TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "LEAFY"

 

Welcome! It's time for Tuesday Tales again. After taking a break for a week or two due to other oblidations, I'm back. And we have another episode of "Someone Like You." This week we actually make it too the dance...yes, I know, the part everyone has been waiting for! Once you finish my snippet, mosey on over to the other writers and read their terrific stories. 

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It was a warm night in June. The school dance took place on the back patio and lawn near the cafeteria. Charlotte parked her car, opened the door and got out carefully. Still a bit wobbly on the high heels Kitty had insisted she buy, she picked up her linen jacket and smoothed down the skirt of her dark teal silk dress. The skirt was full, but hung softly about her body, perfect for dancing, Callie had pointed out.

She grabbed the small white satin purse, locked her car and proceeded slowly to the venue. Music greeted her as she picked her way up the uneven path. A gentle breeze swayed the leafy trees shading the path. She inhaled the scents of spring.

“Spring might be my favorite season,” she mumbled to herself.

“Charlotte! There you are!” It was her brother, Corey, and his fiancee, Kitty. He grabbed her elbow and ushered her onto the dance floor. After pushing her brother away, she took a step back and gazed across the room.

Soft colored lights gave off a romantic glow. The music was soft and slow. Most of the dancing figures appeared in shadows. She raised her gaze to the other side of the dance floor and caught her breath. Standing alone by the punch bowl was Professor Mark Garrett. He looked tall, lean, and cool wearing a dark suit and a striped tie.

Her hands trembled and a zing shot through her body. Was he not the most handsome man in the room? Charlotte didn’t know because when he turned his head and made eye contact with her, the rest of the people in the room seemed to disappear.  

 

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

TUESDAY TALES - POWERFUL

 

Welcome! We have another installment of Tuesday Tales. This week we're writing to the word prompt "powerful." I have another snippet from  "Someone Like You." This time it's Charlotte and Derek interacting. 

Don't forget, when you're done reading to hop  on over and read the snippets from the wonderful Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE. 

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       At the lumber store, Derek Larch greeted her.

       “What are you building?”

“A bench. Do you have any wood on sale?” she asked.

“Whacha looking for?” he asked.

“Maybe teak. Or if that’s too expensive, white oak or cedar?”

“Yep. Cedar for sure. You making something for outside?” he asked.

“Yes.” She moved past him and headed for the lumber yard in the back.

“I can give you a good price on this,” he said, pulling out some cedar boards.

“Fine.”

“Got the design? Lemme see,” he said.

“No. That’s all right. I’ll measure and pick what I want.”

He gripped her arm. His eyes narrowed. “You ain’t makin’ this for some dude, are you?”

“None of your business,” she said,  squirming to get away but his grip was too powerful.

She planned to make a bench for the cemetery so Professor Garrett could sit when he visited his wife's grave. But it would be her secret.

“You belong to me and it’s time you realized it,” Derek said before releasing her.

“I don’t belong to anyone but myself.”

“You go ahead and think that. No one else wants a girl painter. But that suits me just fine.”

“You don’t know that. I’m not a girl. I’m thirty. I’m a woman. Just ring up the wood and let me be, Derek,” she said, as she retrieved the boards she wanted.

“I love you, Charlie. Always have,” he said, his voice softer. 

His admission stunned her. She didn’t know what to say. Was he right? Did she belong only to him. Did she have no chance with someone as refined as the Professor? Maybe it was true. She tossed her head to rid her mind of the notion that she wasn’t good enough for Mark Garrett, paid for the wood and left. 

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

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. 

 

TUESDAY TALES - "EASY"

 

Welcome! This week we're writing to the word prompt "Easy." We have another installment of my story, "Someone Like You." When you're done reading my story, please visit the other authors and read their tales. You can find them HERE.     

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   “Next makeup,” Callie said. She grabbed Charlotte’s arm. “Come on. This will take some time.”

Callie paid Pam, and the women bundled into the Caldwell’s SUV. They stopped at Kitty’s apartment to pick up supplies, then headed for the president’s residence.

Charlotte plopped down into a chair in front of a mirror.

“This transformation might take a little time. Be patient,” Kitty said. Callie strode into the room, balancing all sorts of scissors, tweezers, blush, powder, and eye shadow palettes.

“This is what I found in the cabinet. There’s probably more in the medicine chest.”

“Mom, that’s quite enough.”

