every day unfurls as it must
–from Oolong, by Adrienne Su
Karma’s Little Helper
She sweats on the front porch swing, listening to wind swish treetops, catching whiffs of lavender.
It is summer’s zenith, when green screams its loudest. Sunlight roars yellow. The palette’s remainder supports in dulcet murmurs.
Reverie carries her to a summer when he was her green and she his yellow.
But every summer must end. Green mutes, fades; yellow wheezes to grey.
She stands and goes inside. It’s feeding time.
Two cats curl around her ankles, their silky fur comforting her otherwise untouched skin. One can of salmon paté with gravy, split between between them. Another can is spooned out onto a clean paper plate. She fills a plastic cup with tepid tap water and adds an ice cube.
The basement is a cool sixty. His chain clinks as he approaches his meal.
She smiles with karma’s certainty. Every day unfurls as it must.
[144 words]
I am today’s host for dVerse’ Prosery Monday. The prompt today is to write a 144-word story using the top quote.
Tao Talk 
oh how you lulled the reader with the summer, the reverie, the cats and the shock of that dark ending. Karma indeed – a little like the film “Misery”
“when green screams its loudest.” the best description ever of how I see that particular hue
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Laura, I also thought of Misery with the situation. One batsh*t crazy plot that stands the test of time in its horror. Thanks so much for reading and your comment.
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I love the ‘whiffs of lavender’ and that sentence: ‘It is summer’s zenith, when green screams its loudest’, Lisa, and the idea of sunlight roaring yellow. Great use of colour throughout! And then the dark tones in: ‘The basement is a cool sixty. His chain clinks as he approaches his meal.’ Reminds me a little of Stephen King’s ‘Misery’.
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Kim, thanks so much. Yes, it does have the Misery aspect going for it :)
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My pleasure, Lisa. I really enjoyed reading ‘Misery’ and the film.
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Oh boy–that went dark! I was not expecting that. I hadn’t thought of Misery, but there is that vibe.
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It often is a jolt when you realize a person you’re interacting with is batsh*t crazy. Thanks for reading and your comment, Merril.
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You’re welcome, Li!
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“It is summer’s zenith, when green screams its loudest. “
A nice and easy mood.
Thanks for dropping by to read mine
much♡love
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Thanks, Gillena. She’s at her happiest when serving her purpose.
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I read it twice. Slight ambiguity in whose chain is clinking. Which was good. Now I’m curious. I also like the descriptions of color, especially “green screams its loudest. Sunlight roars yellow.” I have never seen the movie Misery. Worth a watch?
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Melissa, there comes a time in summer where the verdance and the blazing sun become almost menacing for me. I tried to express that through the colors, which suggests a flaming hot union between him and her at the same time (how my mind works.)
Oh my, yes, Misery is worth a watch. Tough to watch in a few spots, but you can easily look away.
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Yes, I got the union between them in the second read through. Hmm I’ve liked some of the movies based on Stephen King’s novels. I’ll check it out.
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I agree that summer can almost be menacing in its extremes, Lisa. This was a jarring narrative at the end! Thanks for an interesting prosery prompt and quote today :)
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Welcome, Lynn :) I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way about summer. Jarring is a good word for the ending. She seemed perfectly ok ;) You’re very welcome on prompt and quote.
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Ooooh Lisa. It as a routine day until the Karma kicked in! Way to grab our attention leaving us wanting more…..
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LOL, Karma indeed has “kicked in.” I wonder what the poor guy did?
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Ha ha… you are right!
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He may be a total innocent, like the author was in Misery!
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A great comparison!
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p.s. Thank you.
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A beautiful story Lisa :-) Really loved how you ended it!
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Oh oh. You did? ;)
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This story had quite a surprise ending Li.
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I admit it, I worked a little on the front end to set up the twist.
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Excellent writing my friend
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Thank you <3
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Most welcome
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More than a little sinister. Did you have someone in mind? (K)
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Thanks, Kerfe. I tried. Nobody in mind, but for me the story is more about the woman’s state of mind rather than who is chained in the basement. No man is worth that much trouble.
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“catching whiffs of lavender” I know exactly what you mean by that. It takes me there.
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It’s a wonderful experience isn’t it. So strange she can be contented and still have a guy held prisoner in the basement. She’s gone round the bend.
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Yes it is! That caught me off the bat and I had to read it again because I was daydreaming and smiling….thats my problem…I’m a sucker for a phrase…and sometimes my mind wanders and I have to get back.
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You got caught up in lavender. Understandable :)
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OMG… Lisa, how lusciously dark — loved it my friend!! 👍🏼🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
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Rob, thank you. I let my dark side off the leash every now and again :)
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How sinister! Took me quite by surprise. My imagination is running wild.
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My work is done ;)
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Definitely unexpected ending! I didn’t expect the beautiful colors of summer to end so darkly! :)
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Thanks, Marsha. I was counting on it ;)
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Very peaceful painting. 😊
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Thanks, Gia!
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I did not see that coming, caught me completely, great story Li.
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I planned it that way, Paul. Thanks much :)
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