TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "DECENT"

 

Welcome! This week we're writing to the word prompt "decent". I have more of my young adult story, "Skit the Scout and Me." When you're done here, do check out the other stories. You'll find them HERE. 

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Grandma cooked a big lunch meal, barbecued chicken with lots of vegetables from their garden, I’m guessing. Damn. They were a whole lot better than the stuff we got in the City. My mother had talked about what a good cook Grandma was and how she couldn’t measure up.

I must say, just from that one meal alone, I had to agree. Oh, yeah. Forget the meal – the homemade strawberry rhubarb pie was amazing! I’d never eaten anything like that before. I had new reason to hope. While it would probably be my worst summer, with no friends and working my ass off, it was bound to be the best food summer of my life. Meals would be way better than decent, like Mom’s.

I laughed to myself. I’d never seen Charles eat so much food. He always said he was watching his weight when he ate at our house. Now I know better. He didn’t want to insult mom’s cooking! He had two pieces of pie, TWO!

“Maybe you could get some cooking tips from your Mother-In-Law,” he said. I almost spit up from laughing. Mom made a face and glared at him. Guess “Charles, the diplomat” wasn’t so diplomatic after all.

When it was over, Mom and Charles took way too long with goodbyes with me and the grandparents. Then they jumped into his fancy car and sped off. I stood looking after the car for a long while. Don’t really know what I felt. Sad? Yeah. Relieved? Maybe. Scared? For sure.

My grandmother came up quietly behind me. She slipped her arm around my shoulders and gave me a hug. “Come on inside. Let’s get you settled in.”

I nodded and followed her inside, not having a clue what to expect. 

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

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "BROWN"

 

Welcoome to Tuesday Tales! This week I have another excerpt from  my new YA novel called, "Skit the Scout and Me." When you're done reading, skip over to read the other excerpts today. Find them HERE. 

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My mother had followed me upstairs.

“This is nice,” she said, uncertainly.

“Yeah.”

Since the only chair was a desk chair crammed into the small desk, she rested her hip on the bed and glanced out the window before facing me.

“Listen, they’ll expect you to help out.”

“What do you mean, ‘help out’?” I wandered over to the window.

“Do stuff. Like help cook, wash the dishes, help with the laundry. Maybe feed the chickens. Farm chores, whatever those are. Maybe housework.”  

I turned to face her, but she looked away.

“Really?” I raised my eyebrows. “Indentured servant?”

“You just learned that in school, didn’t you?” she frowned.

“Maybe I did.”

“Well knock it off. Get off your high horse. It would do you good to help out around here. You’ll learn stuff about animals. How to run a farm.”

“I see. Important stuff for my future?”

“You’re so damn snide…no. Important stuff about helping out. Pulling your weight in this world. You’ve had it easy at home. Don’t think your grandparents are going to wait on you.” She pushed to her feet.

“Is that why you arranged for me to be here this summer? To work? For free?” I stared directly at her.

“I get you don’t like this. I get it in spades, believe me. You’ve made it very clear. But you’re here and that’s that. So please try to make the best of it.”

“While you’re living it up in Europe?”

Her face colored.

There was silence. I turned my gaze to the floor. There was a braided rug there in shades of brown and pink. Not bad, actually.

“It hasn’t been easy for me. Losing your father. I’ve worked hard to keep our heads above water and provide a good home for you. Now I have a chance to take it easy for a few months. Do you really begrudge me that?” When she looked up, her eyes filled.

I’d gone too far. I knew it. I looked away.

“I know. I know. I do appreciate everything you’ve done. I do. Honestly.” My eyes filled.

“Good. Then let me have these few months with Charles. Please.”

I looked at my hands. “I will, Mom. I’m sorry.”

She rushed over and hugged me. Suddenly, I didn’t want her to leave. But I knew she had to.

“I’ll do what I can,” I said.

“That’s all I ask,” she said, wiping her cheek with her hand.

“I promise.”

“Leslie! You coming down?”

It was Charles. I had to let her go. Yes, maybe this was her time. At least for the summer. And I’d have to make the best of it. I guess. But she’s my mom, so I’ll try to make it work. 

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