Day 302 Writing Short Stories

Willow

She took refuge under the shade of the willow tree. She hid not only from the scorching sun and its rays, but also from her sister and mother. They were in one of their moods. Moods that constituted improving her unruly nature. They would pick at and criticize every little thing she did. Stating things as you should really wear something that flatters your figure, or that make-up would do some good.

She would hiss and snarl at them, and it would amount to a huge fight, and she would be sent upstairs without dinner.

So, hiding under the willow with a good book was her best bet for today to get nourishment and some peace of mind. Her mother and sister thought nature as something vile, which suited her a whole lot.

She sighed and opened her book. It was one of Robinson Crusoe’s. She vowed that one day she would sail the seas, and if she ever got stranded, she would more than welcome it. It would be a grand adventure.

The leaves rustled, and she looked up to see her mother’s face appear amongst the willow branches. She had that look that told her that if she didn’t stand straight away from the dirty ground, she would have an earful.

“Here you are,” she stated.

She wanted to defy, but it was never a good call. So she played mute.

“Come out of there instantly. We have company, and it does you no good to hide,” she said, and let the branches fall back in place. She knew that she would comply. Instantly and company were strong words, and they were never to be disobeyed.

So she hid the book under her arm and clambered up.

She saw that there was an assortment of all sorts of people, all dressed in white, all seeking refuge under the huge gazebo her mother had commissioned. She saw her big sister fawning over a man who seemed disinterested.

She took her place among them, her mother giving a brief introduction. She avoided the urge to open the book and placed her gaze on the rosebushes behind the house.

“It’s a good one,” she heard someone say.

It was the man whom her sister had been fawning over.

“What?” she asked, feeling her throat dry.

“Robinson Crusoe. It’s one of my favorite ones. One day, I hope to sail the seas and see the world,” he stated.

She looked at him cross-eyed, unsure of what she was witnessing. Usually, the men who were allured by her sister’s beauty and wit hadn’t read a single book. They wanted to become politicians and merchants, but never explorers or readers.

She snarled, and the man was taken aback.

“Don’t mind her,” she heard her sister say. “She is demented.”

The man gave her a sidelong glance, and she gave her best, wildest smile, even when she wanted to say that she wanted to sail the seas too and explore distant lands.

Confession

A girl confesses to love a boy, only to have her feelings thrown in her face. Ten years later, the boy, now a man, pursues the same girl. I skipped this one.

Repeat

Use a word repetitively to convey a story. I skipped this one as I’m pressed for time.

The prompts are from the book A Year of Creative Writing Prompts.

No extra words today. I have to hurry to work as my boss is paying a visit. So I have to be there bright and early.

Thank you for reading ❤ Have a day full of escapes!