Helen was worried about her little brother. The family hadn’t heard from him in months. He stopped coming to holiday gatherings and never answered his phone. Enough was enough! Being 10 years his senior, she knew Henry’s brooding tendencies quite well. Even as a baby he barely smiled. It wasn’t until he met Alice that his countenance changed.
Helen booked a ticket on the next train ensuring that she would arrive on a Saturday when Henry was home.
As the taxi hugged the curb, she was startled to see that the house had fallen into minor disrepair. The average person wouldn’t notice of course, but Helen knew how meticulous Henry was about his boxwood hedges and lawn edging. She rang the bell three times before hearing movement behind the door.
As Henry opened the door, squinting from the sunlight, he stepped back a stride when he realized who had come to call. “Helen! You’re here!”
“Yes little brother, I am. You look like crap!” She pushed past Henry sending a cloud of dust into the stale air; more dust as she pulled the drapes open. “Get me some tea Henry, will you? I’m parched!”
kat ~ 22 July 2016
(194 Words)
A third installment in the series for Jane Dougherty’s Microfiction Challenge based on the painting above by Else Berg. Read the first two installments of this story by clicking HERE and scrolling to the story called Seasoning.
July 22nd, 2016 at 4:05 pm
Clever! Grown up baby Henry 🙂
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July 22nd, 2016 at 4:08 pm
While I had envisioned and intervention from his sister, I hadn’t planned on going back to the cradle, but it worked! 🙂
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July 22nd, 2016 at 4:30 pm
It did! That’s what I was hoping to get—thinking your way around to weaving in an imposed plot thread 🙂
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July 22nd, 2016 at 4:43 pm
Nicely done!
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July 22nd, 2016 at 4:46 pm
Thanks Sarah!
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July 22nd, 2016 at 6:12 pm
Hmm. I wonder what’s up with Henry?
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July 22nd, 2016 at 7:56 pm
I like how you have left us wanting more Kat, well done lovely writing..
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July 22nd, 2016 at 7:57 pm
Thank you Michael. TBC 😊
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July 22nd, 2016 at 8:09 pm
I am enjoying this series very much. I cannot wait to see, to read what the outcome shall be of Henry and Alice. 🙂
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July 22nd, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Thank you Donna! Me too! 😊
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July 22nd, 2016 at 9:37 pm
I think you have nicely set the stage to let us know what is going on in Henry’s world now!
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July 22nd, 2016 at 9:49 pm
Thanks. I think I am going to have fun introducing big sis to everyone! 😊
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July 25th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Clever. Nice intervention. Looking forward to the next installment.
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July 25th, 2016 at 12:47 pm
Thanks! I’m going to have fun with this character! 🙂
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July 25th, 2016 at 9:52 pm
I can see why! 🙂
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July 25th, 2016 at 11:13 pm
Excellent!
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July 26th, 2016 at 11:11 am
Thank you Carol! I am enjoying this challenge! 🙂
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July 26th, 2016 at 3:08 pm
You have a lot of panache!
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July 26th, 2016 at 6:33 am
Nicely done! Poor Henry.
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July 26th, 2016 at 11:10 am
Thanks Merril. I know. It was definitely time for an intervention!
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July 26th, 2016 at 11:34 am
Most definitely! 🙂
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July 26th, 2016 at 11:44 am
🙂
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July 28th, 2016 at 5:53 am
[…] Seasoning – Part 3 | like mercury colliding… […]
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