208 words…

Keith's Ramblings

…for The Unicorn Challenge which is hosted by Jenne Gray and C.E.Ayr.

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grinched.regular

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Let me read it to you!

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He was renowned for his potted plants. Potty Pete the locals called him. He had dozens of them all over his garden. His wife Flora didn’t share his passion for terra cotta. ‘More interested in them than me’ she used to say.

It was no secret that Flighty Flora had several flings with local men, but when she became involved with a young priest, Kev the Rev,  Pete decided enough was enough. 

‘Pack your bags and go’ he shouted.

‘I’m going nowhere’ she yelled.

That afternoon while he was at the garden centre looking at plants she went berserk, smashing every one of his precious pots, trampling on his flowers, smashing the greenhouse glass and she even destroyed his favourite seat.

*

A couple of days later, after Pete had disposed of the debris, a truck arrived with a consignment of new pots, sacks of compost and masses of new plants. A few days more and his displays were back to their former glory. He sat in his new chair and admired his handiwork. For the first time in years he could enjoy spending time with Flora in his beloved garden without her constant moaning. 

He tapped his foot in the grass.

‘Are you alright down there my love?’

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© Nancy Richy

29 thoughts on “208 words…”

  3. ladysighs's avatar ladysighs Sep 16, 2023 / 12:45

    Potty Pete needs a more sophisticated name. Something like Persistent Peter maybe?

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  5. jenne49's avatar jenne49 Sep 16, 2023 / 14:43

    Now we’ll see whether or not the grass does grow greener above a… A Flora!
    Good story, Keith.

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  8. ceayr's avatar ceayr Sep 16, 2023 / 17:28

    I like that Flora finally became useful.
    Although it seems she had other uses with local men and got Kevin a-revvin’!

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  9. Suzette Benjamin's avatar Suzette Benjamin Sep 16, 2023 / 18:06

    Something tells me that the truth will blossom someday putting Pete in heaps of trouble with the authorities. Great story Keith, I’m rooting for Flora!

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  10. Doug Jacquier's avatar Doug Jacquier Sep 16, 2023 / 20:25

    Oh, Keith. You and your potty mouth. She’ll come back to haunt him you know, that Flora Bunda. 😉

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    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings Sep 17, 2023 / 18:02

      Flora by name, Flora by nature – he’s not seen the last of her yet even if her future home is just a vase!

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  12. Maria Michaela's avatar Maria Michaela Sep 17, 2023 / 23:09

    Reminds me of that movie, The Secret Window. Now Flora is just where she belongs

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  13. Margaret's avatar Margaret Sep 21, 2023 / 03:24

    Rule number one: Never mess with a man’s pot plants. I think Pete might even have forgiven Flora’s indiscretion with the Rev in time if she hadn’t gone berserk in his collection. I’m having a strange feeling reading this, however, as I’m married to a pot plant man myself – cacti and succulents are on every available surface. I feel for Flora.

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