Come September! Have you seen that old movie with Bobby Darin, Sandra Dee, Rock Hudson, and Gina Lollabridgida? Bobby and Sandra fell in love during filming. I always liked Bobby’s song Multiplication. 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 foolish. When you finish reading, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
“How kind of you to make this effort,” Dovie said. “Most of you know Robin Gilmore of the Glisten Trumpet, and some of you may remember Jack’s goddaughter, Peri Nash. She will oversee the hotel project until Jack recovers. She’ll be your Pumpkin Run contact.”
I glanced around with a smile.
“I’m afraid I don’t know all of you to make the appropriate introductions,” Dovie said.
Vance stepped forward. “Allow me.” He proceeded to gesture and pronounce the names of the Tea Thyme guests.
My brain had already registered Vance, Naomi Upshaw, Bon Bon Jarvis, and Sandra “something” in the vintage pencil dress. Other than that, things were a blur. Nevertheless, I nodded to each person, feeling a bit foolish, as the names flew in one ear and out the other. Finally, Vance was done. I said, “Very nice to meet all of you. Dovie, please take a load off. I’ll see to refreshments.”
Robin stuffed her phone into a pocket and moved to accompany me. As we left the room, I heard Naomi Upshaw zeroing into the heart of the matter with an inquiry about Jack’s condition.
I left Robin heating water and returned to the tearoom with a fresh supply of snickerdoodles. “Luella baked lovely cinnamon cookies. Please help yourselves.” I extended the platter to Vance, who took the hint and played waiter. “Could I get a show of hands as to tea and coffee preferences? How many for tea?” I counted. “Coffee?”
“Coffee will do me, unless Bon Bon brought us a flask of her primo rye?” The man in the athletic sweatshirt winked at the striking woman on the settee.
She smiled and shook her head. “Afraid not.”
His joke received some chuckles, some eyerolls, and a harsh glance from Naomi Upshaw.
Robin and I soon returned and began passing out the tea and coffee. The festival was under discussion, but then someone sighed and mentioned how shocked they were about Jack. Someone else said what a pity it was. It was clear they were stuck on the subject. I really couldn’t blame them. His accident had been so out of the blue that naturally it would be on everyone’s mind and a main topic of conversation. Dovie handled it well, brushing off most of it while sipping tea and periodically checking her phone.
It was then that we got a surprise. Kitty sashayed into the room.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the snippet inspired by foolish. 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
I feel for Peri about remembering names. And with everyone questioning Jack’s condition – I feel the suspect could be among them. Great job!
Great snippet!
Such a cliffhanger!! Now I’m dying to know all about Kitty and what she’s doing there. Great set up, introducing us to your characters again so they are fresh in our minds. You capture the underlying tension so perfectly.