Thursday, May 2, 2013

Write at the Merge: A Different Flavor

Edith felt like singing.  It was good to be home, she rejoiced.  Safe in the bosom of her tiny apartment.  After the events of the evening, it simply wasn’t possible to overstate the relief she felt at being back in familiar surroundings. 

Ethyl’s invitation of a week ago, asking Edith to attend a party she was hosting in honor of Olive, the bride-to-be, sounded exactly like Edith’s cup of tea.  A recipe exchange, from the description of it, featuring a dish called beef cake.  Edith enjoyed recipe exchanges, and considered herself to be something of an expert in the kitchen.  She would take along her metal recipe box, she decided, with plenty of blank recipe cards in case some of the other girls forgot to bring their own. 

As the party got underway, though, it became apparent to Edith that she alone had come prepared to discuss ingredients and cooking tips.  Furthermore, when Edith cleared her throat and practically shouted above the din of living room conversation to inquire whether beef cake should be filed under Main Dishes or Desserts, she hadn’t expected everyone to find her question so uproariously funny.  Thankfully, for red-faced Edith, hoots and whistles trumped laughter as the spotlight shifted away from her and onto the newest arrival-a young man dressed in a modest piece of fur and beating wildly on his chest.  And what a chest!  Inexplicably, Edith realized she was growling.

Yes, it was good to be home, and a batch of butterscotch brownies would be just the ticket for blotting out all disquieting memories of the party. Besides, Roscoe liked butterscotch brownies.  Dear, steady, dependable Roscoe-promising Edith a secure future with his full-time job as a revolving closet salesman.  She really should thank her lucky stars…

As she reached for her recipe box, her mind began to wander-leopard clad thoughts wrapping themselves in tantalizing visions of Tarzan.  So masculine.  So wild and untamed.  And so unlike Roscoe.  She felt guilty, but she couldn’t help herself-and her fingers, poised over the neat bundles of categorized recipes, ignored Cookies and found the blank cards instead. 

Beef Cake.  She just might need to expand her repertoire.

 

writing prompt

 

Please go here to read this week’s fun prompt!

Innovative houses

20 comments:

  1. Hilarious! You did it again--brought a smile to my face. Thank you, Valerie!

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  2. Oh I love this one Valerie; a humourous awakening of a wallflower. Beefcake....rahr!

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    1. Jacqueline, thank you! I bet there is no going back for Edith now;)

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  3. Oh my gosh, as soon as I read "A recipe exchange, from the description of it, featuring a dish called beef cake" I burst out in laughter! Since you started the post with that photo, I knew what was in store for poor, unsuspecting Edith after reading that line. Such a funny, well-written story Valerie!

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    1. Tammy, I'm so glad you got a kick out of this one! That's what I was hoping for, and it was fun to write too!

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  4. Oh you are too funny! Hilarious take on that prompt!

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    1. Thanks Lisa! I feel like I'm in my element with these types of stories;)

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  5. Beefcake is so unique in that it can be both a main dish AND dessert :-) I wonder what shall become of poor Roscoe ;)

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    1. Angela, I love recipes that are versatile, like Beefcake;) And I think "poor Roscoe" is right! Thanks for your comment!!

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  6. This made me laugh out loud, it was so well crafted. Poor Roscoe, It sounds like he will get a surprise. LM x

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    1. I'm glad you liked this Lyssa! Roscoe probably wishes Edith had never gone to that party...

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  7. Oh you truly had me laughing out loud with this one Valerie. I was imagining Tarzan myself, my Mom loved him and now I wonder what she was thinking while baking. Poor Roscoe did not have a chance:) B

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    1. Thanks B! I bet your dear Mom was not alone...Hugs, my friend!

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  8. I tried to comment the other day from my blasted phone, but no dice. I. love. this.

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    1. Well Cam, your comment was certainly worth waiting for! It always makes my day when I see that you've stopped by! Thank you so much! :)

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  9. I love that you use pre-generation names; Edith, Ethyl and Olive oh and we can't discount Roscoe. (My sister had a hyper fox terrier named Roscoe so I have a rough time placing it to a human character as I come upon it.) When I drive you to envy regarding my shoes, I find it bittersweet; glad you admire and sad you envy. hahahahaha. A fabulous weekend to you, too, my friend!

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  10. Renae, I bet Edith would find your sister's dog more interesting than her own boyfriend...isn't it funny how names bring up such memories, and shoes, such bittersweet-ness! They look darling on you, my dear!!

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  11. Love it! I actually was recently at a bachelorette where a beef-cake like character showed up to surprise the bride. He was wearing a furry brown blanket. Things haven't changed much:)

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  12. Kim, I love it! I wish I'd have been there too;)

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