Mavis peered through the gap in the curtains.
The storm hung in the air, threatening to unleash its rage in a flurry of rain, hail, thunder and lightning. It‘d been like that for a while.
Mavis released the curtain. The deep red drapes tumbled closed and the room was once again plunged into darkness.
She paced the room, tutting as she did, before folding herself into the weathered wingback chair, her knees creaking in time with the furniture. Her plan to pop to the shops (3 minutes away) had been inconvenienced by the imminent storm for the last half hour.
This piece was submitted as part of Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. 1 photograph. 100 words. Over 120 people taking part. And hey, if you still can’t get enough – why not check out my almost-FREE eBook, People Watching. US link here, UK link there.
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47 responses to “Mavis Pops To The Shops”
Poor Mavis – I hope she has plenty of supplies.
Dog food and hairnets mostly.
🙂
Our minds and our bodies sometimes refuse the sad fact they are of the same age. Good story.
Thanks for reading.
Thats sad…
Nicely penned!
Thank you.
The moral of the story? Make the most of your windows of opportunity. Lovely descriptions and parallels, especially the weathered chair and the creaking knees. 🙂
Thanks Natalie.
Some very effective descriptions here. Nicely done.
Thanks Sandra – a little different to my usual contribution.
Mr. Binks, I think Mavis made the right decidion. Getting soaked wouldn’t be good for her arthritis so her poor knees would creak even more. Well written and humorous as usual. 🙂 —Susan
Thanks for the kind comment.
She’ll have to go eventually – let’s buy her an umbrella!
She probably had six of them already.
Some nice phrases, feels like the start of a longer piece.
Cheers.
Nicely done, and good to see the names back in 😉
Just for you 😉
I recognize those knee symptoms all too well! Nice touch!
Alas, I think I do too.
Love the title. And the story fits it well with popping to the shopping and popping knees.Nice.
Thanks, sounds like you put more thinking into that than I did if I’m honest 😉
Phew, I know how my knees feel when a storm is approaching. Poor Mavis.
🙂 Poor, crazy, Mavis.
Lovely descriptions with great internal and external conflict. Nice read.
Thank you Maree.
In some climates a person could become agoraphobic attempting to wait out an imminent storm.
Cheers!
MG
Indeed! Just get out there!
Changes… the age old story even with age old characters. Nice. Randy
Cheers, Randy.
Aww poor Mavis. Delicate story 🙂
Thank you for reading.
Poor Mavis. At least she had the sense to stay home. Life can be tough – I wonder if it was her shopping or the want of company/routine that had her peering out the window.
I think she was just a nosey bugger 😉
Does she ever get there? Those heavy drapes suggest she likes to stay home. I wonder if the storm broke in the end.
Nice that you want to question it. Thanks for reading.
Mavis doesn’t pop to the shops afterall – what a twist! The heavy red drapes was a wonderful image. Mavis reminds me of my mum’s Doberman who’s terrified of storms… he and Mavis have a lot in common.
hahaha.
Thanks for reading, Jessie.
Dear Peter,
I hate it when weather derails my plans. I feel Mavis’ pain…or maybe it’s just my own creaky knees. .;) Oh wait. Knees fine. Toes bad.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Oh you and your toes 😉
Dear Mr. Binks, Very descriptive story and I can attest to the rocking noise of a rocking chair keeping time with my knees. This is a great description! Great story, Nan 🙂
Thanks Nan.
Sounds like my knees! Good story, the heavy drapes and wing-back chair gave essence to the entire room.
Why thank you.
The juxtaposition of the portentous with the mundane made this all the more poignant. Loved it.
Careful, love is a strong word.