This Week's Prompts:
“I couldn’t help myself.”
"Saved by the bell."
"Why are you asking me these questions?"
"Honesty is the best policy."
"You can't do anything if you don’t believe."
"Remind me again… Why we are friends?"
"Did you hear about...."
“Who is that?”
“Let’s try this again.”
or use: knife, radar, pin
or have character giggle until they cry
or use: blanket, picture, gun
or use: fan, bedspread, mayo
or use: balloons, egg carton, razor
or have a character throw up
or have a character wearing a ball cap
or feature some sort of a dive, whether swimming or a cheap bar
or ply someone with liquor
or "Hit me with your best shot, big boy"
or "Jim Dandy to the rescue!"
or make a Gilligan's Island reference
or feature a wedding cake
The Get Away by Lily Sawyer
“Why are we here again?”
Tom said after he took a swig from the glass of Guinness sitting on the
table in front of him. The dark ale went
down smoothly. It did leave a foam mustache on his upper lip.
“Because we have a weekend off and I’ve always wanted to
spend time in Old Town Alexandria. I mean Virginia isn’t that far from
Lancaster.”
They’d taken an Amtrak train down there and were
experiencing all that wonderful place had to offer. They took the King Street Trolley down to the
waterfront, took a ton of photos, and started to walk their way back up,
stopping at the different shops along the way.
“I am so glad they
have that trolley. It’s quite a hike up and down King Street.”
“I’m glad it’s free.”
Ben was the one who had his eye on the money end of things. Not that he was a tightwad, but why they
ended up in this dive, Tom didn’t know.
“Lamplighter? Who ever heard of a pub with that name? Why
couldn’t we have picked one of those restaurants we passed a few blocks back
instead?”
“Why are you asking me these questions?”
“Because I would have been happy to have eaten at the Flying
Fish place instead.”
“So why didn’t you say so?I wasn’t twisting your arm to come
in here.” Ben was starting to lose his
temper. Their raised voices were getting some unwanted looks from their fellow
patrons.
“How about we take a deep breath and take a walk,” Tom suggested. Walking always seemed to calm their
nerves. Tom didn’t know why they were
both on edge. This trip was supposed to be an enjoyable one.
Tom paid their tab, and he and Ben exited the pub onto the
busy street. They navigated their way
past the throng of people. Some of them were walking their dogs. There must
have been practically every breed present.
They walked silently up to the restaurant.
“Hello, gentlemen,” The
maitre d'greeted them. “How
many in your party?”
“Two,” Ben told him. He and Tom followed the younger man
through the myriad of tables that dotted the dining room.
“Here you go, sirs.”
He showed them to a table along the wall, and left two menus on the
table. “Someone will be with you shortly
to take your orders.” He smiled and left them alone. Ben and Tom took a seat and picked up their
menus. Tom noticed Ben glancing at him
over the menu he held.
“Would you gentlemen like to start off with some drinks?”
“I’ll have a Chardonnay,” Ben said.
“And I’ll have a glass of water,” Tom told him.
“I’ll be right back with your drinks.” The waiter turned and left.
“Okay, you want to talk about it?” Tom started off the conversation.
“Talk about what?”
Ben kept his focus on the menu and not on his husband.
“Come on, Ben, we’ve told each other that we’d always talk
out our problems.”
“I’m sorry, hon, I know I’m being a jerk. It’s work.” Ben put his menu down and looked
at Tom.
“Work? Is there a
problem?”
“I’m having problems with the banks. They’re really making
closing the deals very difficult. I’ve
got some short sales I’m having problems getting through. I know the process can be a long one, and I
told my buyers that. But you know how
impatient new homebuyers can be. This one bank I’m dealing with is driving me
crazy. That’s one of the reasons I
wanted to get away for a few days. Just
to get away from them. “ Ben reached out and took Tom’s hand “And be with you, of course.”
“I know your job is not easy, baby.” Tom squeezed Ben’s
hand. “How about we forget real life
for a while and enjoy the moment?”
“Yeah, I’d like that a lot.”
“Can I take your order?” The waiter returned.
“I’ll have the wild salmon,”
Ben told the waiter.
“I’ll have the steak, medium.” Tom liked steak and potatoes.
After their meal, they returned to their room at the Hotel
Monaco. Theu cuddled up in each other’s
arms and turned on the TV.
“In other news, Wilton Ranker of H&P bank in Lancaster
has been charged with unfair loan practices.
He’s been charged with discrimination, especially against homosexuals.”
“What!?” Ben leapt
out of the bed and started pacing.
“Ben? What’s wrong?”
“That son of a bitch. He’s one of the loan officers I’ve
been dealing with for one of the couples I’ve been trying to sell a house
to. They’re a gay couple. That bastard!”
TBC
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