TUESDAY TALES - GRAY

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week we are writing to the word prompt "gray". Don't forget to visit all the blogs and read the fine stories from the rest of the Tuesday Tales authors. Find the links to their blogs HERE! We have another episode of The Kicker story this week. Please leave a comment. We love to hear from you! 

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At the Bentley house, Marge finished wrapping up a plate of cookies.

"Oh, Tyler, I forgot! Your Secret Santa."

"What?"

"You know that we do a Secret Santa every year. Since you showed up so late, you got the girl who showed up later, too."

"Who?"

"Merrily Adams. We'll find something around here to give her. I bet I have some costume jewelry…"

Tyler put his hand on his mother's arm. "Don't worry. I've got the perfect gift."

She raised her eyebrows. "You do?"

He nodded and climbed the stairs with a slow, but determined step. When he got to his room, he threw open his suitcase. He rummaged through one of the pockets until his fingers encountered a small package wrapped in smooth, silvery gray paper with a huge dark blue bow covering the entire top. He tossed it from hand to hand.

Inside the little box was a diamond heart outline on a white gold chain. He'd moseyed into an excusive, small  jewelry store in Las Vegas. Sitting proudly in the window, the necklace had caught his eye. While he didn't know if his girlfriend, Brittany, was "the one" and he was far from ready to propose, the diamond necklace seemed a good compromise.

Not two days after he'd been fired, he woke up to find a scrap of a brown paper bag with a note scrawled on it, waiting for him on his kitchen table.

Sorry, Ty. This won't work for me. Good luck.

 Brittany

Like a dagger right into his heart, he'd never forget her note. They'd only been together for six months. But he'd hoped she was the one. His six-figure salary got him thinking about marriage and kids. He'd sure be able to afford it. Then he wouldn't be alone and would have a family to count on.

Truth was,  he wasn't surprised when Brittany beat it out of his place so fast. An aspiring actress, she'd counted on the publicity of being his girlfriend to help her get auditions. He had to laugh. Unemployed, he'd be of no more use to her.

He'd laid out two grand for the delicate piece. After she'd dumped him, he'd almost forgotten about it.Why keep the necklace? Give it to this Adams chick. What the hell? It's not like he could return it or sell it or anything. Best to let it go. He ran a finger over the smooth satin ribbon. What a waste! Maybe it could make Merrily happy. Why not, eh?

Tuesday Tales - Word Prompt "Hair"

 

Welcome! This week we have another episode of the kicker's story, but this time, it's just about the women. We hope you enjoy the snippet. Don't forget to visit the other authors and read their marvelous work. Find them HERE. Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to leave a comment. Love the feedback!

Courtney, Merrily and Connie packed up their Secret Santa gifts in a shopping bag. The Pine Grove Christmas party always took place on December 23. Every time Connie Adams talked about the party with fevered anticipation, Courtey rolled her eyes.

"If you don't stop doing that, your eyes are going to freeze like that." Merrily said.

"Right. These small town things. I mean, it's Christmas and is there going to be champagne? No. Hot mulled wine? No. Probably no booze at all." She huffed.

"There will be kids there."

"I don't go to parties like this. I go to parties, where they serve shrimp and champagne."

"I remember when you couldn't wait to get to the big Christmas party. You couldn't wait to see how Tyler liked your Christmas present. And how you couldn't wait to make out with him behind the firehouse." Connie laughed. "And you thought we didn't know!"

Courtney laughed. "Oh, yeah. I remember. Damn it was cold out there. You had to keep a liplock to keep from freezing!"

"You two were the cutest couple. I wanted to be just like you," Merrily said.

Courtney faced her sister and softened her tone. "There never was anyone like Tyler for you, though, was there?"

Merrily tossed her lustrous, dark hair "Nope. Never enough guys to go around."

Courtney wiggled her eyebrows. "Bet you made up for it in college."

Merrily sensed a deep red creeping up her neck. "I did okay."

Her sister howled with laughter.

"Yeah, I figured. Pretty girl like you – you'd have to beat the guys off with a stick," their mother said. 