“What are you going to do to me?” Charlotte asked. Her eyes grew big as saucers when she perused all the paraphenalia.

“Easy peasy. Just a few plucks and such,” Callie said, attempting to sound breezy, but not making eye contact with Charlotte.

The young guinea pig, pushed to her feet. “Wait a minute…”

Kitty pushed on her friend’s shoulder. “Relax. Everything’s gonna be okay.”

Charlotte eased back down in the chair, took a deep breath, swallowed. “Go ahead.”

Callie, tweezed. Kitty applied blusher. Callie added concealer. Kitty powdered over the cheeks. Callie added teal eye shadow and blended it with cream colored shadow to shade and add depth to Charlotte’s eyes. Kitty painted on eyeliner.

“Which color?” Kitty asked, holding up four lipsticks.

“Oh, this one. Definitely,” Callie said, plucking out a subtle peachy shade.

When they were finished, Charlotte stared at her reflection in the mirror. She didn’t recognize herself.

“Like it?” Callie asked.  

“Pop would keel over,” she murmured.

:”Maybe, but you’ll dazzle the professor,” Kitty said, sitting back, wearing a smug smile.

“Even my brother won’t recognize me.”

“But this is what you look like. Beautiful and glamorous. He’s a goner,” Callie sighed.

“Who’s a goner?” came a masculine voice, Mac Caldwell had returned from a meeting.

Callie shooed him out of the room.

"For the dress, I think we’ll have to go to New York,” she said.

“Yay! Road  trip!” Kitty said, clapping.  

That's all for this week. Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment. You'll make my day!

TUESDAY TALES "THRUST"

 

Welcome! We authors are writing to the word prompt "thrust" this week. My story is another excerpt from "Someone Like You." When you're done, hop on over to the other authors' work. Find them HERE. 

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Charlotte fidgeted with the buttons on her sweater as she sat in the beauty parlor chair. Behind her, Kitty, Callie, and Pam conducted a heated discussion on what to do with Charlotte’s hair. Pam pulled Charlotte’s hair back, then let it fall, she raised it up, then let it droop.

Charlotte watched in the mirror. The cacophony of voices all at the same time made her dizzy. She bit her lip and shut her eyes.

“The Look?” Pam said, holding a brush.

“Yes. That’s it. That’s perfect,” Callie said.

“I suppose so. But it might be a bit old school,” Kitty chimed in.

“The professor is a bit old school,” Callie said, lowering her voice.

That brought giggles from all the ladies.

Pam ushered Charlotte into a chair by the sink. She washed the young woman’s hair, conditioned it and put some addition goop on it.

“Come on, Sister. You’re ready,” Pam said.

Kitty and Callie sat in the waiting area. They put their heads together hunched over Kitty’s phone.

“Too short,” Callie said.

“Too slutty,” Kitty said.

“Too dreary,” Callie said.

“Too Middle School,” Kitty said.

“Maybe,” Callie said pointing to something.

Charlotte tried to watch them in the mirror in front of her, but kept being distracted by Pam cutting her hair. She figured they were looking at dresses for the dance.

Pam took her time, but finished at last. She picked up the hair dryer and brushed and shaped the glamorous hairstyle she’d created. When she finished, she twirled the chair around. A mirror was thrust into Charlotte’s hand.

“So you can see the back.”

Charlotte’s mouth hung open. Pam moved the chair again and Charlotte faced herself in the huge mirror.

“It’s…it’s…it’s…”

“I know. Beyond words. Fabulous. You look gorgeous,” Callie said, squeezing the young woman’s arm.

“Is it really me?” Charlotte asked.

“Oh yes. And we’re just getting started,” Kitty said. 

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

TUESDAY TALES - NOW

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales, where authors write to a different word prompt each week.  This week the word prompt is "now".  This week we have another excerpt from the Kenington State story. Don't forget to visit all the authors. You'll find the link to them HERE.

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“Kitty, do you mind if we use your old room?” Callie asked her daughter.

“Nope.”

“Good. Come in, Charlotte. Sit down at the dressing table. I’ll be right back,” Callie said, disappearing down the hall.

Charlotte stared at all the paraphenalia on the table. There were pencils in shades of blue, violet, and green. Pots half full of mysterious creams were clustered in a group. Some of those sparkled, while others ran the gamut from pink to peach.

“What are all these things for? It looks like the beauty counter at the big stores in New York,” Charlotte said, daring to pick up a pot of cream-colored goo.

