It Happened One Morning

/ Liz H-H
City sewer grate, a woman's brown slide laying on top, abandoned

© Ayr/Gray

Many thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr for their photo prompt, The Unicorn Challenge (05/31/2024). No more than 250 words in length.

Marjorie awoke, the song in her heart matching those of the birds twittering in the sunrise. Stretching her pale, lithe arms over her tousled head, she rolled out of bed, feet fairly dancing on the wood floor of her new Uptown apartment.

Change was in the air.                                 

She dreamed in the shower, exulting in strawberry-scented shampoo, the pineapple tang of conditioner. Flowered cup of Lady Grey in her slender fingers, Marjorie surveyed her closet, finally yielding to the whisper of her favorite sundress, full skirt of pale robin’s egg belling to reveal a carnival of bright red balloons.

She loved red balloons

All she needed was the right purse, and footwear to match the still-cool morning. Giggling, she found them in a short-strapped red purse from her childhood (“Red Balloon” her favorite French movie), and a pair of brown leather slides from her teens (urban cowgirl days). Anticipant, she stepped into the street, heading toward the chic coffee shop discovered only last week.

Crossing the park, she spotted something bobbing at the street’s edge, beckoning in the breeze. How could she refuse an invitation from a red balloon, alone, just like her? With it tied to the black filigree table on the shop’s sidewalk patio, she’d be sure to catch the right kind of attention!

The balloon sank as she approached, string tangling beneath the sewer grate. Marjorie bent to release it.

Thus began a long, hot summer of mysterious disappearances. 

© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2024)

17 thoughts on “It Happened One Morning”

  1. LIz, I loved this and, unlike the sourpusses in earlier comments, I loved Marjorie too! I’ve met too many ladies who growl and snarl until they’ve imbibed a gallon or two of coffee, so she was a breath of fresh air for me.

    I’m off to the sewer to save her!

    Liked by 1 person

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