Writing Prompt Number 8

[Tommie Lyn]

After a loooooong absence of new prompts, I've been asked to resume posting new ones. And I'm happy to oblige....

So, see what your fertile imagination can develop from the following prompt:

You are sitting in a restaurant when a stranger sits down across the table from you, acting as though he knows you well.....

Extra cyberpoints if you use the words:

tumbleweed
pavement
rainbow
puppy
jelly

Have fun!

[melw]

I'm the first cab off the rank

Here I was at my usual table, drinking my morning latte. I smiled at people who I recognised. I looked up at saw this tall man scanning the café. I went back to my newspaper and was surprised when he sat in front of me.

“Excuse me.” I said to him.

“Hello, how are you?” He asked smiling his eyes crinkling.

“Fine thank you. Can I help you?”

“I couldn’t believe when I saw you on the pavement. It’s been so long.”

“So long?”

“Don’t you remember that tumbleweeds we used to race?”

I gasped; I couldn’t believe this was the boy who had helped me save my puppy. I promised to love him forever. I hadn’t seen him since we were 10 years old. My mind came up with memories of jelly and a food fight, I had instigated, but he took the blame. He was always doing that.

“Michelle, it’s been about 18 years.”

“Yes it has been a while. What are you doing back here?”

“To invite you to go chasing the pot of the gold at the end of the rainbow.”

“How do you know I want to go?”

“You haven’t changed that much.”

I knew I hadn’t, but he had certainly had. I would always follow Steve to chase those rainbows. All the colours of the world felt more alive when he was around.


MEL

[Tommie Lyn]

Good job, Mel!

[VLSmith]

“Hello, love, sorry to keep you waiting.”

Without saying a word, I stared at the beautiful stranger who had just plopped into my booth. His Australian accent and blue eyes had me mesmerized.

He picked the Tumbleweed menu and began browsing the wine list. After a couple minutes of silence, he peeked over the top. “Come now, love, no need to be sore. I’m not that late, am I?”

I swallowed hard and glanced around at the other patrons, searching for the hidden camera. When I finally found my voice, I croaked out, “You have me mistaken for someone else.” There’s no way this gorgeous man would be dining with a pound puppy like me.

He laughed and the corners of his eyes crinkled. “Are you trying to get rid of me? Would you like to have me tossed out onto the pavement?”

I tried to pick up my water glass, but my arm was like jelly. I took a deep breath and exhaled. “No, no, I wouldn’t want that. But I don’t believe in fairy tales and I know there’s no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow so I know you can’t be here for me.”

He reached over and grabbed my hand. “Ah, love, but you’re wrong. I am here for you. I’m here to take your order.”

I stared at him in confusion. “What?”

“Ma’am?”

I shook my head and looked to my right. A young man in black slacks and a sombrero waited patiently with a pen and paper.

“I’m here to take your order, ma’am.”

Across from me, the booth was empty. I was right. There is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

[Tommie Lyn]

Very good, Valerie -- loved the ending!

[jacks girl]

Have fun!


The table was covered with one of those red checkered cloths, and I looked up from my Toast and Jelly and found a man looking back at me. I wasn't sure when he'd sat down and he was smiling at me. We were sitting in the Tumbleweed Diner in Broken Bow Nebraska. Moments ago I'd just drove in on my Harley thinking it might rain and realizing I was getting hungry.

The man was speaking now smiling at me still, his blue eyes twinkling as if he had some great secret he was holding a bag and I wondered what was in it. "It's hot today but it looks like rain."

"Yea it's hot." I said thinking he was kind of cute.

"Yea you could fry and egg on the pavement out there."

"True." I said still wondering what he was up to and now curious of what was in the bag laying on the table.

"I been fishing in Mud Creek today, I caught a Rainbow Trout."

"That's nice. Did you get some more fishing supplies." I said nodding toward the bag.

"Na my kid has a new computer and this is a Puppy."

"A puppy in that bag?" I said thinking he wasn't only rude but a little off in the head.

"No a Puppy Linux, its a small, fast operating system running from CDs, USB sticks and hard disks."

"I see."

"Well I just wanted to say hi, and tell you I really like your Harley."

