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Writing Prompt #1
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Writing prompt: The Blue Scarf (No driveway)He seems larger than life, ducking and turning slightly to get through the narrow office door. A swoosh of chilled air follows him. Most of us sit with a book or a magazine upon our laps. What else is there to do in a waiting room? Like me, the others in semi-uncomfortable chairs, glance up as if we’d been expecting him, though of course we weren’t. Why would we? Each of us just islands, cocooned in our own little worlds, readily waiting to be distracted by the simple act of an opening door. I view the new comer from beneath my lashes. He has the appearance of an unmade bed. His dark coat, one of those Navy Pea Coats, has a scattering of white fur, cat? Ugh. I stifle a sneeze while fumbling through my purse for a tissue. I am not a fan of cats. Cats are unpredictable, everyone knows that. He leans against one wall, eyeing the two unoccupied chairs which happen to be on either side of me. He winks a blue eye and I blush to have been found staring. I bring my book close to my face, pretending to be immersed. “May I?” he says, standing by the chair to my left. I nod, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. He settles in and I get a scent of soap, Tide? It’s warm in the room, warmer now that he is so close. From the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of him as he opens his coat, tugging a scarf from around his neck. It’s blue, but not like his eyes. It’s more of a blueberry color, a purplish blue. He’s staring down at it, twisting it, folding it and refolding it. There is morning stubble on his face, but it’s a nice face, I admit. Square jaw, straight nose and a high forehead and his unruly hair is dark, dark as onyx. It’s the kind of hair that you itch to comb, or run your fingers through.
Title: Love at First Sight Word count: 1069
Annabelle pulls back the giant black and white floral curtain as she looks out the big picture window. Keeping a close eye on the driveway to their house. A light dusting of snow is has been falling for most of the making the long two lane driveway a winter wonderland.
"Mommy, when will Daddy be home?" Annabelle asks a petite women with jet black hair and skin that makes her look like a porcelain doll.
"He will be home in twenty minutes," Vivian tells her five year old daughter, Annabelle. Mark, Vivian's husband works many hours each week. He also does a lot of traveling with his big cooperate job. Vivian doesn't enjoy the times Mark is away but she knows they couldn't enjoy the life they live without this job. Mark wants his ladies to enjoy life without any worries.
Vivian is a stay at home mom to just Annabelle, that is at least for the next seven months. Vivian is due with bay number two, a little boy by June. When Mark gets home, he and Vivian will be telling Annabelle about her little baby brother. Mark also has another surprise for Annabelle, one that Vivian is quite excited to see.
"Mommy, I can't wait any longer! I want to see Daddy and get my surprise!" Annabelle said excitedly as she was jumping up and down while looking out the big picture window.
"I know sweetheart, twenty minutes is a long time at your age. Why don't you go play and Mommy will call you when Daddy arrives, okay?" Vivian runs a hand down Annabelle's beautiful long brown locks. She has a petite frame just like her mother, but she bares Mark's facial features and brown hair. She looks just like her Daddy.
"But Mommy I want to see Daddy right away!" exclaimed Annabelle.
"Okay, you can hang out here. Mommy is going to go put the chicken in the oven for dinner. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me," Vivian says to her daughter before heading out of the living room and to the kitchen to make dinner for the family.
Annabelle stands looking out the window silently wishing for her Daddy to hurry up and come home.
"MOMMY!! DADDY'S HOME!!!" Annabelle lets out a squeal and runs for the front door, grabbing her winter coat and boots before rushing out of the house.
"Don't forget to do up your coat Annabelle, its cold outside," Vivian calls to Annabelle, as she wipes her wet hands the dishtowel and heads for the front hall to meet Mark.
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Mark looks over the edge of the brown cardboard box on the passenger seat beside him at the sound of whimpering. He smiles at the big brown eyes looking up at him from inside the box. His daughter, Annabelle will be so excited to see what he has as a surprise for her. Mark has been on the road for the past week with work but promised Annabelle a surprise when he returned home. Vivian and Mark had come up with the idea of a new puppy a about a month ago when they thought it was about time to give Annabelle her own pet and a bit more responsibility.
Mark turns onto Maple Steet and can see his driveway from the corner of the street. Annabelle is likely waiting at the window in their living room, this has become her ritual when Mark is traveling for more than a day at a time. He can't wait to get in and see his family, it has been a long and exhausting week.
"Almost there little one, you will soon meet the best little girl that will love you to pieces," Mark says as he pats the puppy on the head. The pup affectingly starts to lick at Mark's hand with its big wet tongue.
Putting on his right flasher, Mark turns the car slowly into the driveway, noticing the curtains in the front window falling back into place. Mark smiles to himself as he sees Annabelle opening the front door and charging down the steps as she is trying to do up the zipper on her big puffy winter coat.
Mark puts his car in park and looks quickly for something to wrap the new puppy in to keep it hidden. Spying one of Vivian's scarves in the back seat, he reaches for the dark blue fabric. Wrapping the puppy in the Vivian's scarf, Mark reaches for the door handle and gets out of the car. Mark gently holds the puppy in his arms, bending down to Annabelle's height as she approaches her father.
"Daddy! I am so happy to see you," Annabelle says with a huge smile on her face, showing off her sweet dimples.
"Come quietly, Annabelle. I have something special for you," Mark says and pulls back the dark blue scarf revealing the tri-coloured beagle puppy, watching Annabelle's face light up with excitement.
"Oh Daddy, she is so cute!" Annabelle exclaims as she puts her face right up to the puppies black wet nose. The tri-coloured beagle gave Annabelle's a sloppy wet kiss all over her face. Annabelle started to giggle, "Can I hold her Daddy, can I?"
"Sure but you need to be very careful and quiet with her as she is just a puppy and getting to know us," Mark replied.
Annabelle reached out her tiny little arms and Mark passed the tiny puppy to his daughter.
Hugging the puppy close to her tiny chest, Annabelle looked up as Vivian approached them in the driveway.
"Mommy, looked what Daddy gave me! Isn't she soooo cute? I think I will call her Molly. She will be my bestest friend ever, I just know it! I can't wait to tell Sarah about her. Mommy, can Molly sleep with me tonight? Can she, PLEASE!!" Annabelle squealed as she tried to stay still with her new puppy in her arms her excitement rising with every word.
"Sure, she can sleep with you tonight, Annabelle," Vivian said as she reached down to pet the new puppy. Annabelle headed back to the house with her new best friend, Molly.
Vivian smiled at Mark and said, "Looks like it is love at first sight."
Mark reached for Vivian, giving her a tight hug and a gentle kiss. They headed into the house behind their daughter holding each others hand.
KathyLauren wrote: "Writing prompt: The Blue Scarf (No driveway)He seems larger than life, ducking and turning slightly to get through the narrow office door. A swoosh of chilled air follows him. Most of us sit with ..."
Hi Kathy, I really enjoyed your story. Thanks for taking part!
Jennifer, Love At First Sight is a sweet and engaging short, short story. It's well done and to the point. Spot on! K. Lauren :o)
Thank you Kathy! I appreciate your feedback
This week's writing prompt is: Write a scene that takes place in a driveway. Include a blue scarf.