Sunday, October 26, 2008

Pickles

Next Week's Ten Word Challenge will be: build-a-bear workshop, man bites dog, opulent, disparaging, lipstick stain, preponderance, smoky quartz, clothes pin, meticulous, falling leaves

Mini Challenge: moisturizing, pickles, seat belt, flip-flop, Chicago

Sarah Beth sniffed the pungent autumn air as the descent of falling leaves cascaded in a dazzling swath around her. Delirious. She inhaled again. Garments flapped degenerately in the breeze, barely tethered to a militia of clothes pins that held them captive. Like seat belts restraining a wily toddler, she mused. She remembered with amazing clarity how she had tackled Jamie, her wildebeest, on their way to Ezekial Day Care, the only second shift provider within 25 miles. He fiercely protested the separation imposed on them . “Pickles”, she inveighed. “We’ll be there quicker than you can say ‘hey nonny non my boyfriends back’. “ A clip she had innocently borrowed from the AM radio blaring the latest Motown hits.

Hanes undergarments thick with folds. They will take longer to dry than the rest. A shirt saturated with a tell tale lipstick stain, frisaged out of them to preserve the façade of a respectable Chicago enclave. The maid had meticulously applied a special moisturizing potion to erase the stain. Frayed Lanz flannels undulating reticently. Homespun frocks spreading their wings like an opulent flock of geese. Secrets lay waiting to be uncovered.

Meanwhile , in an adjacent suburb. Lucretia drove her darling Hallie to a Build a bear work shop. Hallie, conceived in a “man bites dog” kind of way, but every bit her own. Every bit her own. When Lucretia had given up all hope of new life, Hallie had announced herself. Only Lucretia’s siblings remained unrelentingly disparaging. Hallie. She inhaled the sweetness of her daughter. Secrets lay waiting to be uncovered.

The leaves. They wanted to be kites.

Sarah Beth clutched the smoky quartz amulet tucked securely in her pouch.

Hallie had insisted on wearing flip-flops and Lucretia had indulged her.

They arrived at the designated site, amazed at the preponderance of russet and gold in distinct stages of decay.

8 comments:

Raven said...

Beautifully written. Congrats on your wordzzle and your new blog. You might want to give your post a title. I discovered yesterday myself that when you forget it comes up funny in the side bar.

gabrielle said...

Thanks for the tip, Raven. As you know I have major technological challenges. Nevertheless, I am always up for learning a new language!

Much gratitude for hosting me on raven's nest while I got my bearings and for providing the impetus and inspiration to inaugurate wild goose scoops moon.

Christopher said...

This whole Wordzzle thing is beyond me. I love how in a few short paragraphs you managed to paint such a dense image while – at the same time - injecting the requisite list of seemingly disparate words. I truly admire your gift for language.

jmsjoin said...

That was an interesting well written write but I was left wondering where I came into this!

Minnesotablue said...

Gabe: I don,t do wordzzles but wanted to congratulate you on your new blog page. It,s very well done and will look forward to further posts

gabrielle said...

Christopher: Aw shucks. I’m glad you enjoyed the story. This is how I feel about what you are able to do with jazz

An average patriot: I couldn’t help but think of that famous line, “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore” To dispel the mystery of how you might have landed in this parallel universe, I think it may be related to the fact that I have been a frequent visitor to your site and have often commented on your well researched posts. In other words you got here via virtual twister. Thanks for stopping by.

Minnesotablue: Welcome to Wild Goose Scoops Moon. My original intent was to utilize this blog as a pied a terre and connect occasionally with the virtual community via creative endeavors. Stories and photos. You know, nothing heavy. However, I am already feeling the tug to expand to other topical areas. Thanks for stopping by.

Natalie said...

I am already feeling the tug to expand to other topical area

You officially have yourself a blog. ;)

Beautiful writing!

gabrielle said...

MB: Thanks for your words of encouragment. I have so enjoyed reading your inciteful observations on Field Lines.

As you well know, I have a tendency to wax "Bidenish". I don't think it is proper etiquette to exceed the word count of the original post in one's comments
.
It is exciting to finally have a blog of my own!