For dVerse and prosery this week, Merril has given us a prompt line from Sara Teasdale’s poem, “May Day:”
For how can I be sure
I shall see again
The world on the first of May
I started writing and let the story take me where it would and what fun it was. I hope you enjoy it.
Not Just Any Little Lady
His expression introduced his next question. “How long you going for?”
“How can I be sure?”
“I shall see again . . . the world on the first of May. Perhaps everything will be different. Perhaps the war will be over. Perhaps life can return to normal,” she said, hoping that her tone conveyed her sensibilities. That he would regard their minor dalliance as spontaneous and thus ill-conceived. That he would not be the ruffian-type American her father described, who wouldn’t listen to a lady’s desires. She suspected, however, he was.
“You love me,” he said with unbecoming assurance.
She frowned, would have patted his arm, if his demeanor wasn’t so like a cobra’s. “I have responsibilities.”
“No.” He grabbed her wrist.
One jab of her hat pin, a wave of her derringer, his hasty retreat minus his billfold. “Oh, you silly little man.”
end
The conclusion is wickedly likable.
Thank you, Christopher. I wanted something a little different. Actually, I think I meant to start the post with: and now for something completely different. 🙂
It certainly works very well, as is.
An artful use of the prompt! Clever.
hehe, Love it!
Great tale in compressed style, so good, love it.
Fun read.
Well done, wickedly described…real style there…this deserves lenthening and deepening into a short story..
Wow. Thank you so much! 🙂
I loved the style of this–and her character. You did such a great job of incorporating the prompt line. Thank you!
Thank YOU, Merril. This was a lot of fun to write. 🙂
You’re welcome! I’m so pleased you enjoyed it 😊