Pages

15.8.19

TWENTY-SOMETHING


TWENTY-SOMETHING


Dora had built the perfect life.
Henry returned each evening from the city to a sparkling home and the smell of something delicious cooking. Dora fitted her translating work seamlessly around school runs, entertained Henry’s clients, and did a fortnightly stint at a charity shop.

Then she found condoms in Henry’s car and her world wobbled. She tried to prop it up with his favourite meals, a different hairstyle and a new negligee, but it was too late.

A twenty-something brunette had blown in like a hurricane, reducing Dora’s carefully constructed edifice to a heap of crumpled wreckage.
.....................................................................................................
There have been some strong winds blowing round here recently, though the only damage we suffered was to a tower of runner beans, which are now propped up horizontally on my neighbour's fence. I have spoken to the plants gently in the hope that the shock will not have stunted the growth of their babies. 

Thanks to Rochelle for the photo of her own minor disaster which prompted this week's stories, and for hosting Friday Fictioneers on her blog  https://rochellewisoff.com/


31 comments:

  1. Poor Dora. Perhaps she is better off, once the storm has blown away, a new sunshine will emerge for her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And Henry will live to regret taking on the brunette.

      Delete
  2. Dear Liz,

    Good analogy for the prompt. It sounds like Dora's husband threw away a good thing with the brunette hurricane. Hope he pays for it.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, poor Dora. Am I wrong to wish a hurricane on Henry and the brunette?

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No you're not - hopefully karma will strike them.

      Delete
  4. it happens all too often when men reached their midlife crisis. hopefully, there'd be a calm after the storm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Too many people blame irrational behaviour on that so-called midlife crisis.

      Delete
  5. A midlife crisis erected on the basis of early life mistakes

    ReplyDelete
  6. Poor Dora, slaving away while her husband's off gallivanting.
    Sorry to hear about your runner beans :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. The runner beans are still producing so all is not lost.

      Delete
  7. Definitely a destructive force in your story! thanks for playing. Good job.
    Ronda

    ReplyDelete
  8. As a proactive person, I would clean out the bank account before he comes home. Then I would fix a frozen lasagne for him, drug his wine. Take a sledge hammer to his car. Call brunette, pretending to be Henry's dr. nurse, apologizing for his recent blood test showing STD. Let's see...I am sure there is some other stuff but I need to give some thought.

    Great short story! I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a great take. I feel for Dora and wonder if in her quest to make her life perfect, she didn't see that he was drifting away.
    This does not give him leave to do what he has done. Horrid man.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Dale. I was aiming for that thought, though as you say, it's no excuse for him playing away.

      Delete
  10. That's a healthy runner bean tower there, Liz. Puts my meagre offering to shame. Shouldn't have used beans from my own crop as seeds, I guess. Enjoyed your story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Despite the storm I am giving beans away. Thanks for commenting.

      Delete
  11. A delightfully different take on the prompt. You have too feel sorry for Dora though.

    My story - Gail's Gazebo!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dora deserves better than Henry. I enjoyed your skillful telling of Dora's story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She does deserve better, and so do their children. Thanks for your comment.

      Delete
  13. Replies
    1. How is, though perhaps perfection bores him?

      Delete
  14. Her husband isn't very bright. She who cheats WITH you, will cheat ON you.

    ReplyDelete
  15. A good, well-written story, Liz. It seems you've become quite attached to those runner beans. It happens. :D --- Suzanne

    ReplyDelete

Do leave a message before you go!