Free Write : Hang Your Clothes

 I was extra curious about what we would do with this prompt. For me it was one of the hardest.  

Julia's Free Write  

There was a party coming up; she was down to only three trousers that fit and looked decent; she needed, yesterday, a new cotton blouse.

Sigh

She preferred hardware and thrifty stores to boutiques.

The odd time she did venture into even a department store, she refused to try on anything unless she could find at least 3 items. Calling a salesgirl for help simply wasn’t in her nature – not that most stores had one anymore.

A week later: the party was only 4 days away; one of the three trousers had holes along the inside seems; and even online she couldn’t find a blouse.

Time to grit her teeth and get going.

She chose the largest department store in hopes of finding at least one item.

Several trousers, a couple of blouses and still no party frock she was off to the dressing rooms.

She finally picked one trouser, one blouse and decided that an old dress would do for the party.

At least this time she had had help in the dressing room:

A coat rack with 4 signs: a check mark for o.k., a question mark for maybe, an X for no and a bag for purchasing.

She’d use this store again.

 

D-L's Free Write

 

"This apartment doesn't have any closets, Megan said. "And where's the kitchen?"

 It was the first flat they had looked at since moving to Stuttgart.

She hadn't been excited about moving to Germany, but Tom's promotion, huge raise on top of the lower cost of living was too advantageous to pass up.

She hadn't wanted to give up her job. She had loved her third graders. 

The apartment building was beautiful next to the public garden with a pond, ducks and flowers. Unlike at home, this garden didn't need mowing.

The real estate agent took off his jacket and hung it on one of the four hooks and strange drawings near the entrance. The rooms were large with long windows and a balcony.

"Kitchen?" 

Tenants bring their own from their old apartments or buy a new one.The agent must be about their age - late 20s early 30s.

"Closets?"

"You bring your own wardrobes."

I want to go home, she thought. 

Rick's Free Write

Geoff was the type of guy, when we were growing up, that we called a “neat freak.” He only got worse as he got older.

For Geoff, everything… everything… had to go in its proper place. Dishes, clothes, books, pillows, tools, towels…

Loading the dishwasher, he insisted that only the same utensils be placed in a slot, including separate slots for large spoons and small spoons. On the bed and the couch, pillows must be arranged by size and colour. Books were to be shelved by fiction and non-fiction, and the novels were to be alpha by author. At least he didn’t require a sub-sort by genre.

Geoff was worst when it came to frequently used items. Come in the door – put the keys on the first hook. The dog collar and harness on another hook.

Geoff’s partner, Liam, tried to inject a bit of humour in the routine. He stenciled “guides” above the hooks of the coat rack. A check mark for Geoff’s jacket, a question mark for Liam’s. An X for whatever a guest wore. A picture of a purse for any lady visitor.

Geoff was not amused.

After Liam walked out, Geoff got out the paint and brush.

About the Free Writers 

Rick Adams is an aviation journalist and publisher of www.aviationvoices.com, a weekly newsletter reporting the airline industry  top stories . He is the author of The Robot in the Simulator. AI in Aviation Training.  

Visit D-L.'s website  https://dlnelsonwriter.com, She is the author of 15 fiction and three non fiction books. Her 300 Unsung Women, bios of women who battled gender limitations, can be purchased  at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/300-unsung-women-d-l-nelson/1147305797?ean=9798990385504 

Visit Julia's blog. She has written and taken photos and loves syncing up with friends.  Her blog can be found: https://viewsfromeverywhere.blogspot.com/