TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "HOLIDAY"

 

Welcome! This week the word prompt is "holiday", which is apt for this time of year. We have another episode of "The Christmas Party". Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales and the fine stories there. Thanks for stopping by! 

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“I invited Dad to the Christmas party. I hope it’s okay?”

“Of course. I love your dad. Is he bringing a date?”

“I don’t think so. He’s busy “playing the field” as he’d say. I think he’s become a player in his old age.”

Aaron turned up the sound. She sang along with the holiday songs pouring from the phone. Summoning all the patience he had, Aaron painstakingly untangled the Christmas tree lights. He plugged the strings together to make one enormous strand stretching three times the length of the living room.

“You keep buying more lights and next year we can string ‘em across the Hudson and light up New Jersey.”

“Grinch,” she muttered.

Holding his breath, he closed his eyes and plugged the free end into the outlet. When he heard Patrice exclaim, he opened them. Thank God they all lit. There was nothing more frustrating than searching for the one loose bulb keeping the rest from lighting. Except maybe separating two hundred feet of Christmas lights.

“Why don’t you decorate your apartment?”

“I’m not sentimental.” He reached through a loop to grab a fistful of lights.

She grinned. “Says you.”

“What? Since when am I sentimental?” He raised his eyebrows and faced her.

“If you don’t know, I’m not going to tell you.” She fished out two more ornaments, dusted them off with a tissue, and placed them on the floor.

“Don’t leave those there. They’ll get stepped on and broken,” he said, looping a huge string of lights over his shoulder.

“Aye, aye. You ready?”

“Yep. Here goes.”

Aaron scoped out the tree. He made a mental plan of how many lights to put where like he did every year. Patrice counted on him and although he groused about the responsibility, secretly he loved doing it.

He unplugged the lights to keep them from getting too hot to handle. As he threaded them up over, down and around the boughs, he wondered what Patrice had in store for him for Christmas. He ticked off all the things he wanted, like a Nikon camera. Nah, he already had an adequate one. Maybe a trip to Fiji? Nope, too expensive. He climbed a small step ladder to get to the top of the tree. Wham! It hit him so hard, he almost fell over. She was going to sleep with him. Yeah, that’s it. She was going to take their ancient friendship to the next level.

What about Damian? She’d toss the idea of sex with Aaron when she saw Damian. He shrugged. Such is luck. He’d probably missed his chance in the past few years anyway. Of course, if something happened to Damian—like he got hit by a car—Aaron would gladly take his place. 

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TUESDAY TALES - ANOTHER EPISODE OF "THE CHRISTMAS PARTY"

 

Welcome! This week our word prompt is "brazen." There's another episode of my story, "The Christmas Party." Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales for some great stories. Thanks for Stopping by. 

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

At her fancy, wrought iron front door, Patrice slipped the key in the lock.  Aaron ducked under the fresh, evergreen swag hanging low over the front door. 

“When are you going to stop going overboard for Christmas? That’s going to strangle someone.” He rolled his eyes toward the greenery.

“When are you going to find a decent girlfriend?” She shot back as she stepped across the threshold.

“Touché.” Aaron followed her.

“Thank God you’re not bringing Crystal to the party/”  Patrice snapped on the front hall light.

“Makes two of us.”

“Santa might have a little Christmas surprise for you.” Her eyes twinkled with a teasing light as she hung up her coat.

“Oh, yeah? Any hints?”

“Nope. Suffer.” She sashayed down the hall to the kitchen. He followed.

“I hear Santa’s got a big surprise for you this year.” Aaron sniffed the air. “You made molasses cookies, didn’t you?”

“Just for you. A big surprise? Like maybe a car?”

He grabbed a cookie off the plate and laughed. “Don’t hold your breath.”

“I didn’t think so.”

Patrice heated up cocoa. They carried their mugs to the living room.

“I think it’s the biggest tree you’ve ever had.” He shook his head, then lifted his finger to count off the boxes. “Thirteen. Last year it was eleven.”

“I went shopping. At least I did it after Christmas last year. Saved a bundle.”

“Is there any ornament you don’t already have?” He approached a box and fingered a delicate clear glass ball with a tiny Santa inside.

“Not anymore.” She switched Christmas music on her phone. Okay?” She tilted her head.

“Why not?”

Aaron surveyed the boxes surrounding the tree, his gaze zeroed in on a particular one. “Every year you say you’re going to put the lights away so they aren’t tangled.”

“Yeah, and every year I forget. Besides, you’re the best untangler I know.”

