Today’s post is a writing challenge. This is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the writer will take them. Until now.
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There stood Ted in a daze with his cola in his hand wondering if he should cancel his 3 o'clock massage appointment. Sue was coming in through the garage door when he saw it. That damn rabbit, he secretly hoped she would not see him or he'd get away. Sue had been planting her "concoction" all over the yard and in the bushes hoping to do away with him for good as she liked to say.
He was kinda used to him and he was a big pain in the ass but he was starting to feel sorry for the guy. Oh he could hold his own against Sue, he had proven that so far. A robust fellow as grandpa would have said.
Suddenly there was a knock at the patio door...what in the world?! WHO could be knocking on that door? You'd have to be in the backyard and there was no access except from inside the house or garage. Both Ted and Sue stood there for a moment, then she snapped out of it and in true Sue fashion said "oh for crying out loud Ted don't just stand there doing nothing like a worthless lump". Geez she had a way of making him feel so special these days. He was beginning to wonder what he ever saw in her to begin with and what she saw in him? It sure didn't feel like love anymore.
He turned and followed her through the kitchen to the dining room toward the French doors leading to the patio. What the...it was their neighbors Bob and Mary. Sue turned slightly to roll her eyes in Ted's direction. He smiled an apology for what he wasn't sure.
Waving his hand frantically, Bob yelled through the glass "HEY your rabbit was in our yard" as he put his hand on the knob to try and come in. Oh good lord Ted thought, Sue might feed him her rabbit demise concoction!
Sue, exhaling with obvious irritation, turned the knob, held her place in the doorway and said in very if not overly stern voice "IT is NOT our rabbit Bob thank you very much", Bob chuckled and said "oh well excuse me Missy but I beg to differ, you the one feeding him in the bushes" as he brushed her aside and walked into the house.
Mary followed suit and they went straight to the kitchen and pulled out the stools at the island and sat down like they had done it a thousand times before.
Following them Ted heard Sue cussing under her breath "who do these two old coots think they are walking right in my house and making themselves at home I've a good mind to..."
holy shit Batman she was pissed. Ted did the unthinkable and said "Hey Bob old buddy why don't we go outside and sit a spell, Mary you too" and he gently led them back outside.
Well that was the first decent thing he had done in weeks Sue thought, now how to get rid of them for good too?
Bob crossed his spindly legs and said "Ted let me shed some light on the subject of being neighborly or illuminate you as the kids say today. When I was growing up we lived on a farm about 25 miles from town. We'd go in once a month and gather supplies that we didn't grow ourselves, you know, flour, sugar, shotgun shells and other stuff like that there. We were thrilled when one of our neighbors rolled up on our land, it meant a break, sit a spell, visit, talk, something that has gone out of fashion these days and might, no does need to be revived. I see you and your misses and y'all don't seem to happy with life in general. Always yelling at squirrels, trying to kill that rabbit, cutting eyes at each other like enemies. Let me ask you a question Ted. Why did y'all get married in the first place? I know we don't know each other well and it might be overstepping but I hate to see young folks like yourselves so unhappy. There is too much going on to be unhappy, life is short and if you don't think so, wait a few more years and your boy will be driving and you'll hardly ever see him. Then you'll wonder where the time went." Taking a breath he looked out toward the tree line, he spotted the rabbit and gave a chuckle. Hopefully Sue would not find out he removed her poison and replaced it with feed. It was a faulty plan to begin with.
Ted said "Bob you remind me of my grandfather, he sighed, and I miss him. He used to say we all need to live in one cord with one another or something like that. He was a farmer and Sue hates the country, I'll be honest, I'm not sure why we got married. I mean, I was sure when it happened, but lately a lot has changed. We do yell, we argue, she is just so mad all the time. shaking his head he said, Bob I just don't know."
As if on cue, Sue emerged from the house and bellowed "TED", he looked up, sighed and went to see what he had done wrong now, besides breathing that is.
Bob looked at Mary, he reached for her hand. She smiled and said "I'm so glad we learned a long time ago to let the worries of the world go and enjoy each other and life. I think they need to do that as well." Bob squeezed her and and smiled. Oh she was so right.
Ted went to Sue and said "yes dear, what do I need to do?" She glared at him and said "GET RID of them! I have things to do and it is not entertain a couple of old people." Ted flinched, damn that was harsh, they were really nice and he was actually having a nice time until she came out that was. She cocked her head sideways and looked at him with great scrutiny, "are you actually enjoying talking with them?" He felt embarrassed and scared but replied, "yes Sue I am" she laughed that laugh which sounded like the witch from The Wizard of Oz. He flinched, she laughed again and walked off.
As he was returning to the guest, they heard it, they all heard it.
BAM CRASH Screams like the undead coming from the kitchen. Running they all got there to find Sue on the floor, covered in a white powder, a broken bowl next to her, and rabbit tracks leading out the garage door.
Bob said "well that rascally rabbit strikes again."
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At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
Your words are:
cola ~ illuminate ~ massage ~ robust ~ cord ~ faulty
Links to the other “Use Your Words” posts:
