Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring diverse authors who post excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. We’re a book hungry troop that enjoys reading as much as you do. Today our word prompt is firecracker. My excerpt is from one of my books in progress, Hannah’s Haint, a vintage paranormal romance set in a small town in the 1950s. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
The aroma of grilling hot dogs and sound of children having fun filled the air. Charcoal smoke spirals perched on make-do stands to keep away the mosquitoes. With dusk imminent, the blood suckers would soon follow. Hannah settled into the folding chair between Meg and Nate. “I didn’t expect there to be so many people here. You rounded down, didn’t you, Meg?”
“Don’t scold. Would you have come out if I mentioned this was the in place for 4th of July fireworks? They’re really spectacular here by the lake.”
Aware of Nate’s attention and his knee hovering a mere inch from hers, she merely offered a noncommittal murmur. She didn’t dare give a truthful response to Meg’s query. She would have come, if only to spend time with him away from their usual work environment.
Laura from the café’ emerged from the crowd, carrying two folding chairs, with little Gwennie in tow.
Meg piped up, cheery. “Made it, huh?”
Nate and Roy stood, and greetings were exchanged. Roy scooped the chairs from Laura. “Let’s find you a good spot, boss lady.”
Laura looked a bit harried. “Thanks, Roy.”
Gwennie jumped up and down, pointing. “I want to sit by Judy and Sandy, Mommy.”
“All right, Darling. Over by the Smith twins would be great, Roy.”
Gwennie tugged on her mother’s blouse as they set off in a line. “Mommy, can I light a firecracker?”
“Good heavens no. You can have a sparkler.”
Roy soon returned, plunked into his chair, and popped the cooler lid. He passed beers to Meg and Nate. “Brewsky, Hannah?”
“No thanks. By chance any wine in there?”
“Nope, sorry. Hey, here are some cokes though. You sneak these in my cooler, Meg?”
“Of course I did, you big lummox. You know perfectly well Hannah hates beer.”
She leaned forward. “What kind do you have?”
Roy shifted bottles around. “Uh, looks like cherry, grape, and banana.”
“Banana, please.”
Roy popped off the cap and handed her the bumpy glass bottle. Banana scented fizz tickled her nose.
Meg pulled a sad face. “Sorry I didn’t think of wine, Hannah. You’re stuck with the soft stuff.”
Nate raised a brown. “Not necessarily. Go ahead and take a swallow, Hannah.”
Wondering what he was up to, she took a sip of her banana drink, while Nate retrieved a small flask from his back pocket.
Roy whistled. “Now why didn’t I think of that?”
Curiosity had her leaning his way. “What is it, Nate?”
“Gin. I don’t like the stuff, but you do. You game?”
Unable to resist the cockeyed grin that deepened his dimple, she passed him her drink bottle.
Holding his hand around the neck, he carefully poured a jot from the flask, shook the bottle, and used his thumb to keep it from spewing out. Once the concoction had settled, he returned it to Hannah.
She took a tentative sip. “Hmm, not bad. Definitely a kick.” She relaxed into the chair, pleasure tickling her insides. “Thanks, soldier.”
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt firecracker. Thanks for stopping by. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Happy 4th of July!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
Banana coke? Grape coke? We don’t have that in Canada although cherry coke is quite popular. I’ll settle for Coke Zero with rum or rye, not gin. LOL Good scene.
Susanne. this is a southernism. We tend to call everything Coke, instead of soda or pop. She’s really drinking a banana flavored soft drink. Maybe I should change it to that, since we’re talking flavors. Our fam also drinks Coke Zero! Yum.
Great scene very visual. I knew what you meant with the flavored drinks but it might not hurt to call them soft drinks for those of us not from the south. I liove strawberry peach and orange. Ones but cherry Coke is my favorite
Good idea, Cathy! I love peach anything. As a kid we had this brand of flavored drinks that came in bottles with bumps on them. I don’t think it was Hires. It might have been Sun Crest! The flavors included banana, orange, peach, grape, cherry, and strawberry.
Lovely scene. Gotta love the gin idea. Sure can perk up a banana drink.
I think so, too, Jean! Too bad they don’t make those banana drinks anymore. We’re relegated to smoothies.
I love their interaction as they get ready to watch the fireworks. And Nate’s idea with the gin is brilliant!
Nate could come in handy on holidays, Tricia!
You wrote a perfect scene for our 4th of July post! I loved it.
Thank you, Trisha! So nice of you to comment.