Terry & Dora

Here are the guide lines for this week's WWBH for which we have one photograph and five random mandatory words:

1) Use the photo and five random words in your story.

2) Keep your work count 500 or less.

3) You have until next Tuesday night to link up your story.

4) Use the Blue Link to add your story at: Leanne's, Debb's, or Tena's websites.

5) Have fun, don't stress, and let those creative juices flow!

The photo:

The five random mandatory words are:

murky

triumphant

hasenpfeffer

territory

lingual

Here is my short story:

TERRY & DORA

The year had flown past and Dora and Terry patted themselves, figuratively speaking, and were triumphant to have confirmed the venue at this busy Christmas period.  The background of green fir trees with sparkling white lights was just the enhancement that Dora wanted, she knew that the December days could be a bit murky outside and it would brighten up their special day no end. 

Terry was looking forward to this day, he couldn’t believe he had such powers of persuasion, he was very proud of his lingual skills, oratory had never really been a passion of his, he called a spade a spade and didn’t use flowery language but his Dora was a cut above him, he had practised his proposal speech so much, felt so worried he would make a hash of it that he had felt sick for nearly a week before he popped the all important question.  When she said ‘yes’ he was ecstatic and knew   he was so very lucky to be married to her on this very special day.  

The only near disaster had been all the planning.  You wouldn’t believe how many people considered they had to be sat near the top table at the reception.  If they hadn’t got the seating arrangements fairly arranged there would have such squabbles over territory, who was going to be seated next to whom.  Aunty Ingrid had made her wishes very plain, so had Uncle Bert, let alone Dora’s grandmother, who at 92, still wielded the matriarchal rod.

Dora was her usual diplomatic self and somehow managed concoct a seating plan that everyone would be more than happy with.  Terry had breathed a huge sigh of relief as they got over that hurdle only to find out that the food for the reception was another bone of contention with their guests.  

Terry was near to saying to Dora, let me whisk you away, we could go to Las Vegas or how about that place in Scotland, you know, Gretna something.  Dora though was insistent that this time, this marriage was going to be the last one they both had and therefore everybody in their families were going to made to feel as though they were as special as themselves, the bride and groom. 

Of course Terry went along with all Dora’s plans and why wouldn't he as he still couldn’t believe that she loved him.  He knew he wasn't the world’s most handsome man and he could be a tad taller and maybe slightly thinner but he did love Dora with all his heart and she saw in to his soul and blended with him in a way he had never experienced before.  

It was just  the food left to organise.  Dora again came up with a brilliant idea, although Terry had never heard of the dish before, she said they would serve hasenpfeffer as a main course followed by delicious profiteroles.  Terry didn't really care, whatever made Dora happy made him happy. 

Word count: 497

 

Guitar Practice

 

1) Write a short story (500 words or less) using the photo and five mandatory words.

2) Stay with the 500-word limit. 

3) Craft and link your post by next Tuesday evening (10:00 p.m. PST).

4)  Link up your story using our hostesses’ websites Leanne's, Debb's, or Tena's who will help you 

This week we have a photo and five mandatory words:

Here is your photo and five words:

Mandatory words:

tar

puppy

decoy

steering wheel

concierge

Here is my story:

Guitar Practice

Amelia’s mum was very cross with Rufus, a small bundle of fur that was now matted with tar from the pile of gravel workmen had left on the road he managed to roll in before she caught him.  She persuaded him to come back to the car using a decoy of rattling his puppy dog biscuits.   

Amelia sat in the back of the car waiting for her mum to drive them home.   Her mum spoke harshly to Rufus telling him what a naughty boy he was.  He looked up at her with his soulful eyes and a cautious wag of his tail, her mum relented and patted and stroked his fur cringing as she felt the black stick substance on his golden fur.   The radio in the car began to pip the four o’clock time signal as Amelia’s mum turned the engine on, placed her hands on the steering wheel and started to edge out of the car park and on to the main road.

Twenty minutes later they were home.  As Amelia clambered out of the car, satchel, lunch bag and her big guitar case dragging behind her, she noticed Mr. Jenkins watching from his ground floor window of their apartment block.  She waved and he waved back, he was always very nice to them, mum said he had another name as well which she didn't really know how to say properly.  He was also called a concierge which is why he was nice to them because he looked after the building. 

Amelia listened to the sounds coming from the bathroom.  Her mum was getting soaked trying to wash Rufus using the shower head. The yelps and splashes coming from upstairs reminded her of a piece of music she was supposed to practice for the school band. She carefully lifted the lid of the guitar case and managed to sit on the floor with the guitar in her lap without banging the instrument on the floor. 

Carefully balancing the guitar on her knee as she knelt on the carpeted floor, leaning slightly against the foot stool, Amelia strummed the first notes of what they had been learning earlier today in their music lesson. 

She became so engrossed in trying to get the notes just right she didn't realise the noises from upstairs and stopped.  As she glanced up she saw her mum standing in the living room doorway, Rufus wrapped in a towel in her arms, smiling at her.

‘That is a beautiful song, sweetheart.  I can’t wait until next week and hear you play it at the school concert.’

‘Will Dad come as well?’  Amelia always asked the same question every time there was a school event on.  She knew her mum would promise her that he would do his very best to attend but she also knew that her Dad wouldn’t be able to make it and he would telephone the next day to say how sorry he was that he missed it. 

Word count: 496