“Sheer flattery.” He picked up two strings of lights.

“It usually works.” She plopped down, cross-legged in front of one box and took the lid off. “These are my favorites.”

Aaron raised an eyebrow. “I thought they were all your favorites.”

“That’s what I tell them, but this box is special.”

“Why?” He knitted his brow as he attempted in earnest to separate the strings of lights.

“These are the ones from when I was a kid.” She stroked the top of the box lovingly. “Why don’t you have any Christmas spirit? Why don’t you go home for the holiday?” She took out a figure of a reindeer. "I call this one 'Brazen.'" 

"Named after yourself?" he laughed. 

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TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT! ANOTHER EPISODE OF "THE CHRISTMAS PARTY."

 

Welcome! This week we have to write to a picture prompt. And we can only use 300 words to get our stories across. I'm continuing "The Christmas Party" this week. We'll have a few more episodes of it and then it will go live in its entirety at the end of the month. Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales. Thanks for stopping by!

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The buzzer sounded and Aaron let Patrice in. She eyeballed the miniscule decorations on his coffee table.

“Is that what you’re putting up for Christmas?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s pathetic. Aren’t you coming to my house to decorate.”

“Yeah yeah. Sure. I thought Nigel was helping?” He grabbed his jacket off the hook on the back of the door.

“He went back to London.”

“You let him get away? He was my favorite.” He shrugged the jacket over his impressive shoulders.

“I know. But not mine.” She tugged on his sleeve. “Let’s go. The Christmas party is two weeks away and I’m way behind.”

“Okay, okay. Let me finish this one text.” Aaron typed a message to Crystal.

 

                 Sorry. Can’t get to your parents’ house for Christmas this year. Maybe

                 next year.

 

                 That sucks. Why don’t we just forget it? In fact, forget us.

 

                 I’m sorry.  

 

                 Yeah, sure. Call me if you change your mind.

 

“Come on. You said one text.” Patrice grabbed for his phone, but Aaron snatched it away before she reached it. He had seven inches on her, so holding it above her head was a piece of cake. Last thing he wanted Patrice to know was he and Crystal broke up.

Still, relief flooded Aaron. He’d lied. He wasn’t one bit sorry. The pressure to propose dissolved, bringing him his first blessing of the season. Never has a man dumped by text been so happy to be rejected. He grinned as he tucked his phone into his back pocket.

“Okay, Santa’s chief elf. Let’s go.” He held the door open.

“Ho, ho, ho. You’re such a Grinch.” She shook her head as she passed out of his apartment.

"What size tree did you get?" He met her stride. 

"Same as usual." She avoided his gaze. 

"Extra gigantic, right?" 

"You'll see." 

Aaron shook his head. "Same thing every year." 

She grinned. 

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TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "PUSH" - THE CHRISTMAS PARTY

 

Welcome! This week we have a new story! I'll be posting a bit of this story, tentatively titled, "The Christmas Party" every week until January 1. At that time, I'll finish the tale and put it up so you can read the finale. Thanks for stopping by.

Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales and the fine stories there. Thank you for stopping by. 

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“Get started calling. Confirm the venue, the Uber service, and the decorations. I’ll check on the food and liquor.”

“Okay.” She perused the list. “This is a lot of work for one lousy party.”

“It’s going to be a great party. The most monumental party in the world.”

“Just a Christmas party.”

“Not just a Christmas party. A liberation. You’ll see.”

“Are we getting engaged at Christmas?” She sidled up closer to him.

Aaron avoided her question. “Go on, get started.”

“Don’t push. I’m going.” As she closed the door, his phone rang --his father.

“You’re inviting me to a Christmas party?”

“The Christmas party. I want you to be a witness.”

“Witness to what?”

“Them meeting at the Christmas party. Then it’ll be over.” Aaron cradled his cell phone while he pulled a beer from the fridge.

“Over for who? Her? Or you?”

“Her, her, of course.” He headed for the kitchen.

“Come on, Aaron. We all know you’ve had the hots for this chick for like fifteen years.”

“You’re crazy. We’re just friends. She’s always wanted to be with Damian. And now she’ll get her chance. He’s finished with his last, can I say relationship? No, probably not. With his last whatever. And when I told him Patrice was coming, and showed him a picture of her now, he grinned. I couldn’t believe he actually remembered her from high school.”

“So she wants to be with him and he wants to be with her?”

“Not exactly. But she’ll finally get her chance.” He cradled his phone while he pulled a beer from the fridge.

“For a smart man, sometimes you can be so stupid.”