 “They’re to make you beautiful,” Kitty said, pulling a chair next to her friend and plopping down.

“Hah!” Charlotte laughed. “You’ll need a whole lot more than a few pots of goop and colored pencils to turn me into anything presentable.”

Kitty gave her friend’s arm a gentle squeeze. “That’s not true. You’ll be surprised.”

“I certainly will. The mirror doesn’t lie.”

Callie swooped into the room, her arms loaded with supplies.

“Oh yes it does! You’ll see. When we get through with you, your real beauty will come forward.”

“What real beauty?” Charlotte drew her brows together.

“You’ll see,” Callie said. “Kitty, phone Pam. We need an appointment,” Callie said, fingering Charlotte’s thick, mahogany brown hair. “We need this gorgeous mop tamed before the dance.”

“Right, Mom,” Kitty said, picking up her phone. “Pam? We have a hair emergency. When can you squeeze us in. No, not for me or Mom, but for my friend, Charlotte. What? Perfect. We’ll be there.”

Callie picked up the tweezers.

“No time for that, Mom. Pam is holding a slot for us if we can be there in twenty minutes.”

“Oh, okay. Let’s go, now,” Callie said, dropping the tweezers on the dressing table.

“Pam? Hair emergency?” Charlotte pulled back her long hair with her hands.

“You have beautiful hair. But it needs to be shaped. You need a good haircut by a professional. We have a wonderful hairdresser who does our hair. She’s very talented.”

“Cut my hair?” Charlotte raised her eyebrows. 

“No, no. She’s not going to cut it all off. She’s’ going to shape it into a stunning hairdo. You’ll see. Trust us,” Callie said in a gentle tone.

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

Tuesday Tales - Pearl

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week we're writing to the word prompt "pearl." When you fibish my excerpt, hop on over to the stories by the other authors. Find them HERE. 

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Summoned to the president’s office, Charlotte waited outside. The big wooden doors burst open and Callie Caldwell bounced  out. 

“Charlotte! How nice to see you. Kitty has put me in charge of getting you ready for the dance.”  

“I appreciate you taking the time to help me, Mrs. Caldwell.” Charlotte stood.

“Please call me Callie. It’s going to be fun.” Callie clutched her chin as she circled the young woman. “Hmm. Seems a complete makeover is needed.”

Kitty Caldwell joined them. “Exactly, Mom.”

“Is this gonna hurt?” Charlotte asked, her brows knitted.

“Just a little. Around the eyebrows,” Callie said, staring at the girl.

“Ugh.”

“It’s necessary. If you want to be, uh, noticed, by the right men,” Kitty said.

“It’s part of looking your best,” Callie said.

“I know, I know. I’ll do whatever you say,” Charlotte frowned.

“Hmm. I think I know who you’re talking about. A slightly older guy?” Callie asked.

Charlotte felt her face flush. She nodded.

“Okay then. We definitely need pearls. You know older guys like pearls on women,” Callie said.

Kitty nodded.

“Older guys? Which older guys?” It was the deep voice of the president, Mac Caldwell.

“Never you mind,” Callie replied, placing a firm grip on Charlotte’s shoulders. “Come with me. We need to get started.” Callie steered Charlotte toward the door.

Mac laughed. “Women and their secrets.” He shook his head.

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

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT: YELLOW

 

and welcome! This is a small group of writers who write to a word prompt each week. This week the word prompt is "yellow." I have posted another excerpt from "Someone Like You", /When you've finished my story, read the excellent stories by the other authors. Find them HERE. 

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Charlotte went about sorting through her clothes, deciding what to take to her new home and what to throw away.

“Hmm. I’m going to need a dress for the dance,” she said to herself, rummaging through her closet. She came upon the dress she wore to her prom. It was old. Very old. The dress had been ivory, but now it had yellowed in places, making it look like something Cinderella wore before she became a princess.

“Ugh,” she said aloud. “I can’t wear this anywhere!” She threw it in the trash with such force she knocked the can over. “Piece of crap. I can’t wear anything like that. Professor Garrett is going to be there.” She sat down hard on her bed, fighting back tears. “I have nothing.”

Before she got into a full-fledged pity party, she got an idea.

“Kitty!” She picked up her phone and called Corey’s fiancee.

“Kitty, I need help. I don’t have anything to wear to the dance. It’s been years since I bought a fancy dress. I don’t even know where to begin, or where to go to find the right thing. Will you help me?”

