Jealousy

Friday Fictioneers – 2/26/20

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

I don’t manage to take part in “Friday Fictioneers very often these days, but tonight I decided I just needed to write a story for the prompt. If you’re interested in taking part in writing stories of 100 words or less, hop over to Rochelle’s place and get the rules. My story this week is 99 words and is below the picture prompt, which comes to us from Dale Rogerson.

CAST ONSTAGE FOR F.F.

 

LAST CURTAIN CALL

“Look at her!” Claire whispered to Bryant standing beside her at the far right end of the line of actors. “Curtsying as if she’s greeting royalty, feigning humility when she’s loving every clap of their hands.”
“She’s a glutton for praise, all right.”
“That role should have been mine. I should have worn those gorgeous gowns instead of these ugly jodhpurs.”
“Well, at least you’re her understudy.”
“Hmmm, yes … well … not for long.”
“What, you’re quitting?” Bryant asked, shocked.
“No,” Claire said, a curious gleam in her eye. “She’s taking an unexpected leave of absence.”

 

Daily Post Prompt: Countless

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Visit the Daily Post to find out how to participate in today’s prompt.

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THE DECISION

`I’ve thought about you countless times this past year. I sometimes wish I hadn’t been so hasty to make the decision. There are days when I wake up thinking how good it would be to still have you beside me for a few hours. And, of course, every time I make the curried chicken casserole I think about you. It’s downright lonely in the kitchen these days. And I don’t even cook most of the time. I do carry-out.

I don’t order from our favorite Chinese place, though, and I don’t go in there anymore because they almost always ask me, with sadness in their eyes, how I’m doing now that you’re gone. That gentle couple who own the place really got to like you. I think you were probably their favorite customer during the three years we ate there. I miss the Chinese place, and some of the other haunts we made our own. But I’m finding new interests and new friends, and things will work out.

But — sometimes — on a summer evening — when the windows are open to the gentle night air and someone’s laughter floats across the breeze, it reminds me of your laugh. I think that’s one of the things I miss most about you. You were so abandoned when you thought something was funny. You never held back.

But then, as well as I can remember, you never held back on any emotion. And that fact, of course, is what finally led me to make my decision. You just couldn’t seem to hold back on your feelings for all the other men in your life — even my best friend — a man who I’d thought would have my back through thick and thin — especially after all we’d been through together in the war. But you were just too much for him. He fell just like all the others. And so I made the decision.

Yeah — as I consider it all again now — I know it was the right thing to do. It put a stop to the hurting for me and for all the rest of ’em too.

The only thing is that — on nights like tonight — with the fragrance of the roses you planted drifting in from the garden — and the radio playing an old song we used to dance to — well — I have to admit to myself at least — I do feel just a little sorry that I poisoned you.

 

~~~

100-Word Challenge for Grownups, Week 149: ‘A Dirge for April Fools’

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Well, I seem to be in some kind of MOOD today. Julia posted her 100-word story challenge this morning, and chose a light, springy, happy subject: April. So what did I do with it?  See below, but please don’t ask me why?  I simply have no idea.

Exif JPEGA DIRGE FOR APRIL FOOLS

April. Marcus had promised to come to her in April. She’d have a white gown and bouquet of pink azaleas.

February. She’d believed Peter when he’d told her of Marcus’ infidelity and comforted her grief. So she’d married Peter on the last day of March – mere hours before Marcus’ brother arrived, bringing her the coffin containing her beloved’s body – slain at Peter’s hand.

April 1st. She buried Marcus and planted a pink azalea bush upon his grave. That night, as Peter slept, she drove a knife into his heart – and then into her own – her final breath a benediction: “Rest in peace, Marcus.”

 

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Writing 201: Poetry – Day 5 — ‘Too Late’

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Today’s prompt word is “fog.” The form we’ve been asked to use is the elegy — with strong encouragement to try using elegiac couplets. And the technique assigned for today is the metaphor.

I’ve offered my piece in a slightly modified elegiac couplet, and the only occurrence of a metaphor is in the second line. But since this is the poem that came to me, I did not try to force myself to comply with more exact or more numerous metaphors. I sort of liked the piece the way it came. So, dear readers, that’s the way I’m serving it to you.  (And to set your mind at rest, I will tell you that the poem is NOT based on personal experience — I’m thankful to say.)

CEMETERY - JEFFERSON STREET - PUBDOGTOO LATE

Out from the fog and the daze I am struggling to make my way.
Scrabbling to gather the pieces of my tattered life.

Once I was warm with a love that imbued me with happiness.
Now only memories haunt me and cause my heart strife.

I sought to hold you, to own you, to bind you to me for all time.
Giving no freedom, no breathing space, no chance to fly.

Smothering you with my paranoid jealousy; making you hate me;
Turning your poor heart to stone, and that caused you to die.

Oh, how I long for just one day to relive my tragic mistakes –
One hour to whisper that finally my lesson I’ve learned.

One precious moment to bare my soul as I have never before,
Offering you only the unselfish love that you earned.

But wretch that I am, I have come to the truth only when it’s too late.
Repentant in heart, but with no where to go to confess.

For cold, ‘neath the ground you have lain all these months, and your ears cannot hear.
I’m eternally lost in this fog of remorse, and there is no rest.

~~~

WordPress Daily Prompt: Green-eyed Monster

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

I wasn’t in the mood to write a letter, but I did feel a little poetic, so here’s my response to the “green-eyed monster” challenge:

BORED GIRL - GREENGREEN WITH ENVY

She has everything I want:
Beauty, money, love, and fame.
And, honestly, she’s such a dunce;
Can’t learn a simple game.

So why should she have all the fun
Of life’s most cherished joys and gifts
While I get stuck with life’s old scraps?
Through left-overs I sift.

If I were her, and she were me,
Life would be good; yes, right as rain,
For I would have what I deserve,
And she’d feel envy’s pain.

~
Join the fun. Get rules here:
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/daily-prompt-green/

100-Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week # 81 – A Woman Scorned

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

This week’s prompt: “… the unseasonal weather meant …” Here’s my response:

A Woman Scorned

The unseasonal weather meant she’d have to dig through the packed-away winter clothes for a coat and gloves. April … and 32º!

She hated winter!  Hated weddings!  She’d tried to find an excuse not to go, but no chance. And now this!

Suddenly, she stopped still … grinning. Exhilarating thought!  It was an outdoor wedding!  And no time to change it!  She’d stand there warm and cozy and watch that vixen who’d stolen her boyfriend shiver and turn an ugly blue in her strapless white gown.

White!

Of all the nerve!

She knelt: “Dear God, she wants a white wedding. Please send her a foot of snow!”

WEDDING CEREMONY - BLUE - SNOW ~

Join in the fun at “Julia’s Place” : http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week81/