There it was that explained it all, the silly smile, the twinkle in his blue eyes. He liked my bike. "Thanks I love the ride. I'll be in town for a day or so may be I can take you for a ride."

"Thanks, but thats ok." He said laying down his key ring onto the table where he proudly displayed a picture of a Sportster. "But may be we can take a spin."

"Sounds like a plan. I'm staying at the motel 6 room 29."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

I watched him go and smiled as he walked out. He had it bad he had a bandanna hanging out of one pocket, a chain drive wallet in the other and Harley boots. I shook my head and reach back and stuffed my bandanna in my pocket and pulled my Harley boots under the table at least I didn't have a chain drive wallet.

Jacks Hope you like it.


http://www.puppylinux.org/ it is a real thing. LOL

[jacks girl]

Hey i like them all so far.



jacks

[Katharine]

My leg started twitchin’ the second he set down next to me. I mean, this isn’t the kind of town where you get into somebody’s personal space. You keep your distance. That’s how it is. I wasn’t turnin’ my head towards him, but couldn’t stop my eyes from slipping over to check him out real quick. Again. Again. They wouldn’t leave him alone.

He wasn’t gonna say anything? Well, I reckon I can keep my trap shut too. Real smooth, spread the jelly on the toast. Don’t let the hand go tremblin’. Little shake of the head to Cassie with the coffee. Last thing I need right now is more of that awful black stuff. Bite. Chew, slow now. Don’t look at nothin’, but don’t let him catch me glancing at him.

“This dry heat is hotter than I expected.” He kept his nose pointed straight ahead, talking so no one but me could hear him. “I didn’t expect to feel it so much.”

Another bite. Swallow of coffee. Smooth, slow. I can outlast him.

He’s finally taking a swig of his coffee. I hear the catch in his throat when he swallows.

“Hot puppy, this is swill!” Cassie turned, not quite making out what he said.

Big Ford truck bumps by, hitting the pothole in the old pavement. Must not be a local, or he would’ve known to go around to the other side. This guy’s not a local either. Talks like city, but not any around here.

Only the top crust now. No jelly, no butter. Break it up, don’t bite it off. Hate the crunch, always have. More coffee-swill. He’s right, gotta give him that.

“Well, I guess that seals it. You’ve been gone, what, 18 months? Time to pack, Tumbleweed. I’ve come for you.”

Coffee sprays out, Cassie hears my choking. Don’t move, don’t look! Don’t give him the satisfaction.

“You finish your toast. That’s how I knew it was you, but you sure have changed everything else.”

My eyes watering, I missed seeing the cuffs he whipped out. One’s cinched around my wrist, tighter now, pulling my arm down beside him. Other side’s on his wrist, click.

“You blew a long way from the Bronx, Jess. Tumbleweed, I like that.” He huffed at his nickname for me. “Your parents put out a lot of money, and I’ve spent six months tracking you down. You’re going home. You graduate high school, then you can come back here and be the cowboy.”

I couldn’t think how it had all come to an end like this, in the blink of an eye. But I will never, never again have to drink coffee-swill from the Rainbow Diner.

[Katharine]

Mel, great fun! I can relate to the reunion theme. Sigh...

Val, I'm so sorry he wasn't real!

Jacks, amazing job of tying together hot new technology, a hot Harley, and the heat of central Nebraska!

[jacks girl]

Righter, I always try to use the simple words in the most different way I can so I googled and found that Puppy thing. LOL. I really liked yours too. It came off as a really good short story, I like the line about the guy in the truck hitting the pothole we have plenty of them around here.

Good job to all and thanks I always wished I could ride a harley of my own.

jacks

[Tommie Lyn]

Great job, Jacks and Katharine! I liked your stories.

[jacks girl]

Hey tommie where is yours.? LOL and thanks of course

[melw]

i love that Katherine and good work Jacks. I miss these they are fun.

MEL

[Tommie Lyn]

The Stranger

Word Count: 598

“I can't believe it!” She beamed at me as she slipped into the chair across from me. “You still look the same, even after all this time.”

“I . . . I . . .”

