You Did WHAT?

Carol Alexander wrote this flash fiction story using the writing prompt from Thursday's post. She kindly allowed me to share it here. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks Carol! If you have a minute, check out Carol's blog, Everything Home...with Carol.



Don't forget to stop and comment on Monday's post (8/31/09) if you'd like to enter the book giveaway. I'm giving away Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell.

The Vase

by Carol Alexander

“You did WHAT?”

“I stopped at a few yard sales on the way home. Wait till you see what I got!”

“You bought something? Where did you get the money? I don’t even have money for groceries, for crying out loud!”

“Awe, come on, honey. I didn’t spend much. Look, ain’t it a beaut?”

I could not believe my ears and eyes. My unemployed husband goes to yard sales when I’m scraping coins together to buy groceries. And now, he’s spent that on the most hideous looking vase I’ve ever seen in my life. I’m sure my face screamed everything I was thinking.

“Aww, come on, Carol. You’ve got to love it.”

“Is it for me?”

“Do you want it?”

“No. It’s ugly. What did you spend on that thing?”

“Not much, I tell ya’. It’s something special. I just know it is.”

“Special, my eye. What did you pay for it?”

“Guess.”

“Five dollars.”

“NO! I got this exquisite piece for only 35 cents.”

“Thirty-five cents!?! Do you know what I could do with 35 cents? I can’t even buy groceries, for crying out loud, and you’re spending good money on this worthless junk!”

With that, I stormed into the house and left him in the garage, with his exquisite piece, combing through his antique books.

Weeks passed and I eventually calmed down. Tim stashed his vase in some safe place where I didn’t have to look at it. Eventually, the entire incident was forgotten. Until…

“What are you all smiles about?” I asked as Tim came in from the car.

“This,” he replied, cracking a brand new $100 bill in my face.

“Where’d that come from?”

“I sold it! He didn’t even bat an eye. I told you it was special.”

“Sold what? What are you talking about?”

“The majolica.”

“The what?”

“That vase I bought for 35 cents. I told you it was special. I was right. The dealer told me it was what you call majolica…some kind of pottery or something. Anyways, it’s worth a lot of money. He’s gonna put twice that on it.”

“What are you gonna do with the money?”

“After I take you out to dinner? Why, buy groceries, of course.”