Spring time has me thinking of new beginnings. When I started to focus on my writing I wrote a lot of Flash Fiction. Writing a tight, complete story in about 500 words is a great way to practice honing your craft...and fun!
With the warmer weather approaching, my thoughts also drift to the gardens my father and father in law plant and my favorite thing- garden tomatoes.
Speaking of spring, tomatoes and stories, here's an old flash fiction story of mine that I thought I'd share.
Secret Garden
“More lemonade, Grams?”
LuAnn plucked up the glass and rolled its cool condensation across her temple. “Whew,
what a scorcher.”
Grams pushed her bifocals
up the slick bridge of her nose. “Good for the tomatoes.”
LuAnn glanced at
the new sign above the door advertising Grams Pasta Sauce, and smiled. “You’ve
had a good season.” She kissed Grams weathered cheek. “I’ve been worried about
you, without Grandpa.”
“The Lord provides.”
Grams fanned herself, then smiled a toothless grin while biting into a tomato
with gusto. Rivulets of juice streamed down her chin.
LuAnn eyed the
jars lining the table. “Will you ever tell me your new secret ingredient?”
“Some secrets are best kept buried.” Grams
swatted a mosquito. “Besides, sauce is in our blood, child.”
The screen door ushered
LuAnn into the house, slamming her behind as she carried the glasses in. The
whirling ceiling fan moved the stagnant air. LuAnn squinted out the window at
the rows of tomatoes. Again, the sunlight glinted on something.
“Hey Gram,
whatcha’ got in the garden? Something to scare off the rabbits?” LuAnn went out
the back and was engulfed in the thick air, filled with the cicadas’ songs and
the babbling of the creek. Squatting down, she dug into the moist dirt.
“What is that, a
coin?” LuAnn’s hand brushed against the offending item. She shielded her eyes
from the glare as the sun struck it.
“They say time
heals all wounds,” Grams said.
LuAnn startled and
fell onto her buttocks, dislodging a mound of dirt.
“Now, I don’t
necessarily believe that’s true.” Grams lowered onto the wooden stool near the
garden and rolled her knee high stocking down.
LuAnn’s mouth
gaped at Grams exposed leg, which sported a plethora of scars. “What—”
Grams dropped the
skirt and clutched a hoe to hoist herself up. “Oh that’s nothin’.” She waved
her hand at LuAnn. “Don’t you worry yourself, child. I told ya, the Lord
provides.” Nodding, she ran her hand along the hoe. “He provided me with this
hoe and this bountiful garden.”
“Every time I got
a lashing, I just planted me another tomato plant, um-hmm.” Grams turned and hobbled back to the house.
LuAnn started to
push herself up, and then saw it. Amongst the green stalks, a decomposing
finger erupted from the earth. The gold wedding band encircled the bone.
LuAnn’s eyes
widened and she scuttled back on all fours. “Grandpa,” she whispered. A black
beetle scurried across the band, tiny tentacles twitching.
LuAnn suppressed
her rising nausea with her palm while stumbling to her feet. Frantically, she brushed off the clinging
dirt. She cringed as a crow cawed, following its’ flight path across the vast acres
of tomato plants.
Her breathing
slowed. Her muscles relaxed.
“Here’s your lemonade,
Grams,” LuAnn said, settling into a rocker.
“Still wanna know
the secret ingredient?” Grams rocking slowed.
“Nah.” LuAnn met
Grams gaze. “Like you said, sauce is in our blood.”
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Penning stories boasting laughter, light suspense and something magical in the hope of sharing her love of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary world.
2 comments:
Oh, I love this story! You really should think about making it a full length book. Love it!
Thanks sophia! I do love my creepy stories :)
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