She pouted. “Are you going to tell me I look different? That I've aged?”

“Oh, no. Not at all . . .”

“Now, don't tell me you don't remember me. I'll be too crushed.”

I'd returned to Rainbow City for my twenty-fifth high school reunion, and I feared she was someone I from my class that I should have remembered. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, so I decided to pretend I knew her. “How could I forget?”

“We had some great times, didn't we?” she went on.

“Oh yes,” I answered, desperately searching my memory for some shred of recognition and finding nothing. Strange that I would remember nothing at all about her.

“Well, I've turned into a tumbleweed, just let the wind push me along, go where ever the notion strikes me,” she said.

“Mmm hmm,” I murmured noncommittally. I took the last bite of my biscuit, wiped the jelly from my mouth and rose.

“So, what have you been doing?”

“I really need to get going.” I had a delivery to make to the Rainbow City Police Department before I could check into my motel.

“You can't leave! Not just when I've found you! We've gotta get caught up with one another. I need to know what all you've been doing. Hey, let's go have a drink somewhere and--”

“I'll see you at the get together tomorrow night. We can reminisce then.”

“No, it'll be too crowded. And everyone will be wanting to talk to you.” She looked disappointed.

“I'm sorry, but I really have to go.” I dropped a large bill on the table and hurried to the exit, hoping she wouldn't follow. I slipped from the brightly lit restaurant into the dark, red-and-blue neon-lit night. As I rounded the corner of the building, headed for my car, a pain shot through my head and everything went black.

When I came to, the first thing I noticed was rough pavement under my cheek but I didn't, couldn't, open my eyes. Someone was pawing through my pants pockets but I couldn't move to stop him.

“Anh,” a man's voice said. “I thought you said this puppy was gonna be the best pickings, that he'd have plenty of green in his wallet.”

“What? You mean he hasn't--” a woman whispered.

“He ain't got but a few dollars. Last time I let you pick the mark. And how come you didn't get him to take you back to his room? He might have more there.”

“Shut up!” the woman's voice grew louder. “He'll probably be coming to in a minute. He knows what I look like and I don't want him thinking I had anything to do with this and siccing the cops on me.”

A sharp pain in my side told me the toe of the man's shoe found its mark, but I made no response. My life might depend on making them think I was still unconscious. The pain in my head made me almost wish I was.

“Nah. He's still out like a light.”

“Did you get his keys?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, let's go.”

Their footsteps hurried away, and I allowed myself a grin when I heard them beep my car unlocked. A few seconds later, a screech, a yell and curses, followed by viscious snarling and growling told me they had found my puppy – Poochie – the meanest dog on the K-9 force.

[melw]

tommie i loved your story. it made me laugh.

MEL

[aaronibus62]

Thanks, Tommie, for starting this new prompt. Here goes my first effort :)


Allison James never imagined she'd live in hot, dry Arizona.
What led her to relocate from usually cold and damp Seattle was the lucrative salary offered by KAZY-TV to produce their 6PM and 10PM newscasts. KAZY... Crazy? Was the pay and the comfortable work atmosphere worth suffering through the outdoor blast furnace that made the pavement hot enough not just for frying eggs but cooking an entire meal?

Thank God I never have to appear onscreen! The rainbow colored dress would be too loud for anyone to look at, not to mention that the arid breezes long since turned her perm into a tumbleweed that she wishes would tumble off her head. Better to be bald like
Sinead O'Connor than look like something her golden retriever puppy retrieved from under a desert rock! His golden brown locks seemed much better groomed with the brush she bought him at Wal-Mart than the perm she wasted seventy-five dollars on.

Maybe I should slick my hair back with some Vaseline jelly. At worst I'd look like an emo on a bad hair day. Making her hair as slick as the newscasts she produced seemed like a good idea.
Into Walgreen's she went. She wouldn't be a delicious diva upon exiting the store, but at least she'd feel like she looked half human again.

[Tommie Lyn]

Good for you, aaron -- glad you decided to jump in! I'll try to post prompts more regularly. And if you think of a prompt you'd like to try, post it and let all of us try it, too.

