There was a time before you walked through and there will be all the time after. An unwanted memory. [19]
It's the little things no one tells you. "Family may use the side door." Not a request. An entrance for the freshly bereaved, curating grief. [25]
I bring her favorite dress, the one with the blue flowers. Hushed voices. Would I like to see her? As if she's just resting--asleep in the other room. It's not her. All that's left is this dress and her mask. I turn away. "She'd never wear so much makeup." [50]
The adjudicator smiled. “Esthetically perfect. Flower pots are welcoming you into the foyer of pink, accentuated by the green door. Definitely the first place award.”
50 words
Johnny pulled his Corvette to the curb and observed the floral entryway.
“Intriguing!”
Romantic music emanated from behind the colourful curtain. His date appeared as if by magic. Finely dressed, a hint of romance enhanced the night. Her loveliness reminded him of an evening in Paris.
“Enchante,” she whispered softly.
100 words
There was knocking on the door. Jenny walked to the door, There was another knock. She reached for the knob when she heard,
“Mailman”
“You’re not the mailman,” she responded, pulling her hand away from the door.
“Shark,” replied the voice rather loudly.
Jenny smiled. “A shark this far inland? How interesting.”
There was some hesitation on the other side of the door.
“Killer Bees.”
“Well now. Someone knows his Saturday Night Live skits.”
“Super Bass-O-Matic salesman”
“Now that one was funny. What else have you got?”
The voice faded as it moved down the steps. “A really bad comedian.”
150 words
“Here is where I once lived,” intoned a hollow voice. “Many good times, many bad times. Now there are no times,” reflected Hector.
“Such is the life of a ghost,” responded Samuel.
“It looks so much nicer than when I lived here. Look at the plants. Look at the vines. They make this old building come to life.”
“It didn’t come to life when you owned it?”
“We were so busy working six days a week just to make ends meet that there was no time or money to think about anything extra. Still we had a happy home. Beth made sure of that. I can remember seeing Jim and Sharan running up and down the street, having fun using their imaginations only.”
“It’s funny how times change.”
“But is it easier? They seem to have the same stresses we did,” said Hector as they faded back into the ether.
I'm from the California desert. I'm used to brown. Brown hills, with occasional hints of green. Houston was kind of a shock.
I'm not sure why I chose Houston. Well..the airfare was a bargain. But flying into Denver was the same price. The clincher, I guess, was the Airbnb in Houston that was affordable and looked luxe. I could use some luxe, living in a small apartment. And my cat died, and I was sad, and the prospect of finding a new boyfriend seemed slim, and work..please.
Was there joy to be found in Texas? Maybe line dancing with some handsome cowboy? Oh, wait, the cowboys weren't in Houston, were they? Maybe some handsome oilman?
From my landing at Hobby, I felt that Houston humidity. Sticking to myself, within two minutes, wasn't the greatest feeling. I decided to Uber to the house that would be home for a week. Passing strip malls, residential neighborhoods, and some industry, I noticed all the places to get tacos. I could live on tacos forever. California trained me well. And I was especially thrilled to see "Tacos Michoacan' two blocks from my destination. I chose my Airbnb because it seemed to be in a lively city neighborhood but two blocks from the hubbub.
I loved the house from first glance. Flowers around the entrance. Nothing like back home. As I settled into my guest suite and basked in the air conditioning, I had a feeling I'd like this place. Maybe that handsome cowboy wasn't destined for me. He'd never look at me, anyway.. But tacos were in my future, for sure. And life was looking a bit brighter, at least for a week
This looks like fun! Thank you for the challenge. Here's my attempt:
The Invasion
[StoryStack] - Continuation Method
The doorway seemed neat, but overgrown. [6 words]
Emma looked over their new home. “The woodbine and ivy will be difficult to keep up with, but they’re attractive.” She got out her clippers. [25 words]
The next morning, Joe tried to open the front door - it wouldn’t budge. Emma had trimmed yesterday, so it couldn’t be the plants. They both pushed, but the door remained stuck. Clambering out the window, they discovered that the thick vines had grown back overnight to cover the door. [50 words]
Every day was the same. They’d trim the vines neatly, only to find them grown back overnight, more vigorous than ever. Emma wailed, “We’re never going be able to keep up with them!”
Joe stared at the overgrown door. “We ain’t whipped yet. We’ll fix something.”
They walked around the house, examining the walls carefully. They noticed that the kitchen door was clear of vegetation. Joe and Emma looked at each other and smiled.
