Mrs Robinson slid off the kitchen table, smoothing her skirt over her knees.
It would be nice, just occasionally, if he’d stay awhile afterwards, perhaps share a glass of wine, a cupcake even.
As ever though, his mind was now elsewhere. She studied his muscular back, remembering a time when …
He turned, his dispassionate gaze raking her body from head to toe.
Then his face softened, as though taking in her needs, her frailties.
“If you’ll show me where the dustpan and brush are, I’ll sweep these up for you, shall I?” he asked, indicating the yellowed toenail clippings on the kitchen floor.
Why? What were you thinking? Tut! Friday Fictioneers kicks off on Wednesday again, under the stewardship of our gracious hostess and the provider of this week’s photographic prompt – Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. If it hadn’t been for Rochelle’s story, I wouldn’t have known it was Hollywood – it looked a bit like Hong Kong to me. I might have disgraced myself here … I may still have, in fact. 😉
😀 Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Dear Sandra,
You had me laughing out loud at the second paragraph and cringing at the last line. Gaaah! Brilliant piece of writing my dear. Is it any wonder I look forward to your entries every week?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, mine hostess! 🙂
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Dear Sandra,
A pedicurist who makes house calls? Oh, my. You had me going there…wherever there was. I love what you do in so few words. Well done.
I’ll get that wine for you now.
Aloha,
Doug
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Red please, preferably Merlot. You don’t have home visits over there? 🙂
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You flummoxed us all, I’d think. This is one of the many reasons you’re one of my “go-to” authors, Sandra. You just know how to tell ’em.
Seeing Hong Kong in the picture wasn’t actually a bad thing, really. It has everything to do with perspective, which is what stories here are made of, right? Yup!
Five pairs of clippers for this one.
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Thank you Kent. Very kind of you. 🙂
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Dang, you’re good, Sandra. I was getting all flushed reading this and then…..poof!…..back to reality.
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Sorry if I warmed you up here… a cold shower might be in order. 😉
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No, the yellowed toenails did the trick.😀😀😀
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They do have a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ I suppose … 😦
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Well here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson!
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Hah! You got me, like, I imagine, you’ll get everyone. Wonderful!
Claire
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Thanks Claire. 🙂
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Super switcharoo, Sandra. Bravo!
janet
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Thanks Janet, glad to see you back on the FF scene. 🙂
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Well done! Sandra. Lovely little twist at the end.
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Thank you! 🙂
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I also thought it might be in Asia – India perhaps. A well-done story like this is never a disgrace. In his later years, my father had a home-care nurse who occasionally trimmed his toe-nails and swept up the detritus. 🙂
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Thank you, glad you liked it. My mother also had home-care chiropody though I doubt she lusted after the technician. 🙂
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Nice idea- did the POV switch around after the ‘…’?. Like you I had no idea where the picture was. TBH unless it’s really obvious I don’t think it matters…it’s just a street scene, neon lights etc i.e. Bangkok for me 🙂
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I thought I’d covered that angle with the way I phrased it. The first sentence would be her observing his dispassionate gaze, and in the second I inserted ‘as though’ because I saw it was a POV change. It’s an interesting point though. Thanks for reading.
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Yep, I see it now 🙂
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Funny.
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Thank you!
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I must say that sometimes understanding the real need is a challenge.. But toenail clippings can be a turn-off.
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Now I think you’re being a bit picky there Bjorn. 🙂
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You got me! Brilliant.
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Thank you!
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Now that’s a different use for a kitchen table! Although heaven knows how she got up there! Thanks for the bait and switch, and for giving me a good chuckle.
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My pleasure! 🙂
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Very clever twist, though toenails are not my favourite subject!
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Nor mine! Thanks for reading.
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Sandra, Great twist at the end of a good story. I didn’t think that quite looked like Hollywood. I thought perhaps it was a Chinese section if it was. I then read Kent’s comment. I would have never guessed Hong Kong. Well written as always. 🙂 — Susan
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Thanks for reading Susan, glad you liked it.
