesty.

“What do you mean?”

“She didn’t answer last night. I left a voicemail and she hasn’t called back.”

Jen made a gesture with her hand. “Oh, really? I’m sure it’s nothing. I mean, if she was dead, you’d have heard.”

Terry paled. “Dead?” 

Suddenly, his fears about infidelity seemed foolish. 

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by!

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "MEET"

 Welcome! This week our word prompt is "meet." We have another episode in "Two of Hearts." It's Jen's turn. Don't forget to visit the excellent Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE. Have a very happy Thanksgiving and thanks for stopping by. 

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After the doctor left, Jen strolled over to the window. What did it all mean? The doctor was saying he’s getting better, then he said that Stan’s drinking might make things worse. But he’d been on the wagon. Didn’t that help? Was too late?

“What did the doctor say,” snapped a female voice from the doorway. Jen turned. It was Marcy, with Lillian standing behind her.

“They’re bringing him off the induced coma this afternoon.” Jen raised her gaze to meet her stepdaughter's. 

“It’s about time! These people have done nothing. Waiting, waiting. This damn waiting.”

“They are doing what they can,” Jen said. One look at the hostile expression on Marcy’s face and Jen decided to leave. “I’m going home to take a nap and walk Willie. I’ll be back right after lunch.”

“Leave the dirty work to me and mom. Typical.”

“What dirty work?”

“Dealing with the staff.”

Jen’s blood boiled. “Don’t you dare get huffy with the staff! Stan deserves the best care possible and he’s not going to get it if you’re bossy and nasty with the doctors and nurses. So just zip it, okay?”

“Are you telling me how to handle the people who are in charge of my father’s life?”

Jen shook. She pushed her index finger in Marcy’s face. “Damn right I am. You shut the hell up and leave these people alone. They’re doing everything they can to save Stan. And your bad attitude is not helping. Go home! Leave him to the professionals.” With hands on hips, Jen stared at Marcy.

“I’m only trying to help.”

“You really want to help? Go home. Come back at five.”

“You want him to yourself!”

“He’s my husband. Just go home. Okay?”

Marcy huffed out of the room. Jen blew out a breath. “Thank God,” she muttered to herself.

Afraid to be too hopeful, Jen couldn’t help but think that things were going to get better. She talked to Stan, like nothing ever happened.

“Sweetheart, I’m not sleeping well. So, I’m going to go home and take a nap. Then I’ll walk Willie and come right back. I want to be here when you wake up. Love you.” She bent to kiss him, then made her way to the elevator.    

That's all. Thanks for stopping by. I wish you and your loved ones a happy Thanksgiving. 

 

TUESDAY TALES - "NARROW" - "TWO OF HEARTS"

 

Howdy! Welcome! This week our word prompt is "narrow". We have another episode of "Two of Hearts". Don't forget to hop on over to read the excellent stories by the other Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE. 

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The next morning.

He greeted everyone in the office, opened his phone, and started on his to do list for the day. At lunchtime, Paul stopped by, carrying his sandwich. The two men shut the door and chowed down.

“So, how’s this bachelor thing going?” Paul asked, popping the top on a can of ginger ale.

“What bachelor thing? I’m still a married man.”

“Yeah. Right,” Paul snickered.

“I’m not tomcatting around town. I love my wife. Clare is way above most women. Why would I got out for beer when I have champagne at home?” Terry took a bite of the ham and cheese he’d ordered from the deli.

“Because the champagne flew the coop.”

“She’s not gone that way. She hasn’t left me.”

“Must be hard?”

“You don’t realize how close you become, how dependent on her being around. Before I got married, I lived alone and loved it. Now I hate it.”

“I know. Sandy is the best.”

“Don’t go telling me you’d be tomcatting around if she was away for six months.”

Paul hesitated. “Well. I mean if she’d never find out. Sandy and I hooked up in college. I haven’t had much of the buffet, if you get my meaning.”

“You saying you’d cheat on Sandy?”

“No, no. But if I was in your situation, I might be tempted.”

“There isn’t a woman in the City who would tempt me,” Terry said.

“Really? That's kind of a narrow point of view. Have you seen some of the chicks on the subway in the morning? There’s more that’s hot there than coffee.”

Terry laughed. “You’re the last person I’d think of as straying.”

“You’re right. But it’s a fantasy. Sure, I think about screwing some of the women I didn’t screw in college.”

“That’s too bad. Not me. Clare’s the best I’ve ever had.”

“You’re lucky. At least you have the experience to know.”

“Just keep it in your pants. You’ve got everything to lose for a quickie with a stranger. That kind of sex isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not stupid. I’m staying right where I am.”

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by. 

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "RUN" , MORE OF "TWO OF HEARTS"

 

Welcome! Our word prompt this week is "run". We have an episode in Jen's point-of-view of "Two of Hearts." Don't forget to hop on over and read the great stories by our Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE. 

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Holding her mug of morning coffee, Jen stopped in front of her credenza littered with pictures of her, Stan, and Willie. Her eyes lit on her graduation picture. Clad in cap and gown, she stood next to Stan. He had convinced her to switch to creative writing from journalism. As he had predicted, she’d excelled. 

She adored Stan. As she sipped, Jen recalled their first meeting. She’d been overwhelmed by his assignment, write a nightmare. Jen had come up empty and panicked. She’d gone to see him, hoping to convince him to let her do a brief story about something else, anything else, instead.

He’d been the stern, aloof professor, totally unbending. She’d begged to no avail. 

“If you expect to get excused from every challenging assignment, Miss Carter, perhaps you’d better transfer to journalism,” he’d said.

Wide-eyed, and out of hope, her self-control gave way. Tears broke through. She had tried to leave before he saw but failed. He’d taken her by the elbow and drawn her back into his office and shut the door. She recalled their conversation.

“Okay, young lady. You’re going to sit here until you finish.”

“But professor,”

“Shh. Don’t talk. Listen.”

She’d taken a deep breath to calm herself.

“What’s your biggest fear?” he asked. .

“Flunking this course,” she replied.

Stan laughed. “Besides that. Spiders? Heights? Getting mugged?”

She’d shifted in her seat. “Getting raped, I guess.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Really? Here at school? I thought the campus was safe.”

“It is. You asked for my biggest fear. That’s always been it.”

He’d taken her hand between both of his. “I don’t think you have to worry about that here.”

“You never know. The paper?”

“Oh, yes,” he said, dropping her hand and moving to the window. “Okay. So how about your next biggest fear?”

“Snakes.”

“Aha! Snakes? Good one.”

He’d drawn out a scenario with snakes that would make her blood run cold. A knock on the door interrupted their session. She’d checked her watch. They’d been at it for an hour.

“My next appointment is here, Miss Carter.”

“Oh. Of course. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to take up so much of your time.”

“Do you think you can handle it from here?” he asked.

“I do. Thank you, professor. This was great.” She closed her laptop and rose from the chair.

“I hope you will abandon any misgivings about creative writing. You have a gift. You’re a natural storyteller. I hope you’ll stick with this class.”

“I will. Thanks.”

She’d taken his hand in an awkward shake, feeling a zing she hadn’t experienced the first time. He opened the door and a harried looking young man entered. Jen returned to her room and crafted her first A+ paper. Professor Hogan had read it out loud, in front of the class. Jen had floated on air for days.

That's all for this week. Thanks for stopping by.