WWBH SHORT STORY

It’s back -
The Rules:

1) Compose a story using the photo and five mandatory words
2) Keep your word count 500 words or less.
3) You have until next Tuesday to link up your post.
4) Add your story (Blue Link) at Leanne's site: HERE.

5) Have fun, don’t stress, let those creative juices flow.

6) Invite a friend. This is about community, so feel free to invite, greet, and encourage new writers!

Next Wednesday we will post all your stories in the Writer Wednesday reveal so the community can hop around and visit each of you!

 

Your five (randomly generated) words:

Screwdriver

Saucepan

Barrel

Spine

Comb

Here is the photo:

  Here is my story:

WINE AND CHEESE

The nerves were constantly fluttering in her stomach.  She’d had a week to prepare, everything on her list was ticked off and nothing had been forgotten.  She’d fixed the wonky handle on the saucepan with a Philips screwdriver she found in the kitchen drawer.  Luckily it was a cross thread one and now she didn't have to worry spilling the hot mulled wine.

She opened the barrel of cheese and recoiled from the smell.  Stinky cheese was not her favourite but there needed to be a selection, tasty titbits on the tray along with a few pitted olives, black and green and smothered in oil was another taste she didn't enjoy.  

She moved to her bedroom, quickly passing a comb through her long tresses, twisting it into an elegant chignon clipping it securely into place, a dash of mascara across her long lashes, a brush of rouge to complement her colouring, a lick of lustrous lipstick, a quick pout in the mirror, diamond stud earrings, matching necklace, she smoothed her hands down over the black evening dress fitting her tightly and curving in the right places, slipping on elegant court shoes, she took a deep breath and ready herself for the affray. 

The doorbell rang and she greeted her husband’s colleagues.  Air kisses from the two women exchanged, a slightly embarrassed husband lingered behind not knowing whether to kiss her or shake her hand, amidst the fumble of confusion as she took their coats and hung them on the coat rack. 

She poured red wine and white wine, sipped her glass surreptitiously noting the time on the kitchen clock.  He was late, again, leaving her to carry the can as she maintained mundane conversations.  

Realising she had knocked back the majority of her glass of wine she remonstrated inwardly with herself and promised she would slow down until Rick got here.  There was no excuse.  He was the one who insisted they paraded themselves in this manner and met his colleagues socially.  The least he could do was to be here on time. 

Naomi’s face started to ache with the false smiles and chit-chat and then she heard Rick’s car in the drive.  He came bounding in, grinning apologetically as he dashed upstairs to freshen up.

Naomi let go of the deep resentment she was harbouring against Rick, now was not the time.  She would play the dutiful hostess; act as though nothing was wrong, she’d seen her mother do it enough times, so all she had to do was behave as though nothing was wrong.  The tears were pushed behind her clear grey eyes as she smiled at their guests and offered more drinks.

Rick came, stood beside her, his arm enveloped her waist, he brushed his lips against her ear, ‘sorry,’ came his husky whisper as he slid his thumb up and down her spine.    She melted against him, as he knew she would, he popped an olive in his mouth and winked just for her. 

Word count: 498

Work

It's time for this week's blog hop short story.

If you want to join in the fun here are the 'rules'

1) Write a story using both photos.
2) Keep your word count to 500 words or less.
3) Submit your completed story to your blog hostess Submit your completed story to your blog hostess (Nicole, Carrie, Tena or Leanne)

 4) You have the next week to post.
5) Have fun, don’t stress, let those creative juices flow!

Here are the two photographs

Here is my short story:

Work

 Julia peered out on to the hazy street.   The light was dissipating the fog just enough to see the vague shapes of buildings in the distance.  She pulled back from the cold window pane, shivering in her nightie and crossed to the other side of the bedroom.  As she sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her dressing gown around her shoulders she felt her companion stir and roll over.

Mumbling quiet words, her husband of just a few days, stretched out his arm and wrapped it around her waist.  She put her hand over his arm, feeling comforted by the strength in his forearms as she stroked the hairs on his arm.

She dashed her hand forward to silence the alarm clock as it struck five o’clock.  Ricky sighed and turned back to get out of his side of the bed.   It was only Wednesday and they were both exhausted from working long hours in the factory.  They were lucky in having a job each these days, many people were out of work and penniless and living in dire conditions.  

The one room they could afford doubled up as a cooking area as well as living and sleeping quarters.  The kettle had been filled with water the night before.  Julia lit the gas ring beneath it and opened the one and only cupboard to get out a loaf of bread.  She spread it with a little honey, wrapped it in yesterday’s greaseproof paper and handed it to Ricky to put in the pocket of his overcoat. 

She repeated the process and placed her sandwich in her handbag.  They drank their tea and swaddled themselves with hats and scarves and gloves against the early morning misty air.  Walking quickly towards the outskirts of town they reached the factory after 15 minutes just as the siren was blaring for the end of the night shift and the beginning of their 12 hour day shift. 

The mind numbing hours of working in the factory was just another day to get through.  The short breaks they were given for lunch were never long enough to make any friends.  The only thing that kept Julia going was the thought of the weekend.

Ricky had promised her that they would put aside some of their Friday pay packet no matter what; they would save up and visit their families in the country.  He had worked out it would be another three months to gather enough money, by then the weather would be fine and they could walk through the grassy track to the top of the hill and absorb the beauty of the countryside around them.  The sights and smells of the familiar countryside would sustain them through the next few months of hard toil.

Their dream one day was to be able to return to the countryside and set up their own small holding and start their family but until then they had to work in the town.

Word count: 497