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18.10.18

BIRTHDAY PRESENT - a 100 word story


BIRTHDAY PRESENT

“Come on, Mum – you haven’t chosen anything yet!”
Betty shook her head, too breathless to speak. It was sweet of Joe to take her shopping, and no doubt the Mall was a marvel of modern design, but why did everything have to be so spread out? Ten minutes just to cross the car park before they even reached the shops. Give her an old-fashioned High Street any day.
She clutched Joe’s arm. “Just take me to the nearest cafė, darling – I need a coffee.”
“But what about your birthday present?”
“You choose – I like surprises.”

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You'll probably GUESS (see what I did there?) from this story that I don't like Malls any more than Betty does - marathon shopping isn't my idea of fun - so I sympathize with the woman in this photo, taken by Jilly Funell for Friday Fictioneers. Thanks to our indefatigable leader Rochelle, who blogs on  https://rochellewisoff.com/

 If you enjoyed this story, why not scroll through my archives and read some of the others? At my first ever Author Fair last Saturday I gave away little scrolls with a story on each one, hoping to attract more readers, though it was worth all the effort of printing and rolling them just to see the pleasure on people's faces at being given something for nothing!  

I reached a milestone last week when I sent off to my proofreader the second book in my Living Rock series. All being well, WOLF PACK will be out early in the New Year - watch this space!

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41 comments:

  1. Patsy18/10/2018, 12:59

    I don't like shopping malls either (mostly as I don't like shopping) but the one in the picture is better than some – it's be the seaside!

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    Replies
    1. liz young18/10/2018, 13:02

      you must have been there to know that!

      Delete
    2. Patsy18/10/2018, 14:46

      Yep - I used to pass it on my way to and from work.

      Delete
    3. liz young18/10/2018, 16:56

      So where is it?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous21/10/2018, 11:13

      I have an idea her greatest pleasure is being out with Joe, regardless of where they are. Though a cosy little town centre with a tea shop and home-made cake would be nice too. Jilly, Sugar on the Bee.

      Delete
    5. liz young21/10/2018, 22:21

      I'd prefer the tea shop too, especially with homemade cake!

      Delete
  2. Helen Baggott18/10/2018, 13:03

    Lovely, Lizy.

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  3. Iain Kelly18/10/2018, 14:43

    Does anyone like shopping malls? They're just there now, we all use them, but did we actually choose to have them in the first place?!

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    1. liz young18/10/2018, 16:57

      The only plus side is when they protect you from inclement weather.

      Delete
  4. draliman18/10/2018, 16:35

    They're really just miniature towns but with no-one living there. At least they should have no trouble finding a coffee shop, though I can't speak for the quality of the beverages...

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    1. liz young18/10/2018, 16:57

      I think Betty would have drunk anything just for a nice sit down!

      Delete
  5. liz young18/10/2018, 22:18

    I gather you agree with me, Stuart! 😀

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  6. Susan Kane19/10/2018, 01:28

    "Give her an old-fashioned High Street any day." says so much. I am with her.

    Happy B-day to Betty.

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    Replies
    1. liz young19/10/2018, 08:13

      Thanks Susan -.judging by comments so far, nobody likes malls!

      Delete
  7. Subroto19/10/2018, 02:41

    They are all the same nowadays. Big, shiny and soulless. Summer is probably one time when Shopping Malls are useful. Except if you end up actually shopping.

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    Replies
    1. liz young19/10/2018, 08:15

      You must live somewhere hot! In England its winter we want to shelter from.

      Delete
  8. Penny Gadd19/10/2018, 11:20

    And Joe was being so thoughtful! I'm sure he doesn't realise just how much your energy levels drop as you grow old. Perhaps he could join her for the coffee and then take her to her favourite shop when she's caught her breath.
    Nice story, Liz!

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    Replies
    1. liz young19/10/2018, 22:08

      Thanks Penny, you've come up with the perfect solution!

      Delete
  9. i b arora19/10/2018, 14:18

    a wise decision.....

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  10. Dale19/10/2018, 18:03

    I am not a fan of mall shopping and this new-found idea of building little towns of shops where you have to walk a mile between sections? They've lost me further...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jo Hawk19/10/2018, 19:53

    Shopping is my least favorite thing. Joe needs to up his game. Nicely done.

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    Replies
    1. liz young19/10/2018, 22:10

      I can shop if i know what i want, but just wandering round the shops leaves me cold.

      Delete
  12. Abhijit Ray20/10/2018, 07:52

    Yes malls are spread out. It can be tiring to go shopping. Mother is ageing fast she does not have energy to shop.

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    Replies
    1. liz young20/10/2018, 14:53

      I took my mum shopping today too. We both got tired out! 😁

      Delete
  13. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields20/10/2018, 15:16

    Dear Liz,

    I like surprises, too. Nicely constructed story. Congrats on your book success.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    Replies
    1. liz young20/10/2018, 18:41

      Thanks Rochelle, though 'success' is overstating the few sales I've made!

      Delete
    2. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields23/10/2018, 12:54

      I do understand that...completely, Liz.

      Delete
  14. Linda20/10/2018, 16:14

    GREAT story! I'm old/infirm enough these days to have no desire to go mall shopping. It's just too much work!

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    1. liz young20/10/2018, 18:42

      Me too, though I cavil at the term'old'I must admit to a few creaks!

      Delete
  15. plaridel20/10/2018, 23:34

    malls will be a thing of the past as online shopping becomes more prevalent. mum should enjoy the trip while she can. at the same time, it's nice to be surprised and not know beforehand what you're going to get. :)

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    Replies
    1. liz young21/10/2018, 08:42

      I wonder what they will build in their place-more housing?

      Delete
  16. priorhouse21/10/2018, 05:51

    I wonder if malls will come back - maybe in a different way - where we sit and socialize and order with a click of something -
    but either way - fun post and congrats on the next book (and the scrolls sound like a great idea)

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  17. brudberg21/10/2018, 17:19

    I think I would avoid the mall as well... but probably less because of the distance than the lack of surprises.

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  18. lisarey1990@gmail.com21/10/2018, 22:29

    Can relate! Lovely piece.

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  19. Dawn22/10/2018, 02:31

    I totally agree with you!

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    Replies
    1. liz young22/10/2018, 08:08

      Thanks, Dawn. I have had twenty comments, not one in favour of malls - there's a lesson in that!

      Delete

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