Tuesday Tales — step inside! Here is where you’ll find entertaining excerpts produced during smiles, tears, and hours of keyboard dancing. These are unedited snippets by a group of hard-working writers, based on word and picture prompts. You can see our works in progress unfold week by week. This week’s word prompt is battery. Make sure to visit the other talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Lawyer Hawtrey continued reading:
And so I interject a personal note for you, my dear wife, as I suspect you are experiencing surprise regarding the manner of this final testament. If a man may not speak personally of his own will, in his own will, then when may he? I ask you to ruminate on our several years together. Whereas others may question the health and condition of this document’s author, or indeed the authorship itself, you will surely grant my sincerity of tone. Have faith, dear Opal. You will undoubtedly recall my fondness for all manner of puzzles. Although I find them stimulating and highly energizing, I assure you no levity is intended. However, I grant that a substantial quantity of satisfaction is involved. I hope you will eventually come to appreciate that as well.
Murmurings and shushings sounded. Opal shifted in her chair, her expression one of shock and…dissatisfaction, or was I imagining it…fear?
For others of you who question my health or mental capacity, I assure you I am sound of body and mind. Any doubters may go the way of Zeno. After the full and seemingly endless battery of tests he has performed upon me of late, Dr. Radcliffe will testify as such.
Hawtrey stopped and peered over his trifocals toward the the back. “Doctor?”
A gruff voice proclaimed, “For the record and at his request, I certified his fitness of body and mind. I believe you will find it in an addendum.”
“Just so. I will continue.”
Someone behind me muttered, “This is farcical.” More shushings followed.
“I will not be quiet.” A chair clattered to the floor behind me. I turned around to see a purple-faced man. “This is the height of absurdity. My uncle could not have written this drivel, other than for one of his failed melodramas. And to certify his sanity, Radcliffe? I tell you, Hawtrey…”
With unexpected ferocity, Hawtrey bellowed, “Sit down, Upshaw, or quit the premises!”
The man righted his chair and sat, just as Hawtrey fell into a violent coughing fit.
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt battery. 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
Oh no that coughing fit doesn’t sound good! Intriguing snippet!
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting, Cathy.
Great snippet!
Thank you!
I’m fascinated. LOL I had a lawyer with a coughing fit while reading a will too. Great minds think alike,
Did you, Susanne? Cool! Thanks for stopping by.
Wow, was that a tense scene. This is riveting stuff, Flossie!
Thanks so much for your feedback, Mae.
Love the tension over the will. Can’t wait to see what puzzle the deceased has laid out for his wife and family. Well done, Flossie!
I’m glad you like the tension over the will. Thank you for your feedback, Jean.
oooh, the lawyer in me loves this week’s snippet. Well done!! Jillian
Thank you, Jillian! I had fun with it.
Wonderful scene! I enjoyed every line. The only fault I could find with it….it ended far too soon I was not ready to stop reading yet. I’m intrigued about the puzzle part and anxious to read how it will all tie together. Great job!
I’m glad the story is keeping your interest, Trisha.
Omg! I am dying to know what is in this will. It is killing me. Will this lead to the killer? I’ve got to know. Great job!
I wonder, Tricia!