Tuesday Tales 2023-10-10 Curly

October is here. My favorite month! I love the crisp air that will surely grace us by Halloween, the inspired energy that accompanies October, and the sugar free pumpkin spice lattes being concocted in my kitchen. In hard times, when our hearts may be broken, it is important to keep the faith and affirm love and creativity with gratitude and reverence. We acknowledge evil but do not succumb to fear. Welcome to Tuesday Tales, where writers use word and picture prompts in our stories. This snippet is from a cozy mystery set in fictional Glisten, Georgia. The week’s word prompt is curly. When you finish reading, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.

Trying to maintain my aplomb in front of the million guests, I clenched my jaw and clutched the back of the chair. From the corner of my right eye, I witnessed an orange blob of light hovering low to the ground. I remained still but tracked the apparition as it loped across the floor several times, veering sharply around and between tables and chairs. The movement looked just like a cat on a mad frenzied tear. Then it stopped and spun round and round in curly cues, stopped again, shot off, picked up speed, and raced out the hallway door.

I came back to myself. My spine retained the icy tingle. With a jolt, I realized that Robin was standing next to me. She nudged me with her shoulder and whispered. “What is it, for God’s sake?”

I glanced at the crowd. One or two people were eyeing me, but most hadn’t noticed my temporary fugue. “Tell you later,” I whispered in a croaky voice. Making a stack of our empty dishes, I headed toward the kitchen.    

The cups and saucers rattled as I placed them carefully on the kitchen counter.

Luella darted a glance at me, and then resumed the chore of rinsing mixing bowls destined for the dishwasher.

Dovie rushed into the kitchen. “The nurse called. The specialist has arrived and is examining my husband. They want me at the hospital as fast as I can make it.”

Luella spun around to stare at her. She dried her hands on the dish towel tucked into her apron and began twisting the cloth between her fingers.

I reached in my pocket and handed Dovie my car keys. “Grab your bags, and meet me at the car. I’ll alert Robin to tamp out the socializing and herd people out in the next little while. Bill has summoned her to the newspaper office anyway.”

“Luella,” Dovie blurted, “you want to go with us to the hospital?”

Jack’s cousin stood for a long moment, blinking, and then shook her head. Just a quick little rustling movement.

Dovie nodded, seeming to understand some unspoken message. “I’ll keep you posted.” She was gone.

Luella picked up a medium-sized plastic container and handed it to me. “Thumbprints for the road.”

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the snippet inspired by curly. If you haven’t done so already, check out the other excerpts at Tuesday Tales.

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories

All rights reserved, copyright @ 2023 Flossie Benton Rogers