“What?”

“When are you going to make your play?”

“I have Crystal.” He popped the top.

“I hope you’re not going to propose to her.”

“I was planning to.”

“On Christmas? Why don’t you just put coal in my stocking?”

“Come on. She’s not that bad.”

“Yes, she is, and she hates me.”

“She doesn’t hate you.”

“Are we talking about the same girl? Crystal with the big boobs?”

“You’re grossing me out, Dad. Patrice spent five years talking about Damian Wood, like he’s some kind of god. I got the message.”

“And now?”

“Okay, maybe not so much now.”

“At all now?”

“Well, no. She said she’s just marking time with the other guys she’s dated.”

“How do you know?”

“Said she’s waiting for the right one. That means Damian.”

"You sure?"

"Positive." He took a swig of beer.

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TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT WEEK - "THE KISS" CONTINUES

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales, picture prompt week. We continue with "The Kiss" this week and can only post 300 words. Scroll down to return to the fine stories on Tuesday Tales. Thanks for stopping by. 

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    Allison opened the door to the cafe with clammy hands. Don already commandeered a booth. He waved. Her nerves kicked up into high gear. She slid in across from him. 

    "Where's Alex?"

    "Home, upstairs, watching his favorite movie."

    "He's okay alone?"

    Don nodded. "Hungry?"

    "Not really" 

   “I ordered some appetizers and your favorite red wine. Merlot, right?”

“You remembered.”

“I remember everything about our time together.”

The food and drink arrived. She took a sip, avoiding his stare.

“Okay. Truth time. Why did you leave like that and where did you go?”

She looked up. His look was questioning. Yes, it was time to tell him the truth.

“Okay. I hope you’re ready.”

“I am. I’ve got my seatbelt on. It was the kiss, wasn't it?”

She nodded. "After you kissed me like that, I got confused. I felt things I'd never felt before. Not with Spencer, anyway."

"What things?"

She sensed heat in her cheeks. "Desire. Crazy, wild desire."

Don wiggled his eyebrows.

"And love. Deep, soul-scorching, gut-penetrating love."

He took her hand. 

"And it shook me. Scared me. So I ran. When I got home, I realized I loved you more than I loved Spencer."

"If you'd stayed..."

She put her hand over his mouth. "Let me finish. I went to bed early, but my mind wouldn't shut off. In the morning, I had clarity. I knew what I had to do. For Robbie. Spencer had been toying with the idea of taking a job at a university in Cleveland. I encouraged him to do it. And then I bought plane tickets to Nebraska for Robbie and me."

"Nebraska?"

"Yes. My parents have a ranch there. I needed to get away from both of you. I needed to think, to breathe fresh air and sort out my life." 

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TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "SHOE" - THE KISS

 

Howdy! Welcome. This week we have the word prompt "shoe" and another excerpt of "The Kiss."  Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales and the excellent stories there. Thanks for stopping by. 

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Allison shot him a questioning glance, but he simply shrugged. She filed it away to ask again. Maybe when their sons weren’t around? He gave her a half smile and hurried to catch up with the boys.

Standing in front of the monkeys, Don laughed at the antics of the furry creatures. Allison remembered the day he tried to say the Peter Piper rhyme.

“What’s funny? He asked, bending down to tie his shoe. 

“Remember the Peter Piper thing? Try it again. Maybe you can do it now?”

He waved his hand. “Nah. The boys are too old now.”

“Aw, come on.”

“Yeah, Dad. Come on.”

“Do it,” Robbie chimed in.

As he stumbled over the words, brutalizing the rhyme, Allison lost it. He finally cracked up so bad he couldn’t go on.

I love a man who can laugh at himself.

When they calmed down, they moved on to the next exhibit.

“How long are you in town?” Don hung back.

“Just this weekend. Sunday night, Robbie goes to stay with his father.”

“Where is Spencer living?”

“He’s up by Columbia. Since Spencer refuses to pick him up, I drop Robbie off. Then I’ll catch a bus back to Pine Grove. You still in Manhattan?”

“I got custody of the apartment until the end of this school year. When Alex starts high school, I’ll have to move.”

Allison gripped his forearm. “Come to Pine Grove! I’ve got Robbie enrolled in a small private school out there. I bet they have room for Alex.”

His face lit up. “He’d like that. Can we talk Sunday, after you take Robbie uptown?”

“I’ll be late.”

“Stay over one more night. You’re not working tomorrow, right?”

“Right. School aides don’t work in the summer.”

