Tuesday Tales 2023-9-26 Sweet

Welcome to Tuesday Tales, where writers use word and picture prompts in our stories. This snippet is from a cozy mystery set in Glisten, Georgia. The week’s word prompt is sweet. When you finish reading, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.

Vonna Lacy rose, caught my eye as she moved gracefully, gestured toward the hallway door, and mouthed a question, “Ladies room?”

I nodded, smiling, and she continued on her way.

A few moments later a crashing noise sounded from further within the building. I jumped up and held up my hands to keep the guests in their seats. Or was it to ward off evil? “Not to worry. Luella probably dropped a pan. I’ll see about it. No, sit still, Dovie,” I urged my tablemate, when she half rose from her chair.

Robin was right behind me, as I hurried into the hallway. Vonna leaned against the wall by the kitchen door, looking shaken. Her face was mottled an angry red. The dimple in her chin looked more pronounced.

I hurried to her side. “What happened?”

“I wanted to tell Jack’s cousin how good her cookies were. She snarled and yelled at me, caterwauling like a banshee. She knocked a pan to the floor and held up a giant spoon like a battering ram. I think she wanted to hit me with it. That woman is a freaking menace.”

A churning sensation lurched in my stomach. “Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry. Please accept our apologies.”

Robin spoke solicitously and began to guide the shaken woman away from the kitchen. “Are you all right, Vonna? She must have a terrible temper. Here, let me show you to the restroom.”

I flew into the kitchen, my cheeks feeling as flushed as Vonna’s looked. I swallowed several times, trying to calm down.

Luella glared at me, feet planted apart, a substantial fist clutching a large stirring spoon. Her lips were clamped so tightly together that they looked like one lip.

“What on earth happened, Luella?” I retrieved the baking pan from the floor and set it on the counter. “Vonna is a guest, and you scared her to death.”

Her watery eyes beaded with anger. “That Vonna Lacy is wormwood. Wormwood! She tried to hurt my cousin!”

I blinked, surprised. “She tried to hurt Jack? How? What did she do?”

She shook her head. “He wouldn’t tell me. Said he couldn’t get into it now. But she threatened him about something and got mad as a hornet when he wouldn’t fall for it. Then she comes in here digging for information. She’s wormwood!”

“She didn’t tell you she liked your cookies?”

Luella eyed me with disbelief. “Cookies? She doesn’t give a gnat’s wing about sweets. She came to see what I knew. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s the cause of my cousin’s so-called accident.” She went back to her stirring with a vengeance. “I told you to look for a rock or a board.”

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the snippet inspired by sweet. 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