Yellow Monster

In response to Red’s and Blue’s blog posts: I am not very mellow; in fact I am just a bit miffed by Blue’s heartless comments on my literary efforts. As I have said before, Red’s comments are the only ones to take notice of.

Look at Red’s deeply moving story with its almost sinister sub plot compared to Blue’s tale of… well… I mean…. well…. marbles. :/

Anyway this week I suggest you think about some item you have picked up needlessly in a charity shop and write about it for 10 minutes.

The Rainbow Newt

An elderly bald gentleman and his delightful daughter were out in Cheltenham, when they came upon a charity shop. They decided to enter and gaze upon the many and varied articles displayed there in.

As they slowly made their way around the shop looking at odd shaped bowls, hideous ornaments and ancient videos, like ‘Battlefield Earth’, something caught the father’s eye. It was a purple bag with what looked like a multicoloured lizard on the front. Knowing that his daughter’s favourite colour was purple and that she was as soft as butter when it came to soppy looking things like the bag, he casually stepped in front of it, in the vain hope that she wouldn’t see it.

However as she was of a distrusting frame of mind she peered around him, and squeaked pathetically before picking it up and stroking the quilted stuffed creature.

“Oh no” groaned the man, shaking his head sadly “You don’t really want a purple bag with a rainbow newt on it do you?”

She treated him to a manically happy grin as she nodded her head vigorously, while hugging the bag with a hint of desperation.

He adopted a pained expression, “Do you really need a thing like that?” he asked with a touch of panic in his voice.

Still hugging the bag and grinning she answered like a small child, even though she was in her mid twenties, “But it’s a rainbow gecko!”

The man put a hand over his eyes, taking care not to smudge his glasses, and slowly shook his head. “I can’t believe you actually want it,” he said with a heavy sigh.

The girl slowly deflated, her shoulders sagged. Her smile faded and she slowly hung the bag back where she had found it.  “I suppose I shouldn’t buy it really,” she replied sadly.

Dad watched his daughter and his mind treacherously transported him back in time some twenty years and he saw before him a sad six-year-old girl.  “Oh God,” he muttered, “just buy the thing.”

She smiled happily as she carried the bag to the counter and handed it to the assistant. Then she turned a rather guiltily gaze on her father, “Er, have you got any money, dad?” she asked.

The old man stared back with an air of resignation, “Have I… you mean… ooooh! Arg!!! Wretch, ok how much is it going to cost me?”

“Seventy nine pence,” she answered quietly, “I’ll pay you back.”

They left the shop, the girl carrying the bag and grinning happily. The dad with a carefully blank expression because he knew only too well that he would never see his seventy-nine pence again.

Posted: Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 @ 10:09 am
Categories: Uncategorized.
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