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.