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My my, you’re quite the minx, aren’t you? I felt sorry for her and then, I still felt sorry for her, although it was a different sympathy. 😊
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Thanks for reading Shailaja. 🙂
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Laughed out loud. I was not expecting that ending – well done.
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Thank you! 🙂
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At least he cleared up after himself (even though it wasn’t what I was expecting!). I’d stay for a cupcake. She sounds lonely, poor thing.
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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The ending was a bit unexpected. Great read.
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Thanks.
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Hello darkness, my old friend …. until my toenails are cut! Great switch-up, skillfully done as always.
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Thanks Perry. 🙂
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wonderfully written
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Thank you.
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Well, my dear, I shall join you in that glass of Merlot to help wash away the sexual angst you just put me through… lol
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Ooops! I’ll get another bottle…
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Hollywood or not, your twist at the end makes the story, IMO. Nicely handled this week, Sandra.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Thanks Marie Gail.
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Excellent ~ Lovely response 🙂
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Thank you John.
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Regardless of the clever twist, now I’ll be singing this all nigh. Brilliant, Sandra, brilliant!
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Thanks Dawn!
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Still singing…
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Bet the neighbours are lovin’ it… 🙂
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darn, he must be a true professional. doesn’t engate in hanky-panky. 🙂
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He must be fairly unique then. 🙂
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That was amazing. Thanks for letting me start my day with a smile.
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Pleased to have been able to do that Mira.
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That was funny but also sad. And I was really taken in.
So he didn’t go into plastics, or was it oil?
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I can’t remember that far back Patrick. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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LOL … lovely ending … put my naughty mind in its place! Ciao, Georgia.
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🙂 Best place for a naughty mind is out in the open, where everyone can see what’s going on.
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True, very true!
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Hmm, I always wanted a few toenail clippings with my wine. It sounds like he’s the cupcake. And all along you had me thinking he was just a Wham-Bam Thank-You-Ma’am kind of guy. I’m in awe of your talent, Sandra.
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Thanks Russell. Toenails and wine. Hmmm. 😦
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You thoroughly tricked me, Sandra! Nice twist! Well done.
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Thanks for reading Lisa.
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(Previous comments have said it all.) Well twisted! 🙂
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That’s me! 🙂
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Ha! This is great, Sandra. I love the bit about the cupcake and raking her body from head to toe. You had me going. I didn’t know it was Hollywood either. Most of the time, I have no idea what any of these prompts are. Truth?! And, I stayed for the song!
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Takes you back doesn’t it? Glad you enjoyed.
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Heat
Twists
Turns
Toenails???!!!
There goes my imagery….have to start over.:)-
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🙂 Thanks for dropping by.
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Hahaha! Great twist, well done 😀
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Thank you! 🙂
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“Tut,” indeed. My mind was totally elsewhere. Excellent.
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Naughty! Thanks for reading Honie.
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Fun story with a great ending – yellowed toenails – ugh! Poor Mrs Robinson.
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Not everybody’s cup of tea I know. Thanks for reading Margaret.
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So well done. I don’t think you can blame the reader for going in the direction you sent them, and I think I’d rather have stayed there than been dragged back to toe-nail clippings. Interesting podiatry technique, having the client sit on the kitchen table. Lovely story wonderfully written.
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loving the humour of your stories, you never fail to raise a chuckle 🙂
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Great descriptions, Sandra. You brought the story in a large arc, ending with reality. Not made in Hollywood, indeed.
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Geez, and I thought it was just kinky sex with the chambermaid.
Randy
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Amazing, you got me.
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A tenderly sad an unexpected twist to the story.
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Dear Sandra, my favorite world traveler/author, Love your story and point of view. The toenails are funny – I have a hard time with mine now that my knees don’t bend like they used to. Your story is superb! Nan 🙂
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