[aaronibus62]

Mel and Tommie, really cool how to read your takes on reunited lovers. Great reading from both of you !thumbsup!

Jacks, never heard of puppylinx before. Your find added interest to your piece !thumbsup!

Everyone, it amuses me how just about every piece had romance as a focus... my character would've tumbled off the Grand Canyon before she'd let a love interest she her in the mess she was (LOL)

[aaronibus62]

sure thing, Tommie, and thanks again :)

[jacks girl]

Yea this has been great fun. I have a prompt idea in the back of my head im working out the kinks.

Jacks

[Tommie Lyn]

Mel and Tommie, really cool how to read your takes on reunited lovers. Great reading from both of you !thumbsup!


Actually, mine was about a mugging of an off-duty policeman from out-of-town. The woman stranger was only pretending to know the MC so she could get him outside where she and her partner could rob him, and he was going along with pretending he knew her so he wouldn't hurt her feelings, LOL.

[Tommie Lyn]

Yea this has been great fun. I have a prompt idea in the back of my head im working out the kinks.

Jacks

Great, Jacks! Let's hear it -- maybe it could be the prompt for next week.

And I want to thank aaron again for asking for the prompt -- I enjoyed it. Yesterday, I wrote a writing prompt story (563 words) for my writer's group (and have to write a second one today), wrote the one for this prompt (598 words) and wrote 855 words on Tugger's Down (winding down on that one -- I keep saying every day "I'll finish this today" but something always comes up to prevent that, lol).

[Laina]

You all did such a great job on your stories. This is fun. I hope it continues.

Here's my offering. If you guys can help me with a title I would appreciate it. Thanks! :)

The tumbleweed blew right through her legs leaving some of its sticky branches behind. They annoyingly attached themselves to her knit slacks. Talia had to go change. Sure to be late, the boss was going to fume.

Talia raised her soft brown eyes to the sky. The cloud cover told her a storm was brewing. More than one, she thought. She reached her arms out to the sky and pleaded, “Oh please Lord, I can’t afford to lose my job. Please help me get to work on time.”

Drat. This was starting out to be an awful day. Talia wanted to jump back in bed and sleep the day away. Two days in a row was enough for her boss to fire her.

Talia ran inside. Negative thoughts stormed her mind. The phone pierced her ears, but she ignored it. She let her slacks drop to the floor and kicked them to the other side of the room. Jimminy Crickets. A gentle tear rolled towards her chin.

She glanced at the clock. She had a three-minute buffer. Talia flipped through her three pair of slacks that hung in her closet. The brown pair was way too small so she pushed them aside. She pulled the black slacks off the hanger and slipped them on. She buttoned them quickly and took a quick look in the bedroom’s full-length mirror. Too tight, but they would have to do. Tomorrow she’d think about Weight Watchers.

The words ran past her mind. She remembered from Sunday school yesterday the words in Psalm 34:4, “O taste and see that the LORD is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

“Thank you Lord for your goodness. I’m not going to let all this put a damper on my day.” As the thunder roared, Talia smiled. She breathed deeply the smell of the first drops of rain.

Talia hurried to the front closet to reach for the umbrella. She looked out the window. No need. Thank goodness the rain had stopped. Talia rushed to her car as if stepping on hot coals. She threw the lever in reverse and looked into the rear view mirror. She flung her jet-black bangs out of her eyes that reminded her she needed to call The Cut Above. Something caught her eye. Oh great, now a puppy was in her way. The cute little Chihuahua sat there and didn’t move an inch.

It was definite now. There was no way to get to work on time. It would be like trying to nail jelly to a tree. Talia flew the door open. She got out and was about to angrily shoo the puppy away, but something stopped her. Taste and see the Lord is good; you’re blessed if you take refuge in Him. “Thanks you Lord,” she breathed.

“Okay little guy you’ll need to move it. I’m late for work.” Talia picked up the little bundle and dropped him into the grass.

She got back into the car, started the engine and looked in her rear view mirror. “Dad gum, there he is again.” It was no use. Talia picked up her cell. She dialed, hoping that her boss wouldn’t answer.

“Mesilla Valley Pavement and Concrete, may I help you?”

