Today, sitting behind L'Hostalet sipping tea and munching
Catherine's savory tarts, we watched the vendors and customers at the
marché. They gave us much inspiration for my writing friend and I to do
our ten minute exercises creating a flash fiction piece. The only
drawback was we know too many people to chat with. And people come
first. But I did get one piece written. Here it is unedited.
GINA spent at least 10 minutes trying to decide to buy flowers. She left the marché stand, selected cheese and tomatoes from Jean and Pierre's stalls.
The desire for flowers was too strong. She went back. Lilies were four euros, a mixed bouquet five, and a single rose three.
"Is it a gift?" the vendor asked.
"Yes." It was a gift for herself.
He
put the flowers in a transparent film, took yellow and orange ribbons
and made a bow near the bottom of the stems. He used a small knife to
run down the ends, creating curly cues.
Gina's other
errands were mundane, although the smell of fresh bread from the oven
made the bakery smell heavenly. The butcher was able to sell her a cheap
piece of mutton, that she knew she could stew into tenderness
Back home she put the flowers in a vase on the kitchen table, but then moved them to the living room.
As
she prepared the stew, she changed her mind and returned the flowers to
the kitchen table. She found herself smiling every time she saw them as
she moved from table to counter to stove in preparing the lambb stew.
The kitchen door opened. Thomas stormed in. "What are those?"
"Lilies."
"How much did you pay for them?"
She told him.
"God damn waste of money." He went into the living room slamming the doors behind him.
She
looked at the flowers and a wave of sadness swept over her not at the
waste of money on flowers but the waste that was her marriage.
Tuesday, January 09, 2018
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1 comment:
always difficult to decide whether to buy flowers for yourself! My weakness is spring daffs!
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