They gave up the battle, using the kitchen door as their main entry. The facade is covered in green glory, but it keeps the house cool. [100 words]
[StoryStack] Addition Method
Side Door
Some doors change who you are. [6]
There was a time before you walked through and there will be all the time after. An unwanted memory. [19]
It's the little things no one tells you. "Family may use the side door." Not a request. An entrance for the freshly bereaved, curating grief. [25]
I bring her favorite dress, the one with the blue flowers. Hushed voices. Would I like to see her? As if she's just resting--asleep in the other room. It's not her. All that's left is this dress and her mask. I turn away. "She'd never wear so much makeup." [50]
On Full Display
A Story Stack: The Separation Method
Prompt by: Top In Fiction: Behind Every Door #3
Photo prompt
6 words
Romantic petals lead to the door.
25 words
The adjudicator smiled. “Esthetically perfect. Flower pots are welcoming you into the foyer of pink, accentuated by the green door. Definitely the first place award.”
50 words
Johnny pulled his Corvette to the curb and observed the floral entryway.
“Intriguing!”
Romantic music emanated from behind the colourful curtain. His date appeared as if by magic. Finely dressed, a hint of romance enhanced the night. Her loveliness reminded him of an evening in Paris.
“Enchante,” she whispered softly.
100 words
There was knocking on the door. Jenny walked to the door, There was another knock. She reached for the knob when she heard,
“Mailman”
“You’re not the mailman,” she responded, pulling her hand away from the door.
“Shark,” replied the voice rather loudly.
Jenny smiled. “A shark this far inland? How interesting.”
There was some hesitation on the other side of the door.
“Killer Bees.”
“Well now. Someone knows his Saturday Night Live skits.”
“Super Bass-O-Matic salesman”
“Now that one was funny. What else have you got?”
The voice faded as it moved down the steps. “A really bad comedian.”
150 words
“Here is where I once lived,” intoned a hollow voice. “Many good times, many bad times. Now there are no times,” reflected Hector.
“Such is the life of a ghost,” responded Samuel.
“It looks so much nicer than when I lived here. Look at the plants. Look at the vines. They make this old building come to life.”
“It didn’t come to life when you owned it?”
“We were so busy working six days a week just to make ends meet that there was no time or money to think about anything extra. Still we had a happy home. Beth made sure of that. I can remember seeing Jim and Sharan running up and down the street, having fun using their imaginations only.”
“It’s funny how times change.”
“But is it easier? They seem to have the same stresses we did,” said Hector as they faded back into the ether.
My Houston chronicle
I'm from the California desert. I'm used to brown. Brown hills, with occasional hints of green. Houston was kind of a shock.
I'm not sure why I chose Houston. Well..the airfare was a bargain. But flying into Denver was the same price. The clincher, I guess, was the Airbnb in Houston that was affordable and looked luxe. I could use some luxe, living in a small apartment. And my cat died, and I was sad, and the prospect of finding a new boyfriend seemed slim, and work..please.
Was there joy to be found in Texas? Maybe line dancing with some handsome cowboy? Oh, wait, the cowboys weren't in Houston, were they? Maybe some handsome oilman?
From my landing at Hobby, I felt that Houston humidity. Sticking to myself, within two minutes, wasn't the greatest feeling. I decided to Uber to the house that would be home for a week. Passing strip malls, residential neighborhoods, and some industry, I noticed all the places to get tacos. I could live on tacos forever. California trained me well. And I was especially thrilled to see "Tacos Michoacan' two blocks from my destination. I chose my Airbnb because it seemed to be in a lively city neighborhood but two blocks from the hubbub.
I loved the house from first glance. Flowers around the entrance. Nothing like back home. As I settled into my guest suite and basked in the air conditioning, I had a feeling I'd like this place. Maybe that handsome cowboy wasn't destined for me. He'd never look at me, anyway.. But tacos were in my future, for sure. And life was looking a bit brighter, at least for a week
This looks like fun! Thank you for the challenge. Here's my attempt:
The Invasion
[StoryStack] - Continuation Method
The doorway seemed neat, but overgrown. [6 words]
Emma looked over their new home. “The woodbine and ivy will be difficult to keep up with, but they’re attractive.” She got out her clippers. [25 words]
The next morning, Joe tried to open the front door - it wouldn’t budge. Emma had trimmed yesterday, so it couldn’t be the plants. They both pushed, but the door remained stuck. Clambering out the window, they discovered that the thick vines had grown back overnight to cover the door. [50 words]
Every day was the same. They’d trim the vines neatly, only to find them grown back overnight, more vigorous than ever. Emma wailed, “We’re never going be able to keep up with them!”
Joe stared at the overgrown door. “We ain’t whipped yet. We’ll fix something.”
They walked around the house, examining the walls carefully. They noticed that the kitchen door was clear of vegetation. Joe and Emma looked at each other and smiled.
They gave up the battle, using the kitchen door as their main entry. The facade is covered in green glory, but it keeps the house cool. [100 words]