Sometimes It's Just Lovely and Simple
There are approximately seventeen thousand colors in the natural world. Twyla saw twelve of them in her walk down Main Street. This included:
The timid grey of a not-quite rain cloud
The slate-blue of a settled-in winter sky
And, most surprisingly, the affronted green of an umbrella that’s been forgotten outside a cafe for what - in its entitled opinion - is simply far too long.
In fact, the umbrella looked quite determined to allow the wind to pull it away from the cafe so that it could see a bit of the world. Recognizing the defiant spark, Twyla plucked the umbrella up and carried it safely inside Marigold’s teashop.
In stark contrast to the outside, the teashop was full of both soft, welcoming colors (the cream and sage green pinstripes on the one wallpapered wall and the sleepy-blue of the cushions on the window seats), and vibrant “hello!” colors from the many guests and teapots, which could both be found lounging at every table.
Twyla placed the umbrella safely next to the door, gave it a little pat, and busied herself with removing her cape and gloves and hat and scarf. She piled them atop all the others adorning the teashop’s many hooks and hat stands, slipped off her wet boots, and padded across the worn wood floor to the counter.
Prompt that sparked the story
I went rogue! 🤭 No prompt this time.
The air smells of cinnamon and honey and cocoa and sugar. Twyla says hello to fifteen different people on her way to the counter, and seven different people while she waits for a fresh-from-the-oven slice of ginger cake and a full pot of tea.
Her dress is blue, dotted with small white flowers, and buttoned with 11 silver buttons. Her tights are dark-grey, handmade by her great-grandmother.
Her teapot is glass, her teacup has a tiny hedgehog trundling along in an endless circle.
She sits by the fireplace, legs tucked under her, plate balanced artfully on her lap.
She looks up when the doorbell tingles cheerfully, announcing the arrival of someone new.
He has dark green pine trees embroidered along the hem of his thick winter coat, and looks entirely perplexed at the concept of taking off his boots in a public space.
Twyla’s never met him before.
She thinks she’s glad that’s about to change.
Until next time,
Kimberly