Friday, May 02, 2008

Wordzzle














Every week, I tell myself I just don't have any idea what to write for Raven's challenge, and every week (almost) I manage to come up with something. Not necessarily something good, but something, nevertheless. So, here's this week's effort. I was too lazy to think up two separate entries, so I used all fifteen words in one.

This week's words were:

cranberry sauce
amber
laundry list
coffin
Morning glory
shalom
mystery
sparrow hawk
pumpernickel
stained glass
margarita
gum wrapper
spring fever
Darfur
lace

“Mornin’, Glory,” trilled Amber, as she slid a mug of coffee across the counter to me. I get that all the time. Mornin' Glory, Gloriosky! Glory be! and on and on. For the millionth time, I wondered what kind of demented parents would name their daughter “Glory”. Not Gloria. No. “Glory” isn’t a nickname. It’s the whole name.

“What’ll you have, Glory,” asked Amber, and, “Shalom, Rabbi”, she called to another early morning regular as he exited the Stained Glass CafĂ©. “Your favorite? Cream cheese and cranberry sauce on toasted pumpernickel? It’s a mystery to me how you can eat that for breakfast every day, but to each his own, I always say.” She does always say that. Every. Single. Day.
As usual, I moved to a table by the window. While I waited for my order, I pulled out a small note pad and looked over the laundry list of things I needed to do that day, before I could go home to an icy cold Margarita and a good book. I contemplated smoking one of the three coffin nails I allowed myself per day, decided that I might need it more later, and put it back in the package.

I picked up the newspaper someone had left on the table and scanned the headlines. Darfur was in flames, again. The atrocities never went away. Putting down the paper, I glanced out the window and watched a sparrow hawk land gently on a tree branch. She had a piece of lace in her beak, a rather unlikely decoration for a nest. As I watched her, I was overcome with spring fever and, suddenly, my to-do list didn’t seem all that important.

“Here you go,” said Amber as she served my breakfast with a smile, “Do you have a busy day ahead of you?” I smiled, too, as I put my half-chewed Juicy Fruit back in its gum wrapper, took a bite of my breakfast, and said, “Not today. Today, I’m going shopping.”


11 comments:

Raven said...

Brilliantly done. I love the Morning, Glory. Wonderful clever. And coffin nails! You come up with such creative ways to use the words. I thought this was just great. (Do you get the idea that I liked it?)

Akelamalu said...

I love the way you used morning glory - fabulously inventive! Excellent!

Richard said...

Hmm...Cranberry sauce with creamed cheese on toasted pumpernickel. Interesting..very interesting.

Sounds like a great cafe to breakfast at and start your morning.

Rich

maryt/theteach said...

Betty, how clever and creative your story is! I love it! All the words fit and I had no sense that there was any strain. So smooth!

Jay said...

"Coffin nails" *snort*

Great story. Good job on the mega wordzzle there!

Dianne said...

I too love the way you use the words. Not just in this offering but in all of them.

Ya gotta stop saying you can't come up with anything cause you know you can cause you do!!

I'd love to visit this cafe!

Kell said...

That was brilliant. Very funny and very good. I like Glory, we could hang.

Betty said...

Raven: Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. I'm also glad you started this. It's fun.

akelamalu: "Mornin' Glory!" is a greeting that I've heard for years. I don't know if it's a regional thing, or what.

richard: Who says I'm no good in the kitchen! I'm going to try that sandwich one day.

the teach: Thank you. I'm flattered.

dianne: Thank you, but I'm always surprised when I manage to string a few words together. I'll try to be more confident.lol

kell: I'm flattered by your comment, too. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Hello Betty,

I am a little late commenting but don't want to miss the chance to tell you how much I enjoyed the way you strung those diverse words together into a "fun to read" story.

Good for you!

Richard said...

Betty, you are officially tagged for the "Getting to know you meme."

Sorry, I think... maybe not.

Rich

Betty said...

nancy: I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Rich: Aaaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhhh! OK, just for you.