For Random Learning Comes: Essays Fiction and Poetry by Andrea LeDew

For Random Learning Comes

For Random Learning Comes: Essays Fiction and Poetry by Andrea LeDew

A variety of slightly wilted Dutch striped tulips in a mason jar full of water in the sheltered portico at Great Dixter, overlooking roofs and hedges. Copyright Andrea LeDew.

Snowed

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Corner of white-linen restaurant surrounded by glass doors overlooking a snowy scene. Copyright Dale Rogerson.
Corner of a white-linen restaurant surrounded by glass doors overlooking a snowy scene. Copyright Dale Rogerson.

This is my response to the photo prompt of the week for Friday Fictioneers.  Thanks for the prompt and for coming by to read!

When Matilda and Lars, ten years married, arrived at the bed-and-breakfast, the road seemed rocky and bare.

The falling mercury, snow’s harbinger, tantalized and tingled their flesh.  White Christmas lights beckoned, from the long white porch.

Bleary-eyed at breakfast (after too many midnight toasts) the happy couple held hands across the table, giggling like teens.

The pompous, popish napkins folded their arms in disapproval.  Or disbelief.

Gazing out the picture window, Matilda found it hard to distinguish, between the white porch and the flawless snow beyond.

Hard to tell, what else lay buried, under the sparkling opacity of her bliss.

To read a poem on Nature’s harsh beauty, read Big Sky.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nan Falkner

    Good story and eerie too. Eating at a restaurant with no other guests would make me wonder if their food was as good as they advertised. Really clever story!

    Reply

    • Andrea LeDew

      Thanks so much. The elite feel, of a place that would have folded napkins,reminded me of how one sometimes feels condescended to or judged, in the presence of some religious figures. Especially if one is misbehaving or being less than sincere. 😬

  7. granonine

    When I read “popish napkins,” I had to scroll back up to the picture. Yep. Didn’t see it before, but I sure do now! And that last line put a whole different feeling on this story. Well done.

    Reply

    • Andrea LeDew

      Thank you granonine! Everyone loves to fool themselves, and believe things are better than they truly are, sometimes. Like now, for instance. 😕

  11. pennygadd51

    There’s some delightful writing in this. “The falling mercury, snow’s harbinger,” Good grief, when was the last time I read the word harbinger? Lovely choice of words, exquisite. And “The pompous, popish napkins folded their arms in disapproval. Or disbelief.” Some discreet alliteration, and such an original and vivid description.
    And, of course, your last line. But you already know that’s a cracker. “Sparkling opacity” – wow!

    Reply

    • Andrea LeDew

      Just reread your comment and realized a second implication of ” the end of Lars!” I assumed you meant the marriage was on the rocks, so to speak, but perhhaps you meant the literal end–as in murder–with Lars being the one buried under the snow? Totally works!

I look forward to hearing what you think of this post!.

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