Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week, the word prompt is "bark." We have another excerpt from "Some Kind of Wonderful." Poor Jeff, looks like he just can't win...
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“Mom, this is Susan Mueller.”
Martha Barrett spoke.
“Nice to meet you. Did you come all the way from New York?”
“I'm sorry but the traffic was terrible. Did I miss the funeral?”
“You did. It’s
okay. You’re here now. Thanks for coming.”
“You know I
support you, Jeff.”
Martha gave a wan smile and returned to her other guests.
“There’s some terrific food here. Come on. The fried chicken is amazing.”
“Fried? No, no.
You know I don’t eat fried food.”
“Come on.” Jeff
took her elbow and led her into the dining room. She rejected everything except
the fruit salad.
“That looks good.”
“Fruit salad?
That’s all?”
“I’m not really
hungry.”
Susan filled a small bowl with watermelon and blueberries, then joined him. “Do you know all these people?”
“I grew up with
these people.” Jeff plopped back down in the comfy chair and eyed his plate.
“Country folks?”
“Good people.” He attacked a chicken leg.
“Really?”
“Don’t be such a
city girl.” He took a big bite.
“You didn’t inherit a house, did you?” She poked at the fruit, eying each berry carefully.
“Nope. Just the
town bar. I think. Haven’t had the will read yet.”
“And you’re going
to sell it right away and come back to New York, right?” She speared a small
piece of watermelon and put it in her mouth.
“I’ll burn it down
then return to the City.” He took a forkful of potato salad.
“Oh, good. Because
this is not some place I want to live.” Making a face, she put the small bowl
on the windowsill.
Jeff eyed her. “I don’t remember asking you to live here.”
Flustered, she put
her fork in the bowl and twisted her napkin. “I mean, well, we are serious,
aren’t we?”
“I don’t know. Are
we?” He grabbed a wing.
She mopped her
upper lip. “I know you haven’t said anything. And I’ve wondered why. But I just
assumed.” She lowered her gaze to her hands.
Jeff put his hand
on her forearm. “Never assume with me. Okay?”
She stiffened.
“Okay. Got it.”
He caressed her
skin with this thumb. “I like you a lot Susan. Just not into commitment right
now.”
“Fine,” she barked. If her
back got any straighter, he could iron a shirt on it.
They finished
eating in silence. Jeff polished off a piece of pie. “Come on, show me where you parked and I’ll
get your suitcase.”
“I’m only staying
one night.”
“Right. Work. I
remember.”
Susan led the way
out of the house and to the curb where her silver Lexis was parked.
“I thought maybe
you could take a couple of days off. I’d like to show you around town.”
“Show me around? If I blinked, then I’d miss it when I drove
Great job creating Susan. I wanted to escort her out the door! What a snob. I hope he stays away from commitment with her.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I don't think Susan is going to last very long.
ReplyDeleteUgh that Susan!
ReplyDeleteThis is SUPERB! I absolutely love how he is eating all the way through her snobby disapproval-- attacking his chicken leg, getting potato salad, grabbing a wing, polishing off pie-- brilliant. AND the way he tells her not to assume but still touches her arm to soften the warning-- love that and this line: "If her back got any straighter, he could iron a shirt on it."
ReplyDeleteI agree, Flossie. I love how he keeps on doing his thing while she is a snotty heifer. I like how he handled her suppositions. Of course, he was a bit unkind but he matched her tone and needed to put her in her place. Well done, Jean.
DeleteWow. She’s a piece of work. I’m glad she came but she’s anything but supportive. Great job introducing her!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness - she has to go - back to the City with her!
ReplyDeleteGreat snippet, I really enjoyed reading it. I felt like I was standing there beside him watching him devour the tasty food.