“Are you kidding? Of course, I’ll help you. And we can ask my mom.”

“The President’s wife?”

“Yes. She’s my mother and she knows all about these things. She’d be great.”

“Oh thank you so much!”

“You’re going to be my sister-in-law. I’ll always help you in any way I can,” Kitty said.

“You’re the best!”

Charlotte hung up the phone. She lay back down on the bed and closed her eyes. Visions of exquisite gowns passed before her eyes. Yes, she’d enlist the help of anyone she could to help her be the belle of the ball. And get noticed by Professor Garrett.

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment. 

TUESDAY TALES - "PEOPLE"

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales. We have a short excerpt today from "Someone Like You", written to the word prompt "People." I hope you enjoy it and leave a comment. Then go on over to read the marvelous stories from the other authors. Find them HERE. 

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Charlotte managed not to get completely soaked running from the car to her father’s house. Her phone rang. It was her brother.

“Have you talked to dad recently?” he asked.

“You mean about selling the house and moving to Florida, yep.” She sank down in a comfy chair in the living room and watched the rain through the picture window.

“He’s crazy,” Corey said.

“No, he’s not. It works for me.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ve already found a place to live. A sublet, actually. And I think I’ve found a workshop, too.”

“You have? Where?”

Charlotte filled him in on the sublet situation, but hesitated when it came to the details for her workshop.

“Derek is going to let you have that space? How much?” Corey asked.

“Well…” she hesitated.

“What?”

“Four hundred a month,” she said, pushing up from the chair.  

“Can you afford that?” he asked.

“Yeah. I have some orders already for that table.”

“Derek doesn’t have the final say, does he?”

“Maybe not. But he said four hundred, People have to honor their word.”

“The way he feels about you, he might give it to you for free,” Corey said, laughing.

“Funny you should say that,,,” she began.

                                                                                                                          

 That'a all for this week. Thanks for stopping by. 

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "VIOLENT"

    

Welcome! It's another Tuesday! This week the talented authors of Tuesday Tales are writing to the word prompt "violent." I have another excerpt from "Someone Like You."  When you've finished reading my post, be sure to sample the posts of the amazing Tuesday Tales authors. You can find them HERE. 

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“Do you have to sell the house?” Charlie asked her father at breakfast.

“Yep. Need the money. But you’ve found a new place. You’ve got steady work. What’s the problem?”

“I need a workshop. My woodworking business is growing. The basement here has been perfect,” she said, adding milk to her coffee and refreshing her father’s cup.

“Thanks. Yeah, I know. I’m sorry about that. There must be a place – wait a minute! Isn’t there a back room for rent at the hardware store?” He took a muffin from the plate in the center of the table.

“Oh yes! That’s right. Derek told me about that a while ago. I wonder if it’s still available?”

“I bet it is. Can’t cost much. It was kinda small, if I recollect.”

“I’ll check it out.”

A loud crack of thunder made her jump. She peeked out the window. Angry clouds roiled around. A storm was coming. 

"I'd better go before the storm hits," she said, leaving the table. 

Charlie climbed into her car and sped to the hardware store.

When he heard the bell over the door, Derek looked up. He stopped stacking cans of varnish and greeted her.

“Well, howdy, Charlie. Been a long time. How you doin’?”

“I’m fine, Derek. You?”

“Can’t complain. What can I do for you?” He wiped his hands on his work apron.

“I was wondering if you still have that small room in the back for rent?”

“Yep. Can’t seem to find anyone who can use such a small space.”

“It’s big enough for a workshop, though, right?”

“A one-person workshop. Yep.I think you. You thinkin’ about renting it?”

“Actually I was. How much is it?” She sauntered over to the paint color charts and flipped through some paint chips.

“For most people, four hundred. But for you, nothing. Just benefits.” He leered at her.

“Benefits?” She cocked an eyebrow.

“Yeah. I can give it to you for free, if you, uh, cooperate,” he said, drawing closer.

The storm broke. A sharp crack of thunder and a streak of lightning drew her attention. Rain pelted the roof violently. 

Derek ran his forefinger down her cheek. "Don't go out in the storm. We can start the benefits now," he said. 

She swallowed. 

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

 

TUESDAY TALES - QUAINT

 

Welcome to the blog where writers write to a word prompt. This week the word prompt is "quaint". I have another excerpt from my work-in-progress titled, "Someone Like You." When you finished, hop on over to read the works by the other authors. You'll find them HERE. 

