Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring authors posting excerpts from works in progress based on word and picture prompts. Keep in mind that the snippets are unedited. I’m pleased you stopped by today. This week’s word prompt is brand. Enjoy the other talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Relief flooded through me at seeing a smidgen of Opal’s usual pluck reappear. A downhearted Opal was hard to take. Still, I didn’t want her to dismiss the situation. “Remember what Roy said. Until we know who planted the bug and why, you must be extra careful. He made you promise.”
She nodded with a tilt to her head. “He’s a good lad. All three of those boys. The three musketeers.”
At the mention of the musketeers, I turned away to study an array of cameos on the table. One in particular caught my eye—a vintage profile in white and robin’s egg blue. It was designed to hold a picture, but the casing was open and empty.
Opal continued. “Always into mischief but goodhearted as the day is long. Nothing could dampen their spirits, and they grew up to be fine young men. Just my brand. All three went to war, much as in my time, and one gave his life. Your brother was a hero, Peridot.”
My thumb rubbed over the cameo’s face, and my eyes misted.
She looked at Sandra. “The other two as well, and thank heaven they made it home. You must be proud of the work Roy is doing on the force and with the juvenile group.”
“I am. He’s a good husband.”
“He’ll make an excellent father, too.”
Sandra blushed and averted her eyes.
I gasped. “Are you two trying, Sandra?”
“No, but we have started talking about it—a little. You must have ESP, Opal.”
“Well, of course I do. We all do. We merely ignore our inner voice most of the time. Now I need mine to tell me what low life miscreant invaded my privacy by placing a bug—an actual listening device mind you—in my room.”
A tingle shot up my spine. Something dawned on me, two things actually, and I did my best not to let it show on my face. First, were there any other bugs in the house? Surely Roy had considered that possibility. Second, Opal was not supposed to be up here. This room was originally supposed to be mine.
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt brand. 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
Quite the surprising ending. Well done, Flossie!
Thanks for the feedback, Mae!
Ohhh, I love that last line!! You drop that in so casually, the room was supposed to be Peridot’s! Now the plot takes a twist. Way to go. And excellent use of the word prompt. I love this story and Opal’s pronouncement on ESP. I totally agree!
I’m glad you like the last line. It hit me at the same time it did her! Opal does pop out with some sayings now and then.
Nice twist
Thanks, Cathy!
Excellent snippet and a cliffhanger too. So if it was supposed to be Peri’s room. Interesting.
Thank you for the feedback, Susanne!
OMG! That last discovery gave me the shivers. I love the backstory about the brothers. Great job!
I’m glad the backstory came across okay and especially that the discovery gave you the shivers. Thank you for the feedback, Tricia.
Oh my! What a revelation to drop in like that. And then run, you rascal, you!
Great snippet! I loved it! I can’t wait to read more.
I’m glad you loved the snippet, Trisha, and want to know more. Thank you as always for your feedback!
oooh, intriguing. Love the cliffhanger. Jillian
I glad you thought it was intriguing and love the cliffhanger. Thank you for the feedback!