Tuesday Tales: Writing Balloon

Tuesday Tales — step inside! Here is where you’ll find cool excerpts based on smiles, tears, and hours of keyboard pounding. These are unedited snippets from works in progress based on word and picture prompts. I’m tickled pink you stopped by today. This week’s word prompt is balloon. Visit the other talented authors of Tuesday Tales.

Heat suffused my face as if I had opened a hot oven. Until recently, this suite had been designated for me. So someone bugged the room to hear my conversations and not Opal’s? I drew in a shaky breath. It obviously hadn’t dawned on the other two. To keep them from noticing my impending nervous breakdown, I strolled around the room pretending to study the wide variety of shepherd and shepherdess figurines. Who would be that interested in me? I had barely been back in Glisten five minutes.

I opened my mouth to set Opal’s mind at ease, and then shut it just as fast. Maybe I had it wrong. Maybe someone learned of Opal’s staying and then, tout suite, did the dirty deed. I couldn’t tell her until I knew one way or the other. If only the house had security cameras. Crap! Another thing Gage had been right about. A hallway cam might have picked up the culprit sneaking about.

When I had myself under control, I rejoined the others in the sitting area. They were back to, or still on—not sure—the topic of baby possibilities.

“And balloon up like a marshmallow? I don’t relish the idea at all. I had a hard enough time losing the six pounds I gained when I broke my leg three years ago.”

“Nonsense.” Opal’s tone was firm. “You have always been svelte. Still, it’s your call. You’ll know when it’s the right time to start a family.”

Sandra shifted in her seat. “You never had children, Opal?”

“My first husband and I lost two at birth.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

A sigh escaped the older woman’s lips. “It’s long ago now, but at times it still hurts. We were so young then, and ever hopeful.”

This “party” was going downhill fast. I checked my watch. “How about tea, ladies? There are snickerdoodle scones with each of our names on them. Rita made them fresh this morning. I can buzz Leo or we can go out to the garden terrace.”

Opal pressed on the chair arm and stood, securing the blue shawl around her shoulders. “The garden terrace sounds appealing.”

“Great. You two go on and get comfortable. I’ll gather the fixings and bring out a tray.”

As they started out, Sandra turned to inquire, “You don’t need help carrying?”

“Nope. If I do, I’ll ask Leo.” It would give me a chance to find out if he’d noticed anyone trolling about where they didn’t belong.

I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt balloon. Thanks for stopping by. Read the other amazing excerpts at Tuesday Tales.

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories

All rights reserved, copyright @ 2020 Flossie Benton Rogers