Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Home Coming Weds Brief

This week's prompts

"Take it off."
"Love sees no color."
"Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't."
"Go with the flow."
"Time heals all wounds."
"Be good or be good at it!"
“Maybe I’ll feel better if I eat.”
or use: shoes, red hat, ring  
or have a laptop crash
or feature a character winning something
or use: tile, hammer, dog
·         "Is glitter edible?"
·         "Let me get this straight.  You found a unicorn, and your first response was to kill and cook it?"
·         "Just because you can add food coloring to something, that doesn’t mean you should."

Home Coming by Lily Sawyer

“Honey, can you come here for a minute?”

Tom heard his life partner calling out to him from their bedroom. He’d been looking for Skippy for several minutes now. He knew it was a ridiculous name to give a turtle, but that’s the best Tom could come up with, and even a turtle deserved a name.

“Ben, what is it? I’m kind of busy looking for Skippy.”

“Look.”  Ben pointed to his collection of shoes in the walk-in closet.  There, sticking his head from between a pair of oxfords, was the missing amphibian.

“Skippy! How in the world did you get in there?” Tom knelt down and gently picked him up.

“Tom, when is Skippy’s owner coming to get him?” Ben asked as he finished dressing.  It was their day off so both men went toward the casual look. Ben wore a fleece shirt and jeans.  He put on a pair of comfy slippers to flip flop around the house with.

“You don’t want him around?” It had only been a week since Tom rescued the turtle from a burning building. The family had been out of town visiting family when their house caught fire, so the only one at home was Skippy.

“The family was on their way home when the snow storm hit. You know all the flights were cancelled. I told them I’d keep their turtle until they get home. But if you don’t like him being here, I can just…mm.”

Ben cut off Tom’s chatter with a kiss.  “Of course I don’t mind him being here. He’s quiet and Love doesn’t mind him being here either.”

Their kitty had checked Skippy out the first night he’d arrived and pawed and sniffed at him.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure the little boy will be anxious to get him back.”

The next day was Valentine’s Day. Tom gave Ben a bouquet of flowers and Ben gave Tom some of his favorite Godiva dark chocolates.  Tom loved dark chocolate.  They got dressed up and went to their favorite bistro and went to a play at the community theater.   Some of the plays they did were so well done it was like being on Broadway.

In honor of Valentine’s Day they were putting on “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney. 

“Wasn’t that so romantic?”   Ben sighed as he and Tom made their way back to their car.   They held hands and walked with their shoulders touching.  
“Yeah, but you know what is more romantic?” Tom asked

“No what?”

“What I’ve got planned for when we get home.”

Ben fought hard to keep to the speed limit on the drive home but it was very hard when all he kept thinking about was what Tom had planned for them. 

Tom lit the gas fireplace, turned down the lights, and the two of them cuddled in front of the fire, sipping their favorite merlot, soft music playing from their stereo system.

“I love you.I know I say it plenty of times, but I just can’t stop saying it,”  Tom said between kisses.

“I feel the same way, Tom.  I love you more and more each day.”

Their kisses and embraces became more and more intense; they moved their activities to the bedroom.   Soft moans filled the room as they made love.

A few days later, Tom got a phone call.  “Yes, yes I do have your turtle.  Yes, huh?  You don’t, but…” Tom paused as he listened to the caller on the other end.  “But I thought you’d want him back.  Uh huh, I see.   Okay, bye.”   Tom turned his cell phone off.

“Tom?  Was that Skippy’s owner?”   Ben had been in the kitchen washing the dishes; they’d just finished dinner when Tom’s cell phone rang.

“Yeah, it was. Turns out that ‘little’ boy is a teenager, and he’s decided he doesn’t have time for the turtle and he told me I could keep him.”

“Oh, that is sad. It’s heartbreaking when some kids get tired of the animals that came into their lives.”

“I’ll call the pet shops and see if anyone will take Skippy.”  Tom hadn’t meant to get attached to the turtle, but he had.  He was preparing himself for when he’d have to return him to his rightful owner, but he figured Ben wouldn’t want him in the house.

“Why do you want to do that?”

“What do you mean? You want to keep Skippy?”   Tom had gone to the tank and taken Skippy out.

“Do you think I could look you or Skippy in the eye and tell you he has to leave?”

“Oh Ben.”  Tom kissed him.   “I thank you, and so does Skippy.”

It was hard to tell what Skippy thought of this, but if a turtle could smile, than he had a huge one on his face right now.   He’d found a new home, a forever home.

TBC





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