TUESDAY TALES - MACHINE

 Howdy do and welcome! This week we're writing our stories to the word prompt "machine." I have more of my story that didn't have a name, but now does. It's titled, "Someone Like You." When you'r'e done, bop on over to read the other authors' stories. You'll find them HERE. 

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Charlie stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a terry robe. The house was chilly. She turned up the heat.

“It’s freezing in here,” she said.

“Don’t be wasting heat,” Tom said, washing dishes.

“I contribute to this house and I’m not going to be freezing my backside off because you’re cheap,” she said. She cranked the machine up another two degrees just for spite.

Tom continued on in silence. She knew he was pissed. Charlie went to her room and shut the door. She’d been living here too long. Desire for her own place grew every year she stayed. Her phone rang.

“Hi, Corey. What’s up.”

“My miracle worker bride pulled it off.”

“Pulled what off?” Charlie asked.

“She got Professor Garrett to agree to chaperone.”

Silence. Charlie plopped down, cross-legged on her bed.

“You there?” Corey asked.

“Yeah, yeah. Just surprised.”

Corey laughed. “Now you gotta go.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Aw, come on! You’re gonna get me in trouble. And poor Mark Garrett is going to be disappointed because the coolest girl isn’t going to be there.”

“Good try, Corey,” she said, supressing a laugh.

“Come on, Charlotte. Don’t you want a chance to meet him when you’re looking like a girl?”

She bit her lip. With his usual perception, Corey had hit the nail on the head. That’s exactly what she wanted, what she’d prayed for. Now that it was possible, could she handle it?

“I don’t have anything to wear,” she said, embarrassed at how lame it sounded.

“Don’t give me that bullshit. Kitty will take you shopping. I’ll give you the money! It’s time you stopped hiding behind Charlie,” he said, his voice tinged with frustration.

“Okay, okay. I’ll go.”  She chewed her lip.

“You won’t regret it.”

“Thanks, Corey,” she said.

“Goodnight,” he said and was off.

Why couldn’t more men be like Corey? Would she find out what Mark Garrett was really like? And would she regret it? She slipped a flannel nightgown over her head and crawled into bed. The book she’d been reading, House of Mirth by Edith Wharton didn’t capture her interest. She put the book down and doused the light.

Lying in the dark, Charlotte let dreams of love, independence, and sex breeze through her mind. If she was going to put Charlotte on display, she’d better be ready. As she lay sleepless in the chilly room, she pulled up the comforter to her chin.

That's all. Thanks for stopping by.