“If it’s too expensive for you, I'll spring for the room. We need to talk. At least, I need to talk to you.”

“Deal with one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“You tell me the truth about why you left Mary.”

“Deal.” He grasped her hand and shook it.

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

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TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "FLY"

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week the word prompt is "fly". We have another episode of "The Kiss." Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales. Thank you for stopping by. 

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The boys chattered away about the monkeys. Robbie wanted to see the gorillas. He and Alex ran ahead. Don fell back, matching his leisurely pace with Allison’s. So, she finally got rid of that bum, Spencer. Is she dating anyone? Can I ask? Am I going to look stupid? Desperate? Am I desperate? Well, maybe a little. He sidled up to her. 

 “How long have you been divorced?” 

“Three years. You?” 

“Almost four.” 

Her eyebrows shot up. “Four? You split from Mary not long after we left?” 

Don looked at his hands and felt the heat rise in his chest. Was he ready for her to know the truth? It was the next day. Right after the kiss. He woke up and knew he didn’t love Mary anymore. Maybe never had loved her. He started proceedings within the month. Would he tell Allison? No way! He’d never had a kiss like it before, or since. Sure, he’d started dating, sort of. But no one could compare to Allison. So his dating had tapered off until he spent most of his time with Alex or on his own. He wouldn’t tell Allison that either. 

 “Why did you leave Spencer?” Best defense was a good offense. Get her story before he revealed his truth. He stopped to buy cold beverages from a stand. 

“You saw us together. You have to ask?” She swatted at a fly buzzing around her iced tea. 

He laughed. He still had no clue why she married the man. Controlling to the point of mean was putting it nicely. He couldn’t count the number of times he wanted to bash his smug face in. Of course, he didn’t do it. 

 “Good point. You guys weren’t exactly a match made in heaven.” 

 “As long as we’re being honest…” 

“Are we?” He stared at her. 

 She stopped and put her hands on her hips. “So, Don, tell me. Why did you leave Mary?”

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TUESDAY TALES

 

Welcome! Our word prompt this week is "multiply". We have another snippet from "The Kiss". Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales. Thank you for coming. 

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As they wended their way through the enormous animal park, Allison and Don fell into their old ways. They talked about what it was like to have a middle schooler, swapping stories about their boys driving them crazy. Always ahead, the boys were in their own world.

“Robbie faces off with me at the slightest disagreement. He’s so sensitive. And controlling!”

“Alex and I wrestle to see who’s going to cook dinner. Half the time, I let him win.”

Laughter came as easy as it had five years earlier. Finally, Don grew serious.

“Mary and I divorced four years ago.”

Allison looked at her hands before facing him. “I know.”

“Alex?”

She nodded. “Seems he and Robbie have been in close communication.”

“Yeah. Should’ve figured.” They fell into an easy step as they strolled together to the next exhibit.

“Spencer and I split up, too.”

“Alex told me.” He steered them toward the elephants, where the boys were headed.

She laughed. “Boy, they should write a spy novel together. What a couple of plotters!”

“They wanted to get us together. Why do you think that is?” Don smiled.

“Oh, I can guess why Robbie did it.”  Allison fussed with the hem of her T-shirt.

“Can you?”

“Yes. But you’ll never pry it out of me.”

“I know why.” He took her hand, closing his fingers gently around hers.

“You do?” She raised her eyebrows. His statement multiplied her curiosity. 

 “Of course.”

“Well, aren’t you going to tell me?” She shot him a flirtatious glance.

“Should I? You wouldn’t tell me.”

“I’m guessing it’s the same reason.” She tightened her grip on his hand.

“Maybe it is.”

“Come on. The suspense is killing me.”  She stopped and faced him.

“Okay. Alex told me that I was happier when I was with you than I was with Mary. Happier meaning, nicer. Nicer to him. And he’s happier when I’m with you than with his mother.”

Allison took a deep breath.

“Is that what you were going to say?”

“In a nutshell. Sort of. Robbie didn’t fight us about the divorce. He seemed relieved. Later, much later, he told me the same thing. Asked me how come I was so different when I was with you than when I was with Spencer.”

“And what did you tell him?” Don stopped.

“I said I didn’t know and changed the subject.” She looked up at the sky.

He narrowed his eyes and dropped her hand. “That’s not true.”

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TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT

 

Welcome! It's picture prompt week. That means I select a photo to write to and keep the snippet 300 words or less. So we have another installment of "The Kiss" this week. Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales. Thanks for stopping by. 