“Susan hi, this is Talia. I’m going to be late this morning and I wanted to call before I got there. I’m having a little bit of a problem backing out of my driveway and…”

“Hey Talia, no problem. We had an electrical outage on this side of town. Lightening stuck power somewhere and it hit everyplace within eyesight. I tried to call earlier, but there wasn’t an answer. I thought you were already on your way. Mr. Snodgrass says not to come in this morning. You need to call about one and see if we need you then.”

Talia closed her phone and jumped joyfully, her arms in the air. Talia examined the clouds as they rolled by. A brilliant rainbow stretched beautifully across the horizon. A kaleidoscope of colors displayed God’s glory.

“Oh thank you Lord for saving me from loosing my job.” Joyful that she didn’t have to rush, she walked into the house. The phone rang again but she ignored it, first things first. A poem was at hand.


I tasted the Lord’s goodness
His love has no end
He keeps all His promises
He’s my refuge, my friend
The rainbow reminded me
To trust I’m so blessed
If my eyes are on Jesus
In Him I’ll find rest

[Tommie Lyn]

Good job, Laina! Glad you decided to jump in and give it a try.

About the title, a couple of things came to mind -- here's one of them:

A Taste of Goodness


TL

[VLSmith]

These are great. I think Katharine's is my favorite so far.

[Katharine]

Aw, shucks, VL! Thanks.

Tommie, thanks again for getting the prompt going. It was fun to take a break from longer, sometimes tedious stuff and write something quick.

What a hoot to see all the different takes on the basic prompt! Thanks, all, for tossing these stories out for everyone to to enjoy.

[Laina]

Good job, Laina! Glad you decided to jump in and give it a try.

About the title, a couple of things came to mind -- here's one of them:

A Taste of Goodness


TL

Thanks Tommie. I like it! !thumbsup!

[Tiata]

I'm so glad you started these up again!! This is my first attempt and i didn't see a word count so I hope it's acceptable. LOL

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I was sitting in the front corner of the 18th Avenue Waffle house, knitting. You might think it a strange place for knitting but the light in the front corner booth is just perfect from 9:00AM till about noon. I had been here every morning this week. Today the sun was reflecting off the rain soaked pavement making a rainbow across the wall. The atmosphere in the restaurant was heavy with color.

I took a healthy bite of buttered toast and leaned back with my coffee cup. I sipped my coffee taking in the heavenly aroma and surrounding serenity.

He walked in and stopped. Not the sort of pause that patrons use to find a seat, it was more a “catch your breath” moment. I saw him over the brim of my cup. He looked around apprehensively, almost anxiously.

You would expect a single man to take a counter seat, but he came straight for me. He picked up the newspaper on the neighboring booth and sat down opposite my bench. He reached for the jelly and placed it next to my toast. Leaning in close he winked and said boldly.

“Hello Aunt Kate, I’m sorry I’m late.” He held a puppy dog gaze along with his breath. He seemed to want me to play.

I realized my cup was poised in a freeze frame. I slowly lowered it while wondering what to do. I glanced around the room. There were 2 men at the counter and a family in the booth across from me. I didn’t believe myself to be in danger so I picked up my knitting and began my count off again to myself, knit one, purl two, knit one purl two… I looked back up at him and smiled.

“That’s ok sugar” it’s a good day for knitting”. I said

Gently laying aside my scarf I reached into my purse and pulled out my badge.

“You’re under arrest tumbleweed brain”. I smiled demurely

With my words the 2 plain-clothes officers I worked with turned with their guns aimed and the decoy family walked out the door.

I read him his rights while the guys cuffed him.

“Good work Jewelia.” My partner slapped me on the back.

“Thanks guys”

I packed up my knitting. The light had changed and it was time to go.

[Tommie Lyn]

Cool story, Tiata. I certainly didn't see the climax coming, lol. Good job.

[Tiata]

Cool story, Tiata. I certainly didn't see the climax coming, lol. Good job.


Thanks Tommie Lyn :) That was fun!!! I'm rather humbled though, I didn't read anyone else's story before I wrote and posted mine. Maybe I should have LOL They're all so good!

I'm going to check out the other prompts.