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Tom opened the quaint little cookie tin, and sat it in the middle of the kitchen table. They took their usual seats at the table.

“Well,” Tom said, fiddling with his spoon trying to swallow the lump in his throat.

“I’m moving out, Pop,” Charlie blurted out.

He looked up, his eyes wide. “You what?”

“I’m sorry, but it’s time.”

Tom laughed. “I was going to say the same thing to you!”

“What?” Charlie stared. “What do you mean?”

“I’m selling the house and moving to Florida. I’m going to live with my sister. Helene needs help and can’t afford much. So I’m going to sell and move in with her. Doctor told me I have to stop working. Ticker trouble.” Tom avoided Charlie’s stare.

“When did all this happen?” She asked.

“Today.”

“Today? Really?”

“The doctor has been telling me to cut back. To lose weight, eat healthy, and stuff.”

“I know that.”

“He said the winter here isn’t good for me. I should move to a warmer climate.”

“That’s probably true for three-fourths of the population here,” she murmured.

“Then I spoke to Helene today. She didn’t want to call me, but she’s at the end of her rope. She can’t walk too good. She doesn’t have the money to hire help. I figured my moving down there would be good for both of us.”

“You’re going to sell the house?” Charlie asked.

“Yep. It’s paid up. I need the cash. It’s about time you lived on your own, anyway.”

Charlie burst out laughing. “That’s exactly what I was going to tell you. I’ve been saving up. I found a sublet. I'll find a new place in the fall.”

Tom wiped the sweat off his forehead. He let out a sigh of relief and smiled. “That’s good news.”

“Are you sure you can get along with Helene?” Charlie asked.

“She’s not quite so high and mighty now she needs help,” he said with a chuckle. “I ain’t leavin’ you with nothin’. I savin' a bit from what you made and put it in a safe place.It’s grown. So you’ll have a nestegg to get you started.”

Charlie’s eyes watered. “You did that?”

“I knew you’d need your own money someday,” he said, struggling to keep the tremor out of his voice.

“Oh, Pop!” Charlie burst into tears and leaped up from the table.

When her father stood, she threw herself into his arms.

 

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

 

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "BROWN"

Welcome! This week our authors are writing to the word prompt "brown." I have another episode from 

"Someone Like You.". When you're finished stop by and read the other authors' stories. You'll find them 

HERE.  

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 “It’s settled then, Martha,” Tom Anderson said, then hung up the phone. He rubbed his stubbly chin as 

he thought about how he’d break it to his daughter. He put up another pot of coffee, then paced while 

the machine brewed.

Charlotte had always been his little girl, though he treated her more like a son than a daughter. When Corey had gone off to college and Tom’s wife passed away, Charlotte and Tom had only each other. They had grown close.

Only now with the changes coming down the pike did he realize how he’d protected her, kept her from striking out on her own. He’d always been there to take care of her and she’d always been there to take care of him.

Had he stood in her way of finding a young man and getting married? Maybe. He drew his eyebrows together as guilt gnawed at him. She’d seemed content to follow along, learn carpentry, and spend her time painting walls and working with wood. He had to admit she had a talent for creating perfect furniture. Clean lines, perfect finishes, unique designs gave her work an audience of wealthy buyers.

Over the years, Tom had kept back some of the money she’d earned. It was easy to do as she left the bookkeeping up to him. He’d squirreled it away a safe investment and over the years it had grown to quite a nest egg.

He smiled for a moment at his wisdom. Now he could sell the house, keep the proceeds to live on for himself, and turn over the money he’d saved for her without feeling guilty. The time had come for them to go their separate ways. His eyes wetted at the thought of leaving Charlotte. He had no choice.

When he heard her car door slam, he steeled himself for the conversation he had to have. The coffeemaker wheezed. He poured himself a cup, then went to the cupboard and took out a bottle of rum. He added a liberal splash to the dark brown liquid in his mug, then faced the door.

Charlotte entered.

“Hi, Pop,” she said, dropping her car keys in a bowl in the kitchen. “Coffee fresh?”

“Yep,” he said, taking a mug down from the cabinet, and reaching for the sugar bowl.

“No sugar,” she said.

“Oh, yeah. Forgot.” He filled the mug and handed it to her. “Sit down, Charlie. We gotta talk.”

She chuckled. “Funny, I was going to say the same thing to you.”

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