Flash Nano 4: Use the color blond wood in a story

The fourth day where some 200+ Anglo writers create a flash fiction piece to a prompt. There will be a new prompt every day in November. 

Flash Nano No. 4 Use this color, which Home Depot calls "Blonde Wood", in a story.

 “It’s incredible,” Jean-Marc told Bonnie. "I’ve never seen a hardware store that huge. It has everything and then some."

The couple had been transferred from Paris to New York for four months. He was the liaison to help their company close down the U.S. office partially for tariffs, partially because ICE had detained three of their warehouse employees in a raid. Corporate decided it wasn't worth it to have a U.S. presence. 

Jean-Marc was excited about living in the Big Apple even for a short time. Bonnie hated being back in her birth country. She hated that she had to leave her laptop and mobile at home in France, although the company had given them clean replacements to go through American customs.

The company had rented them an apartment, almost totally furnished. Their first Saturday, when they went for a walk, they’d seen a nightstand left on the sidewalk. Jean-Marc carried it back to their flat, saying they needed it. “Let’s paint it.”

“We’re not going to be here that long,” Bonnie argued. “Leave it as is,” Bonnie said. “We’re only here a few months. There’s other things to do as long as we’re stuck here, theater, skating in Central Park, museums, galleries for example.”

“Blond wood. That’s what the store called the paint color. It would look good,” Jean-Marc persisted.

Bonnie opened her laptop to check the political contributions of the store chain. “They play both parties.” She followed politics: U.S., France, Germany, Italy. She knew more about Macron than Jean-Marc. “I’m heartsick about what is happening at home,” she had said, but also pointed out the follies of other countries.

“Hmm,” was the most Jean-Marc had responded as he checked football scores. At home he didn’t want conflict. He loved that it was illegal for his company to bother him after hours so when he was home, he was free of his responsibilities. He switched on to work problems each morning in the shower.

They argued about painting the nightstand until they decided it was better to go out and get dinner. There was a Mexican restaurant on the corner. It seemed silly to go to the faux French restaurant on the other corner.

They could pick up bagels and lox for breakfast at the Jewish deli across the street. The crust of the bagels was the color of blond wood.

Even if Bonnie wasn’t thrilled about being “home” she decided to enjoy the good stuff like bagels. 

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