Jillian Chantal

Today’s word is   attitude and man, I’ve been faced with that this past week or so.  I didn’t get a chance to work on my story this week because I received edits on a story and had to focus on them when I could – I must confess, they were the ugliest set I’ve ever received. Not due to the work involved but due to the nastiness of the editor. She was quite unprofessional and even cruel in her comments. She had some negative attitude for sure. Man, I am glad to have those done. I just hope the second round is better. It’ll at least be a different person doing them. Thank God for that.  Anyway, even though I have nothing for you today, be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here. 

This week, for Tuesday Tales, we have a picture prompt and since in my current WIP, I have already used egg sandwich when we had the word sandwich, I decided to write a little piece of flash fiction for this week’s photo. We are only allowed to use 300 words so it’s very short. I hope you enjoy it as it was fun to write. Be sure to check out the other tales here. 

Bacon and eggs

The bell over the door of the diner tinkled announcing a customer. Tom, the short-order cook, didn’t look up. He was tired of glancing at the door and being disappointed. If only she’d come. Desperate to see her again, he forced himself to focus on the pancakes on the griddle and the sausages in the pan. Keeping everything going at the same time was a challenge when he first came to work at the hole in the wall joint. It wasn’t what he was used to but it was honest work.

“Tom?”

He couldn’t believe it. It must be his imagination. Was it really her voice? One word—his name—and he recognized it?

Afraid to turn around and have his hopes dashed, he ignored the sound and kept his attention on the food orders.

“Tom?”

There it was again. His broken heart must be working overtime to taunt him. He could swear it was her but she was gone. She’d left him long ago. He’d even moved and gotten a job in a place she’d never think to search for him. It wouldn’t be her if he looked. He was sure of it.

“Tom. Please.”

Inhaling deeply, he turned to face the person who relentlessly spoke his name.

Stunned to see the woman he loved and lost, he couldn’t find words. He stared in amazement.

“I’ve found you at last.” She smiled and held her hand out. “Won’t you come home?”

“But you said you couldn’t love me.”

“I was wrong. I see that now.” She stared at the griddle. “What you’ve done is beautiful.”

“I have learned not to burn the bacon and scald the eggs.”

“Please come home. I never meant you to leave. I only wanted you to learn to cook.”

This week’s word is twenty. I’m still working on the snowed in story and I know you all have to be as tired of it as I am. LOL  – Anyhow, here’s this week’s snippet.  Be sure to read the other fabulous writers here. 

A noise at the door startled Ian awake. Pressing down on the end of his watch to light up the face, he peered down at the time. He couldn’t believe it had only been twenty minutes since they’d gone to bed. He must have been really beat since it seemed as if he’d been asleep for hours.

Ian heard the noise again. He sat up and tilted his head toward the door. It sounded almost like something scratching at the wood but he knew there were no rats or other creatures in the building. Simon was meticulous about those things and the health department was as well.

The sound came again. Ian couldn’t believe he was the only one to hear the noise. Simon and Lanett seemed to be comatose they were sleeping so hard.

In a few seconds, the doorknob turned slowly. Ian didn’t move. He was curious about who would be creeping in and wanted to give them a chance to show themselves before he alerted them to the fact that he was awake and onto them.

Suddenly curious about why Simon believed the front of the bar would be safe with both owners in the back, Ian thought twice about being quiet. He knew the money from the register was in this room locked in the safe but what if the person coming in had a gun?

He opened his mouth to call out for Simon but before he could say a word, his brother knelt beside him holding a hand up as if to halt any sound. Ian stayed quiet.

The door inched open, letting out a tiny noise. When the sound entered the room, the door stopped moving. Whoever was behind the stealthy entry must have decided to wait a moment to determine if anyone was awake and listening. It took a few moments for the door to move again.

When it did, Ian wasn’t surprised to see Nancy come creeping in. Simon put a hand on Ian’s upper arm as if to hold him back.

Ian’s gut was screaming at him to protect Lanett but when Nancy turned her head toward his cot, Simon ducked and pulled Ian into a supine position.

Getting the message he thought Simon was sending him, Ian pretended to be asleep even as he peered out of his half-opened eyes to see what she was going to do.

Today’s word on Tuesday Tales is sandwich. This was an easy one to put in since I’d had my characters drinking in a bar and now they are snowed in and need to be fed and find spots to sleep. Don’t forget the other writers who have tackled this word this week.  Check them out here.

“Seriously, what are we going to do? I know you were teasing earlier about the carpet but I’m so exhausted I might be tempted to pull up a corner of it and pass out.”

“I was thinking you could take the couch in Simon’s office.”

Simon walked up at that moment. “You selling my bed to the highest bidder?” He asked.

“You could say that,” Lanett smiled.

“I confess that earlier this evening I was planning to put the ladies in the office and the lads out here when it was time to sleep. I’ve changed my mind now though since the only two ladies left are you and that vixen that works with Ian. It would be too dangerous to put the two of you in there alone.” Simon turned to Ian. “I think you’ll have to go in with them to keep the peace.”

“That sounds like a terrible plan,” Lanett said. “Clearly Nancy has some gripe with Ian and she sure doesn’t like me either. I think we’d be safer out here with the entire group.”

“But there’s a nice couch in there and I have a cot in the closet as well. You’d be more comfortable there than out here.” Simon touched her arm. “Won’t you consider it?”

“No. Sorry. I can’t.” She shook her head.

“Very well, then, let’s get everyone a little something in their stomach besides liquor and then I’ll pass out what blankets I have on hand.”

“What are we going to feed them?” Ian asked.

“The easiest thing to whip up is an egg sandwich,” Simon said. “I probably have several dozen eggs in the refrigerator and a number of types of bread.”

“I’ll help.” Lanett offered.