I decided to try my hand at writing another short story for this week’s Creative Writing Ink prompt – partly for the challenge, but partly because the photo this week put an idea in my head that I thought would be better told as a story than as a poem.
Spanish Chair (supplied by Creative Writing Ink)
Our Spot
“This was our spot. Every Sunday when it was nice we’d pack the folding table and chairs in the boot and drive out here, stopping off along the way at our favourite bakery to pick up some rolls and pastries to take with us. It was our chance to have some ‘us’ time, away from friends, family, work and the rest of the world. We’d sit and look out at that amazing view over a chelsea bun or pain au chocolat and while away the hours without a care in the world. Sometimes we’d go all afternoon and not say a word to each other, just enjoying being alone in each other’s company, only looking up every now and again to share a look or a smile before going on to the next chapter or nodding off again in the sunshine.
“It was always so peaceful here, with only the sound of the birds and leaves rustling in the breeze to break the silence. No matter how stressful the week before had been, a few hours up here and everything was better. If we’d argued, which we hardly ever did, we’d leave the best of friends again, whatever little thing forgiven and forgotten.
“One Sunday, my world changed forever; one minute he was sitting next to me in his usual spot and the next he was down on one knee with love in his eyes and the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen in his hand. It’s still my most treasured possession. Well, after him.”
“Possession now, am I? Charming!”
Her husband came over from the car, interrupting her story, and bent down to kiss her with smiling eyes, as in love with her now as he’d been all those years ago. Her eyes shone as brightly as the ring on her finger, which had aged a little better than she had, though no less gracefully.
“Granny and Grandad sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”
Their two young grandsons giggled mischievously and tucked into the rolls and pastries from their favourite bakery that now covered the folding table, enjoying their Sunday afternoon.
© Catherine Smith
Feedback appreciated, as always 
Oh my, the chairs made you think of old people, too! I like the fact that you had kept that detail until the end.
One thing, though… I think (and this is just me) it would be more effective if the grandchildren were girls (or at least one of them). Boys wouldn’t really giggle, they would grunt horribly and make disgusted faces at seeing their grandparents kissing. =D
Good read!
Very nice story, and so unexpected end. Great. Thanks, Cath.
Thanks again! The ‘twist’ was sort of unexpected for me too – it popped into my head as I was writing it
Great intro! You set the scene really well.
My mind was completely on the wrong track when you stated, “One Sunday, my world was changed forever…” I thought this was going to be a sad story, where one of the characters died or left. I was so relieved when I didn’t have to reach for the hankies!
Good story!
I’ve often wondered if people have their outline of their story first and know how they want it to end, or do they just go with the flow and see where their pen takes them?!
Good to know it worked the way I wanted it to; it’s difficult to tell as the author whether you’ve had the desired effect so thanks very much for that
I usually have an overall idea but most of the details, including how it ends half the time, come to me along the way. Tippex was my friend during school creative writing projects – hurrah for computers and their ability to make going back to edit bits easy
This was unexpected!
“One Sunday, my world changed forever; one minute he was sitting next to me in his usual spot and the next he was down on one knee…” I thought he was going to have a heart attack! I was so relieved when I continued reading it and found out what truly happened.
I kind of agreed on CBCondez’s comment about the grandchildren, because as I read the story, the image that popped in my mind was not grandson. But apart from that, well done! Happy to read a short story from you
Fair enough
Thanks for the feedback!