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. Sadly, Delores has now closed her blog forever due to other problems.

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 prompts are supplied by messymimi and can be found here.

This week's words/prompts are: 

1. thanks 
2. incapable 
3. suffering 
4. memorial 
5. aunt 
6. front  

and/or:  

1. effect 
2. admission 
3. past 
4. jaw 
5. room 
6. enhance  

Here is my story: 

Opening the front door I welcomed Aunt Lena (full name Helena, but she hated it). "Thanks for coming," I said. "I would have met you at the bus station, but I am incapable of leaving the house right now." "Nothing to worry about Lexi," said Lena. "I enjoyed the walk, all the blooming gardens, those wonderful Murraya shrubs everywhere, the whole area smells so sweet." 
"Those are the main reason," I said. "I'm so allergic to the heady scent, it's almost as bad as Jasmine for me." "I'd forgotten your hayfever," said Lena. "Let's keep the front door closed then. Show me to the kitchen and tell me how you are liking your new home." 
"It's lovely here, although much smaller than I'd like, only one bedroom and no yard to speak of." 
"The kitchen certainly is tiny, however do you cook in here?" said Lena. "I don't cook much anymore," I said. "I still cook breakfast and dinner, but there's no baking of cakes and pies, there's just no room for setting things out for the whole process. I don't miss it much though, I always ate far too many of my own pies anyway." 

"Never mind that now," said Lena. "Put the kettle on and we'll have a cup of tea. I notice you are looking a little down in the dumps, got a case of the blues? or just bothered by not being able to go out?" "I am suffering the effects of the past a bit, but by my own admission, I shouldn't be by now. Not so much anyway." 

"Whatever is the  matter Lexi?" said Lena. "Last week was kind of a memorial for me," I said. "Last Friday was three years since I last saw my Angel, and I didn't mean to, but I cried when the clock ticked around to his dinnertime." Lena hugged me, then made the tea while directing me to open the parcel she had brought with her. 
My jaw dropped open when I saw what she had brought me. A Steampunk style clock! I could barely stammer out a thank you. "It's wonderful! I love it! Thank you so much Aunt Lena!" She shrugged as if it were nothing. "I saw it in a little shop somewhere and thought it might enhance your kitchen," she said. 


We hung it as soon as we'd finished our cups of tea, then Lena had to leave. 
But I've been smiling ever since. 
Aunt Lena always knows just when she is needed and what to do.

Comments

  1. My eyes filled reading this.
    I do hope that you have an Aunt Lena in your life somewhere - we all need her from time to time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elephant's Child; I don't have any aunts anywhere, no uncles either. Possibly some cousins in Sweden from my Mother's side, but I don't know them and they don't know me.

      Delete
    2. Snap. I have no relatives either. I believe that there are some cousins on my mother's side in England but I have never met them and we don't correspond.
      I am sorry (and unsurprised) that you still grieve for Angel. My eyes filled reading this post this morning and are still leaking.

      Delete
  2. Great gift I do like that clock.
    Merle.......

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Merle; I love the clock too. It's an image I found on Google and I wish I could find a real clock like that. I'm sure someone, somewhere sells them, but I haven't looked into it.

      Delete
  3. My eyes filled, too, thinking of beautiful Angel.

    But, I did like it when the print/font became larger and darker! Much easier to read!! :)

    A lovely little story, River. Have a nice weekend.. (I love that clock, by the way)!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lee; the print/font changed? Huh. I typed and posted as normal. I do still cry for Angel a bit. but Lola now does a few things Angel did, like rubbing her cheeks on my hand when I ask for kiss-kiss.

      Delete
    2. I agree with Lee, the font sure is changed to a darker, more legible one, beginning with the word "things" in this sentence: "there's just no room for setting things out for ..." To change back to normal washed out grey after the clock photo.

      That clock is awesome, and so is aunt Lena.

      Delete
    3. I checked back and see what you both mean, wish I knew how that happened. I'd like the font to stay black, it's much easier to read.

      Delete
  4. Aww. The clock made ME feel better, too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Val; I'd feel GREAT if I'd really received a clock like that. It's a Google image, but I hope to find one someday.

      Delete
  5. My Grandma´s Sister´s name was Lena, too. She was a Nun and potty trained me, I was done at 1 1/2, she sure was ... very strict, not good memories! ;-)

    But this Aunt Lena sure is an angel, a beautiful story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Iris Flavia; I bet not many people can say they were potty trained by a Nun!

      Delete
  6. We all could use an Aunt Lena in our lives. She knew just what was needed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arkansas Patti; I wish more people had an Aunt Lena, including me. Sadly, I have no aunts or uncles.

      Delete
  7. Here is my use of the words:

    At Aunt Catherine's memorial service, Matthew sat in the front of the church. He would speak about his aunt in his eulogy. How could he? Today he was barely capable of shaking hands and mumurring a quiet "Thanks for coming" as he spoke with her friends. Each one had a story about how Cathy's life had helped them. In his head, Matthew had pulled some words to say, listening to others speak of the suffering she endured, how God gave her strength... Matthew stepped up to mic to talk about his aunt, without truly knowing what to say. All that came out was "Aunt Catherine could play a mean game of golf, always made par. She played poker at the casino and always came away with handfuls of bills. No one could read her tells, but she sure could read theirs." His love poured out in his words as tears streamed down his face. "My Aunt had a heart that encompassed every one, especially this rambling boy she raised." He gulped. "Aunt Catherine made differences in our lives, and I will miss her more than you know."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan Kane; I'm impressed with Matthew, barely able to think, yet managed a eulogy. It's something I could never do.

      Delete
  8. Nothing like a cuppa at a time like that.
    Nice story River.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margaret D; sometimes a cuppa is all that is needed.

      Delete
  9. That is one fabulous clock. I remember the misery you went through when your little Angel disappeared. Glad Auntie was there for youl.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. only slightly confused; auntie is a figment of my imagination, but I wish I had one.

      Delete
  10. Awww, she sounds like a wonderful person to have around.

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  11. Time goes so quickly, doesn't it? Three years since Angel went missing. An unhappy anniversary, for sure.

    Smooth use of the prompts and nice dialogue, as always. Well done. I hope you find a steampunk clock someday.

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  12. The loss in this is palpable. Heartbreaking.

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  13. Oh my gosh, River. This was such a wonderful story to read and I felt both happy and sad at the same time. Well done, you. Really well done. I loved it.

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  14. aunt Lana sounds an inspirational personality :)

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