A cool breeze glided past my window as the afternoon sun lounged behind a cloud. It was June again, another summer.
I spread the warm honey on some flatbread and filled my glass with apple juice. Fool’s gold, to be sure, but, for the moment, I was content to be a fool. I caught a glimpse of my messy hair in the TV’s black screen and laughed mentally.
Music floated up the street, followed by several loud cheers. Shoes pounded across the sidewalk as the neighborhood kids ran to catch the ice cream truck.
A bead of sweat slipped down the side of my face. I snuggled deeper into the plastic-covered armchair and casually flipped the page of my book. The empty glass and sticky napkin rested on the small table beside me.
Summer Gold
This is for the second June challenge for the Flash Fiction group.
girlinthestars, 3 months ago
oh-so-lovely! fantastic imagery…i saw it all~*
jcmontgomery, 3 months ago
Brava Natella!!! Perfect capture of a hot summer day.
Jen Wahl, 3 months ago
great imagery, Natella!
loramae, 3 months ago
Feels like I was in the room in the other chair! Wonderful Imagery! =)
Summayyah Sadi..., 3 months ago
Great piece Natella! You took us right there. This takes some mastery, to be able to paint such a real picture with so few words….
Rella, 3 months ago
You have a very special eye and I love the quiet reflection in your work :)
Miri, 3 months ago
oo did i want to eat & drink that in the sun & the heat! lovely piece
Natella2020 in reply to girlinthestars’s comment, 3 months ago
Thanks so much! I hope you got a good mental laugh at her messy hair as well. :o)
Natella2020 in reply to jcmontgomery’s comment, 3 months ago
Thanks for the applause JC. June started off here with thunderstorms, but now, I think, the heat is ready to settle in.
Natella2020 in reply to Jen Wahl’s comment, 3 months ago
Thank so much, Jen! I really appreciate your nice compliment.
Natella2020 in reply to loramae’s comment, 3 months ago
You’d know how to keep her company, Loramae. Thanks for your nice comment!
Natella2020 in reply to Summayyah Sadiq-Ojibara’s comment, 3 months ago
Jazaki Allahu Khairan, Summayyah. You know I always await your comments on my work. Though you’d probably expect me to be running after the ice cream truck with the kids! ;o)
Natella2020 in reply to Rella’s comment, 3 months ago
That is one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever been given, Rella. Your own skill is clear through the articulation of your comments.
Natella2020 in reply to Miri’s comment, 3 months ago
Thanks so much Miri! I do love apple juice during the summer. :o)
brutusB3, 3 months ago
Hey, we’re all fools once in a while, though I wouldn’t count honey as fool’s gold. It’s so sweet and delicious only a fool would pass it up. Nice story. Good luck with the challenge.
-b
Natella2020 in reply to brutusB3’s comment, 3 months ago
Thanks very much Brutus. No critique?
Best wishes for you as well, I don’t believe in luck :o)
brutusB3, 3 months ago
Haha, I don’t believe in luck either. I’ve just heard it so many times I didn’t even realize I had written that. :) As for the critique, I liked the story, It was a true flash fiction story in that it captured a moment in detail and stored a memory that comes up every year at the same time. It was relaxing, which I think was the mood you aimed at conveying to readers. Simple pleasures. Am I right? (Although, it does sound uncomfortable to be sitting on a plastic covered chair in the summer.) Good grammar and punctuation as well. Have to note that.
-b
Zolton, 3 months ago
Well, it’s been very hot here the last couple of days so I can relate. I very much enjoyed reading this. It has a cozy quality that makes you feel good.
Natella2020 in reply to brutusB3’s comment, 3 months ago
Thanks again Brutus. You’d be surprised to hear that plastic-covered chairs are not that uncomfortable, especially after they have been broken in for a few years, like ours. ;o)
Natella2020 in reply to Zolton’s comment, 3 months ago
Thanks Zolton! “Cozy” is a good word, I was thinking “lazy” actually. That’s what summers are for, right? Sitting around, not brushing your hair, leaving the dishes until later. Or maybe that’s just me. ;o)
Amber Elizabet..., 3 months ago
Wow vivd and wonderful descriptions … Reminded me of being a child in the summers in California beautiful write Natella wonderful work:)
Natella2020 in reply to Amber Elizabeth Fromm- Donais’s comment, 3 months ago
Thank you, Amber, I’m glad this brought back nice memories!
Amber Elizabet..., 3 months ago
Wonderful writing my friend:)
Nicole Ryan, 3 months ago
mmm delicious !
.. congratulations on winning the challenge nat xx
Natella2020 in reply to Nicole Ryan’s comment, 3 months ago
Thanks Nicole! Congrats on making second!