TUESDAY TALES - "BLAND"

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales, where writers write stories to word prompts. This week the word prompt is "bland". We continue with "Someone Like You" this week, but we're switching to the pov of Professor Mark Garrett. Who knows what he thinks of things and what his life is like? Read this snippet and get to know him. When you're done, go on over to the other writers' blogs and read their stories. You'll find them HERE. 

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Professor Mark Garrett  entered the teacher’s lounge in the administration building at Kensington State University and plopped down on a seat at the long table. He opened his briefcase and pulled out a slightly mashed homemade sandwich.

When he went to the sideboard to get a cup of the free coffee there, the door opened. Junior professor, Corey Anderson, entered.

“Hi, Corey. How’s your first semester going?” Mark asked, adding cream to his coffee.

“My students know more than I do,” he moaned, sinking down on a chair at the table.

“They just think they do. Show ‘em who’s boss. Give ‘em a test to show them exactly what they don’t know.”

“Good idea,” Corey said, opening his briefcase.

The men exchanged stories about their classes while they ate. When they finished, Mark pulled out a handful of papers.

“Essay?” Corey asked.

“First round of papers this semester,” Mark said with a grunt.

“What’s the problem?”

“They’re so bland. They’ve got some crazy idea that good literary writing is all about description. Bland description. They need to step it up, add some color, some action, dialogue. Something to keep me awake,” he said, faking a big yawn.

Corey laughed.

When he finished, Mark packed up his work and returned to his office. Restless, he wandered over to the window where he watched birds at the feeders.

A bright yellow male goldfinch, joined by his mate, stood peacefully helping himself to birdseed.

“Even the damn birds have mates,” he muttered to himself. “Nancy, why did you have to die?”

“Lucky a hawk doesn’t’ snatch one of you up.” Angry at feeling lonely, he returned to his desk, but his focus continued to elude him. He swiveled in his chair and continued to stare out the window.

The lack of love in his life ate away at his heart. He expected the loss of his wife would end any desire for love and romance. As much as he tried to ignore it,  the yearning to love and be loved only grew with each passing year. And he wasn’t any closer to filling that void than he had been the year before. He recalled the words of his boss, President Mac Caldwell.

“Chaperone the dance, will  ya?”

“And watch everyone else find love? No way.”

“Come on, you never know where you’ll find love.”

“Yeah? Not in a crowd of college kids.”

“Give it a try.”

Now he regretted giving in, but it was too late to  back out.  He sighed. He needed a woman in his life. But where could  he find someone old enough to date on a college campus?

“As Nancy would say. ‘Never give up’.” 

 

 

 That's all for this week. Comments are most welcome. Thanks for stoppping by.