Wednesday's Words on a Friday

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over by a moveable feast of participants when Delores had computer troubles.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind.
If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along and read it.

This month the words are supplied by Elephant's Child and can be found here.

This week's words are:

1. thin

2. frightened

3. scratch

4. wealthy

5. flowery

6. sulky

and/or: 

1. stove

2. unwieldy

3. fearless

4. zoo

5. price

6. inquisitive

there is also a photo of a lake, which I haven't used this time.

here is my story:

(another chapter added to Lost and Found)

Detective Stanley took the maps Bernice pulled out of her rusty, long unused stove and carried the unwieldy package down the hill back to the Cove Hotel. Along the way, Irene Fargo mentioned that Bernice seemed familiar and wondered about old cases that Bernice might have popped up in. Stanley said, “I don’t have any recognition there, possibly she is someone you knew of before you came to us, you’d have to search old cases back in that precinct.” Irene nodded, saying, “I can contact someone there and have him search for me. I’m dying to get a look at those maps though. In high school I thought for a while I might like to study geology, mostly because I had a crush on Trevor Bratton, who already knew for sure he wanted to be one.” Stanley laughed at that and confessed a similar crush on a student who wore only flowery dresses while everyone around her lived in jeans and t-shirts, “She wanted to be a kindergarten teacher and I thought she already looked like one.”

They had the package of maps locked into the hotel safe and decided to explore the town a little, knowing they would be back in the city within a few days. There wasn’t much to see, it was a small town and not busy this time of year. “The city will seem like a zoo after this peaceful little place” said Irene. They strolled through the Post Office-General Store without buying anything, then explored the streets behind the hotel. “I remember there is a hairdresser back here named Curly Cuts, when it first opened the manager was an expert in cutting curly hair, apparently there is a skill involved, it’s harder to cut than straight hair,” said Stanley. Irene ran a hand over her own wayward curls and said, “maybe I should pop in and see if they have any time free this afternoon, this mop could use some taming.” She pulled open the door and stepped aside to allow another woman out.

The clothes and understated jewellery marked her a wealthy woman, but the sulky face and thin body didn’t seem to fit with that. She glanced at Irene in passing then catching sight of Detective Inspector Stanley Grace, a frightened look crossed her face. Hurrying away from him, Andrea Jones began to scratch at her arms, her skin felt like it was crawling, she needed another dose of those pills she’d been pinching from Stephanie’s bottle. Bruce had locked them away and taken the key with him this morning and Andrea was already nervous about having to be in town, trying to appear only mildly inquisitive while asking about tourists and the price of haircuts etc. She wasn’t sure anymore exactly what Bruce was asking of her. Andrea’s thoughts were now focused only on how to get something to ease her jitters. Spotting Stanley Grace only made things worse. Had he recognised her? A worried frown creased her brow and Andrea thought perhaps a drink or three would help steady her before going back to the clinic.

Irene Fargo came back out of Curly Cuts, saying she had an appointment in a couple of hours and had met a pair of delightful women while inside, “Sara Saunders, who is one of the caretakers of the Scenic Retreat, and Vanessa Moore, a visitor to the town.” Stanley said, “The Scenic Retreat is the place Bernice mentioned, where that copper coloured granite seam is underneath. We should take a look up there before we leave. Let’s walk along that jetty and feel the ocean air for a bit, maybe we can see the Retreat from there too. I’ll speak to the Hotel receptionist and find out the best way to get up there while you’re having your haircut.”

Several hours later, Stanley told Irene about the available tracks up to the Retreat. A safe road they could travel by car, or a goat track which would test their stamina. “Are you feeling fearless?” he asked. “Would you like to try the goat track?” “I would,” said Irene, "but I’m thinking we should also take that package of maps with us. Those old caretakers, Sara and her husband Ed, might just know something about the areas on them, we could learn more about why the maps are so important.” “Your intuition at work again?” said Stanley. “I do have a fairly strong feeling,” said Irene. “Just not sure why or what about. I do think Sara and Ed might have something to do with all of this. Maybe they know Bernice.”