She steps outside looking as if she has just risen from a tangle of warm sheets, her eyes half-closed, black hair an unbrushed jumble of coarse curls, an old-fashioned broom in her hand that looks as if it, too, has just awakened from a dream, spikes of dirty blonde hair at odd angles. She sets to work sweeping a day’s accumulated dust from her tiny porch onto the unwatered patch of lawn. How peculiar that one so young, she can’t be but twenty, performs a daily ablution like a spinster in a historical novel who lives utterly alone.
——————
I got wind from my writing friends that the 100 Word Challenge – the prompt is “peculiar” – has been resurrected by Tara. Seeing so many familiar names of much-admired friends I felt I had to join in. Please click the icon and read some fine short stories, both fiction and non-fiction.
Thanks for reading… !
As a reader of Mark Leyner, I LOVE me a good run-on sentence! These hundred words intrigue me – and since that’s kind of the whole point… well-done!
Dang, talk about Douglas Adamesque!
I really like the picture you painted, I could see her.
Fascinating character you’ve got there Steph! Love it.
So nice to be back in a loop with you. Nice space, too. xx
Old souls find comfort in routines. I loved this picture that you painted!
Thanks, Tina.. it was a fun exercise… getting back into the swing of it.
This is great! You painted an interesting picture. I wasn’t aware of the 100 word challenge.
b
Thanks, b. The challenge has recently been resurrected. Give it a try, b… it might end up on HuffPo… you never know!
Love this, Steph!
Apparently my phone doesn’t automagically know my website. LOL
barbara recently posted..100 Words – Peculiar
Smartphones are to some extent… not so smart! Same goes for the smart TV’s. But, I would find you anyway, barbara… I have missed your purple moose!
Beautiful picture this painted. We need more old souls.
We do, Renee… I agree, especially when they hearken back to simpler times and simple pleasures.
Nice. This evokes much in just a few words. Old-fashioned broom! 🙂
I know, it seems funny, doesn’t it, the term old-fashioned broom. I have a broom, but it shares no resemblance with the spiky haired model in this scene! Thanks for the comment, Marian.
You painted a gorgeous picture, Stephanie, that we could have been rocking on the porch watching her sweep. I like this character a lot. Maybe we will get to know her better in the future? Wasn’t it fun to see so many familiar names again all in one place?
Hi Gina.. It is a lot of fun to see so many familiar names again… I love it. Sparks my interest in reinvigorating the old blog.
Oh nice! So lovely!! I’m so excited to be finding new blogs to read!!
Melissa recently posted..The 100 Word Challenge: Peculiar
Hi Melissa… I agree … it’s great to see so many old friends, and to meet new ones!
Thanks for joining in Steph, and I hope you keep coming back. I’ve known some women very much like this from when I lived in Tennessee. A powerful portrait.
Thanks Tara, for the comment, and for restarting the challenge. I’ll see you again next week!
I like the way you write. Nice 100 words. Ally 🙂
Thanks, Ally.. I appreciate that.
Quite the introduction to an very interesting character, Steph. So good to cross your path again. Lovely writing, as usual! 🙂
Likewise on crossing paths again, Tom.. it’s nice.. and I’m very glad all is well with you!
A full sketch of a young life in your words. It was so exquisite.
You are exquisite, Kir… thanks for being you!