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When Don took the boys for ice cream, Allison watched the elephants. One of the elephants sprayed his handler with water from a bucket. The man ripped off his shirt and went inside. The site of his naked back brought up a flashback. It was the day of the last street fair. Don had been in the dunking booth. A teenager had finally hit the mark and he was drenched. After climbing out of the water, he stripped of his shirt.

She remembered staring at his back, his perfect back. She’d never seen him shirtless before. Desire had raced through her, tingling every part of her body. He kept talking to her, then turned around. She thought she’d have an orgasm right on the spot.

The memory of his physical perfection lit old flames. It had come before the big event, but led up to it. Her sudden physical awareness of him way beyond simple friendship had embarrassed her so much, she’d made up an excuse and fled.

She stood at the railing, unseeing, old, dormant feelings coursing through her veins anew as if she was a horny teen. She sensed a flush creep up her chest to her face. Had she ever wanted Spencer the way she'd wanted Don on that hot, steamy afternoon in the schoolyard? Talk about inappropriate!

Don returned with the boys in tow. They said something she didn’t hear. He touched her shoulder.

“Hey, Allison? You all right?”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

“You’re all red. Let’s find some shade.”

He led them to a bench under a tree. But shade wouldn’t fix what was wrong with her. She made an excuse and hurried to the ladies’ room. Maybe splashing cold water on her face would help. And maybe it wouldn’t.   

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TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "BROWN"

 

It's time for Tuesday Tales again. This week we have another episode of "The Kiss." And, yes, it's another cliffhanger, I'm afraid.  Don't forget to scroll down to get back to Tuesday Tales and the excellent stories there. Thanks for coming!

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Allison opened her mouth, but no words came out. It's like her brain had done a brown out. She’d dreaded running into Don again. It’s one reason she bought a small house in Pine Grove when she and Spencer split up. And what if, by some wild chance, she did run into him? She had a treasury of glib responses, like “it was time to move on.” Or “I needed a change” or even, “Spencer took a job in Cleveland.” By not returning to New York, she’d never have to confront him, or face the embarrassing truth. When Robbie had begged to come to the City for a weekend and go to the Zoo, she’d run out of reasons to put off the trip. Now she knew why he wanted to come.  

So here they were, and the moment she’d feared had arrived. Confronted by Don, in person, not in a dream, she simply could not speak. She pushed to her feet and wandered over to the water fountain. Before she could take a drink, Don grabbed her arm.

“I’m waiting. I think you owe me an explanation, don’t you?”

His angry expression had turned to pain. Tears stung at the backs of her eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Don any more than she already had. She raised her eyes to his.

“It was the…” he began.

She put her hand over his mouth, stopping his words. Blinking rapidly, she nodded. Once again, they’d communicated without words. Old pain returned, constricting her chest. She raised full eyes to his. She saw sympathy and something else. But there wasn’t time to figure it out. 

Robbie and Alex burst out of the reptile house, chattering away, laughing and joined them. Allison turned away, taking a deep, shuddering breath. No way could she break down in front of Robbie. He’d demand an explanation she’d refuse to give.

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TUESDAY TALES!

 

Welcome! It's time for Tuesday Tales again. Here's another episode of "The Kiss" this week. This is a story-in-progress. So please be kind, but do leave a comment! Scroll down to the link to return to Tuesday Tales and the fine stories there. Thanks for stopping by. 

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

Tongue-tied, she checked the battery on her cellphone. Anything to avoid his probing stare. She didn’t think she’d ever see him again, yet here he was, sitting next to her on a bench, just like old times. How many benches did they warm in the schoolyard afterschool? Or in the park on weekends? The kids played and they sat and talked, and talked, and talked. The conversation started off polite –where you went to school, where you grew up –boring.

It was but a month, if she remembered right, before conversation got interesting. Politics, marriage, sex – no topic was off limits. New to marriage, motherhood and the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Allison had come from Nebraska seeking a Master’s degree in literature at Columbia.

Spencer Wyman had been her professor, mentor, and advisor. Totally swept off her feet, she was married and a mother within two years –her degree forsaken in favor of raising Robbie and catering to Spence.

Don had become her first friend and confident in New York. A second time parent –though he swore raising a girl was different—he had plenty of sound advice for a nervous first-time mom.

At the end of the second grade, their friendship came to an abrupt halt. Allison and Robbie left without so much as a “goodbye.”

Sitting next to Don, she felt the heat of his stare, anger burning just below the surface. How long would it be before he asked the question? She guessed maybe thirty seconds. Smiling to herself, she’d nailed it.

“Why did you leave?"

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