Today's prompt is stutter. The week before Sebastian had awaken Tonya with puppy kisses and she inadverently announced to the neighborhood her lack of a love life. It's still morning, let's join Tonya.
What else could happen? After filling Sebastian bowls, she turned the radio on. Strains of a soft rock ballad filled the kitchen. The tune had her waltzing around the kitchen imagining Will holding in his arms and singing softy in her ears. The man would be a wonderful dancer. Unlike so many men who refused to dance, he’d take every opportunity to dance with her.
Sure, she was making up her own little fantasy, but wasn’t why they were called fantasies. The song ended and a perky deejay came on. “Rise and shine, if you’re heading to work you’re already be late. It’s nine ‘o’clock.”
The cold cola she’d just opened dropped out of her hand hitting her big toe. Cursing, she scooped up the rolling drink can. “God, what else?” Her hand slapped over her mouth before she could even finished the statement. Nothing else please. Sebastian licked up the sticky trail of soda left behind. “N, no, no, don’t do that. “ Her stuttered words on no impact on her pooch. “Go ahead; I don’t have time to clean.”
Breakfast forgotten, Tonya rushed through dressing. With any luck, she’d park in the rear lot, sneak in the backdoor and slip up to her office. No one would see her and if anyone did, she’d claim car trouble.
Her usual work standby clothes were at the cleaners or dirty. Didn’t have the time or energy to create any new outfits from what was clean. Instead, she donned the black dress hanging in the back of her closet. It was her funeral, graduation, or other boring occasion that being a relative made it necessary to attend. The plain dress made her feel somewhat like a pilgrim. It’s only redeeming grace was that it would serve as a constant reminder to go by the dry cleaners for her regular clothes.
On her way through the kitchen, she grabbed a new cola and a granola bar for breakfast. Already late and no time left to fix her lunch either. She pushed another soda and granola bar into her oversized purse. Not very healthy or delicious for that matter, she included a bottle of water. Just call her Miss Nutrition.
Dark clouds loomed overhead. Of course, it would rain, especially since she couldn’t remember the location of her umbrella. With any luck, she’d arrive before the storm if the person in front of her would try to drive at the posted speed. The urge to pass was strong. The shape and size of the sedan shouted undercover cop. It might not be, but no reason to press her luck.
Tonya replayed the night before reliving each moment including the delicious dinner. Too bad, she acted like a pig and ate everything. It could have been lunch today if she’d showed some restraint. Easing up on the alcohol, might have helped her make a better impression too. Still, couldn’t help she had no real tolerance for alcohol. Will, strangely liked her, despite her offensive remarks. What did that say about the two of them?
An odd smell crinkled her nose. What was it? The sedan in front of her turned, but the smell remained, which made her nervous. Any information she knew about cars came from a radio auto talk show that featured more jokes about the brothers’ lives than useful car tips. Could be the stale smell of dog? A couple of weeks ago, she hauled Sebastian to the dog wash. The place allowed ten minutes at the self-wash, which was never enough time to dry her pooch appropriately. Sure, she spent time, shampooing twice and conditioning.
Didn’t have the damp wool smell of wet dog. It was more of a hot smell. Her eyes dropped to the thermostat whose needle hovered over the red. Damn it. Seriously. Tonya signaled and pulled over to the shoulder of the road.
Smoke snaked out from under her hood. Never a good sign. Her auto expertise consisted of pulling over whenever anything appeared wrong. Her father had drilled that one bit after she continued to drive the family car without oil and it seized up. In her defense, how would she’d have known it was out of oil? Of course, her father pointed out the lights and warning sounds the car emitted. The ones she managed to overlook by turning up the radio. Car care was an area in which she didn’t excel. Why did the car pick today to die an inopportune death?
What else could happen? After filling Sebastian bowls, she turned the radio on. Strains of a soft rock ballad filled the kitchen. The tune had her waltzing around the kitchen imagining Will holding in his arms and singing softy in her ears. The man would be a wonderful dancer. Unlike so many men who refused to dance, he’d take every opportunity to dance with her.
Sure, she was making up her own little fantasy, but wasn’t why they were called fantasies. The song ended and a perky deejay came on. “Rise and shine, if you’re heading to work you’re already be late. It’s nine ‘o’clock.”
The cold cola she’d just opened dropped out of her hand hitting her big toe. Cursing, she scooped up the rolling drink can. “God, what else?” Her hand slapped over her mouth before she could even finished the statement. Nothing else please. Sebastian licked up the sticky trail of soda left behind. “N, no, no, don’t do that. “ Her stuttered words on no impact on her pooch. “Go ahead; I don’t have time to clean.”
Breakfast forgotten, Tonya rushed through dressing. With any luck, she’d park in the rear lot, sneak in the backdoor and slip up to her office. No one would see her and if anyone did, she’d claim car trouble.
Her usual work standby clothes were at the cleaners or dirty. Didn’t have the time or energy to create any new outfits from what was clean. Instead, she donned the black dress hanging in the back of her closet. It was her funeral, graduation, or other boring occasion that being a relative made it necessary to attend. The plain dress made her feel somewhat like a pilgrim. It’s only redeeming grace was that it would serve as a constant reminder to go by the dry cleaners for her regular clothes.
On her way through the kitchen, she grabbed a new cola and a granola bar for breakfast. Already late and no time left to fix her lunch either. She pushed another soda and granola bar into her oversized purse. Not very healthy or delicious for that matter, she included a bottle of water. Just call her Miss Nutrition.
Dark clouds loomed overhead. Of course, it would rain, especially since she couldn’t remember the location of her umbrella. With any luck, she’d arrive before the storm if the person in front of her would try to drive at the posted speed. The urge to pass was strong. The shape and size of the sedan shouted undercover cop. It might not be, but no reason to press her luck.
Tonya replayed the night before reliving each moment including the delicious dinner. Too bad, she acted like a pig and ate everything. It could have been lunch today if she’d showed some restraint. Easing up on the alcohol, might have helped her make a better impression too. Still, couldn’t help she had no real tolerance for alcohol. Will, strangely liked her, despite her offensive remarks. What did that say about the two of them?
An odd smell crinkled her nose. What was it? The sedan in front of her turned, but the smell remained, which made her nervous. Any information she knew about cars came from a radio auto talk show that featured more jokes about the brothers’ lives than useful car tips. Could be the stale smell of dog? A couple of weeks ago, she hauled Sebastian to the dog wash. The place allowed ten minutes at the self-wash, which was never enough time to dry her pooch appropriately. Sure, she spent time, shampooing twice and conditioning.
Didn’t have the damp wool smell of wet dog. It was more of a hot smell. Her eyes dropped to the thermostat whose needle hovered over the red. Damn it. Seriously. Tonya signaled and pulled over to the shoulder of the road.
Smoke snaked out from under her hood. Never a good sign. Her auto expertise consisted of pulling over whenever anything appeared wrong. Her father had drilled that one bit after she continued to drive the family car without oil and it seized up. In her defense, how would she’d have known it was out of oil? Of course, her father pointed out the lights and warning sounds the car emitted. The ones she managed to overlook by turning up the radio. Car care was an area in which she didn’t excel. Why did the car pick today to die an inopportune death?
RSS Feed