"Uh, beat them off?" Merrily cocked an eyebrow at her sister.

The two young women fell together, snorting and laughing so hard tears wetted their cheeks.

"What's so funny?' Connie Adams asked.

TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT WEEK

 

Welcome! This is picture prompt week. We write to a picture and can't post more than 300 words. It's a challenge. We have another episode of the Kicker's story. Don't forget to visit the amazing TT authors. Find their stories HERE.  Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to leave a comment. 

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He stopped at a copse of pine trees on the right.

Shielded by shadows, he watched through the big front room window. He saw their stunning, full Christmas tree, Courtney, Merrily, and their mother. The women drank wine and sat on the sofa talking and laughing.

The urge to join them grew strong. To be accepted, to laugh at old memories and rekindle old fires. Yearning swelled in his chest. If he knocked on the door, would they let him in? Courtney had dumped him after the prom. She probably wouldn't be interested in seeing him again. Tears stung at the backs of his eyes. Just to have a hug and a "I'm so glad to see you!" from her would go a long way to soothe his feelings.

As if she could feel his presence, Courtney stood and went to the window. She looked up at the sky. Instinctively, Tyler stepped back, further into the darkness. Then the other young  woman joined her. Damn! The young woman had short dark hair in the same cut as the ice skater. That had been Merrily Adams.

He smiled and held his breath, keeping perfectly still. A bird fluttered by, but Tyler didn't budge. Finally they left the window. Courtney drew the curtain. It was safe for him to go. He hurried down the street, hoping to stay hidden. The last thing he needed was to be accused of being a peeping tom. Damn! Sweat started under his arms and his breathing quickened as he walked faster and faster, finally breaking into a run. He had to get home. When he reached his mother's house, he bent over, breathing hard. The front light was out as if  they  didn't expect him, as if he no longer belonged there. 

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "STOOP"

 

Welcome! This week's episode of The Kicker's Story is sort of especially fitting at this time. See if you can guess why. Don't forget to visit all the wonderful stories. Find them HERE.  Don't forget to leave a comment. Thanks for stopping by. 

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She stopped at a private dock, not in use during the winter, and shed her fleece pants and down jacket, revealing a dark purple skating outfit and flesh-colored tights. The thermometer at home read twenty degrees, plenty warm enough. She stooped to lace up her skates. The long sleeves weren't enough to keep her warm and the kicky little skirt barely covered her butt. The flesh-color tights helped. She folded her clothes neatly, picked up her iPad and skated out on the ice. She searched for her favorite warm-up music, "The Skater's Waltz", and pressed.

The intro gave her time to get her position.  She struck a pose, then went into her routine. The music was lively and cheerful. She smiled as she repeated a routine, she'd done at least a thousand times. The movements worked into her limbs flowed naturally and in time with the music. Gliding along, she increased her speed and did some twirls, but didn't execute any jumps. This was to warm up. Jumps would come later. Flipping from skating forward to backward, she made a wide circle. Her innate grace positioned her arms perfectly. Even her critical sister said no one was more beautiful on the ice than Merrily Adams. Happiness danced through her veins more and more with every bar of music.

Her concentration forced all other thoughts from her head. She forgot stupid ole Cheever McCoy, and Chad, her former skating partner who still pursued her. Gone were the worries about her job, the Olympics, her sister, and even her mother. Gliding along the ice, all she heard were the strains of violins. All she felt was cool air rushing along her slender body, and the hard slickness of the ice underneath her feet.  

When the song finished, she sliced to a halt in front of the machine and switched pieces of music. Jumping up, she launched into a routine she'd developed to "All That Jazz." It was one she used for the ice show at school. The students had loved it and it drew a standing ovation from the parents. Performance anxiety, coupled with an ankle injury, had shut her professional career down prematurely. But here on the lake, totally alone, she shed misgivings and worries and simply skated her best, freely, unencumbered by the judgments of others.

The music inspired her as she twirled, jumped, and danced to her hearts delight.