TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "CHAOS"

 Welcome! This week we have more of Robbie Anthony's story. He got Dale into his apartment for the night. Will she be safe? She discovers a bookcase full of paperbacks. Which book does she pick? Don't forget to hop on over to the great Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE. Thanks for coming.

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

Robbie ended the call. Tuffer was right. Proposal was the only thing. Dale would probably say “no”, but he had to try. For a moment he allowed his mind to take a flight of fancy. What if she said “yes”? Best sex ever and being with Dale every day. Cooking together. The dream was too big. His eyes filled. Everyone he knew thought being a professional football player was the dream of a lifetime. Hah! What did they know? Totally wrong. Having a loving family was his dream of a lifetime. The notion he might get it overwhelmed him. He brushed a few stray tears off his cheeks, then picked up the axe and went back to work.

When he finished, he stacked the wood in a neat pile. Then he carted a load inside and set up a fire in the fireplace.

“Lunch!” Came Dale’s voice from the kitchen. Robbie washed up then joined Dale and her parents at the table. The rest of the company had departed right after breakfast. Robbie chowed down on the delicious sandwich, then piled his plate high with reheated potatoes and stuffing from the bowls on the table.

“This meal is almost as good as yesterday’s,” he said.

“So, tell me, Robbie. What are your plans?” Ralph asked.

“You mean about football?”

“About life. Where are you going and all that crap.” Ralph took a bite of his sandwich.

Robbie paused. Should he tell the truth? Spill the beans he planned to marry Dale? One glance around the table told him to keep it to himself. Dale would probably kill him if he told her parents before he got her consent. Still, the urge to treat them like family already gripped his heart. A new kind of chaos for him. 

“Oh. Well, gee. No specific plans right now. But some day I’d sure like to have a nice family like you have, Ralph.”

Dale choked on a mouthful of potatoes. Her father pounded her back. She stared at a grinning Robbie. He left the table to retrieve a glass of water and handed it to Dale. After she took a healthy drink, she raised her gaze to his. 

“Really? Since when?” she asked.

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

That's it for this week. Thanks for stopping by.

TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT!

 

Welcome! This is picture prompt week and all posts must not be over 300 words. We're still on The Kicker's Story, Part 1. Robbie's out chopping wood. He takes a break to call his pal, Tuffer Demson. And we get a chance to listen in. Please excuse the locker room language. It's the way two guys would speak to each other without others present. 

When you're finished, hop on over to the other stories by the wonderful Tuesday Tales writers. Find them HERE. 

      

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

Robbie put down the axe and picked up his phone. He simply had to call Tuffer Demson, his only friend.

“Hey, Rob. What’s up?”

“It’s happened.”

“What’s happened? You okay?”

“Probably not. I’ve fallen.”

“Are you hurt? Did you call 911?”

Robbie laughed. “No, no. In love. Fallen in love.”

“You? No way. Come on. It’s not April Fool’s Day.”

“Seriously, Tuffer.” Robbie plopped down on a tree stump.

“You fell for Dale?”

“And her whole family. Man, these are the nicest people in the world.”

“No kidding? Really?”

“Really.”

“Congratulations, dickwad! I been saying it’d happen one day.”

“And you were right.”

“So what are you gonna do about it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you told her yet?”

“No. Just figured it out this morning.”

“Did you sleep with her yet?”

“Last night. And it was amazing. Now I know the difference between fucking and making love.”

Tuffer laughed. “It’s about time.”

“I’m only twenty-eight.”

“Are you going to propose?”

“Me? She’d never believe it.” Robbie paced.

“Oh yes she would. Especially if you’ve got a ring.”

“A diamond?” He raised his eyebrows.

“Yep.”

Silence. Robbie hadn’t considered the next step. He figured he’d lose her, like he lost everything else that ever mattered. Maybe not?

“I need a ring?” Robbie sat down on a stump again.

“There’s a jewelry store in town. That’s where I bought mine.”

“Will you go with me?”

Tuffer laughed. “You’re not afraid to face the goal posts, the defensive line, and a football, but you’re afraid to pick out a diamond ring?”

“Shut up, Tuffer.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll go with you. Not wasting any time, are you?”

“I don’t want to lose her,” he pushed to his feet.

“The guys’ll shit their pants when they find out.”

“Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

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

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by. 

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "LUCK"

Welcome! We go straight from Robbie's conversation with Dale's mother to her conversation with her father today. Don't forget to hop on over to the excellent Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE.  

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

Dale pulled out bread and set up for making turkey sandwiches.

“So when’s the wedding?” Ralph asked.

“Dad!”

“What’s wrong? We like him. Obviously, you like him,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

Dale slapped his arm gently.

“Well, it’s plain as the nose on your pretty face,” He tweaked her nose.

“Dad! Robbie doesn’t want to get married.” She pulled out a jar of mayo.

“What? Every man wants to get married.”

She shook her head. “Not Robbie.”

“Did he tell you that?” Ralph picked up a carving knife and went to work on what was left of the turkey.

“Yes.”

“Then you’re a fool, daughter dear.”

“Why?”

“What’d you bring him here for? Why are you seeing him? You want to get married and have a family. Why are you hanging around a guy who doesn’t?”

She shrugged. No way could she tell her father she’d fallen under Robbie’s spell and couldn’t stay away.

“Think of where I’d be if I hadn’t married your mother? She makes a very comfortable life for me. I’m a lucky man. Honestly. I don’t believe Robbie doesn’t want that. Look at how he jumped at every chance to help?”

“He did.” Dale spread mayo thickly on each slice of bread.

“And he wasn’t playin’. I could tell. The man needs a family.”  Ralph placed neat slices of turkey on a plate.

“I agree. But he has other ideas.” She doled out turkey to each sandwich.

“Yeah? Not after this weekend.”

“Maybe you’re right.” She couldn’t think that way. Hoping Robbie had changed because of one weekend’s exposure to her family was unrealistic. It would lead to heartbreak.

Dale rummaged through the fridge until she found lettuce and tomato.

“Here. You slice the tomato. No one slices like you,” Dale said, handing two generous tomatoes to her father.

He laughed. “You’re just like your mother. She uses flattery like that to get me to do things, too. And it always works. I’m a sucker for that woman. And for you, too, Sister.” He picked up the first tomato and settled it securely on his carving board. “He seems like a smart guy. But if he lets you get away, the man’s a damn fool.”

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

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by.