Tuesday Tales is a weekly blog featuring diverse authors who post excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. We’re a dedicated group that enjoys reading as much as you do. Today we have a picture to spark our imaginations. My snippet is from a vintage paranormal romance set in the 1950s. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Laura dimmed the lights and shut off the engine. The car would need a good wash tomorrow. What a long, winding road Miss Sarah lived on, two miles of rock dust and another of Florida sugar sand. She peered toward the front porch. A dark figure floated from the shadows and moved toward her. She held her breath for a moment before realizing it was Old Man Ben, an uncle, grandfather, or some such.
He thumbed open the car door. “Sarey be in the kitchen. She say go on in.”
Steps creaked under her low heels. A kerosene lamp spurted on the scrubbed oak table by Miss Sarah, augmenting flickers from the wood stove. A ghost of a smile played over the elderly woman’s features. Deep, dark eyes were already a bit glazed. People called it the sight. Whatever it was, hopefully it could ease her mind tonight. Her stomach clenched and twisted like a wet washcloth being squeezed dry.
She slipped into a chair, digging into her handbag and coming out with the handful of change she had emptied from the restaurant’s juke box. She piled it on the table and pushed it over. Her voice trembled. “I still haven’t heard from him.”
Miss Sarah’s palm hovered over the silver, moving back and forth in slow motion as if feeling without touching. Then her hand stilled, and deft fingers flicked up a quarter. Barely glancing at it, her eyes burned into Laura’s. “There’s a hole in this 1923 one.”
Laura’s throat burned. How had it become mixed in with the other coins? It never left her the little gold bag. She reached out. “1923? Give that back. That’s my lucky quarter.”
Miss Sarah remained motionless. “You want to know, or don’t you?”
Thanks for stopping by. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
I always enjoy the descriptions in your snippets. The minute details create vivid visuals.
I appreciate your kind words, Carmen.
Loved it. Great job. Looking forward to more.
Thank you, Susanne!
Nicely done. The dialogue and descriptions bring the era vividly to life.
I’m glad the dialogue and description seems to fit the era. Thank you, Mae.
You always have such wonderful descriptions! Well done!
Thank you for the generous comment, Vicki!
This sounds so good!! I want to read this one!
Cool, Cathy, thanks so much.