'Gina's Voyeur Challenge

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

They're such nice young boys, she thinks -- "fellows," her husband had said, with a not-so-funny inflection she may have to speak to him about in time. But not now, not on this first real day of spring (nevermind the calendar says it was a month ago), with the bright sunshine and the almost-warm breeze and the finally-open windows airing out the house.

One of them -- the blondish one -- is hanging out the sheets in the tiny backyard. She nods to herself as she counts one flat and one fitted -- both king-sized, if she's any judge (and she is), and four pillowcases. One bed, then, not that it matters to her, but it's good to know up front, in case of trouble later -- Estelle Parker's been known to have a nasty tongue on her, and it wouldn't do to be caught flat-footed with that old witch.

The other one -- the dark-haired one that Bonnie down at the market says is so polite, Mina, not like most of the young folks these days -- comes out of the house then with a laundry basket filled with -- she squints harder -- towels. They seem to argue for a minute, but it's not much of an argument at all, and she's pretty sure she can guess the topic. Sheets dried on the line smell good; towels, no matter how much Downy you put in the washer, always turn out scratchy. She used to wrangle with her mother over the same thing, years back. She watches, amused, as the blond cuts off the dark-haired one's sentence with a kiss.

"Ray!" she hears clearly as the mower two doors down cuts out finally (such a show-off, the grass isn't even growing yet), and she smiles as the laundry basket hits the ground and the blondish one is hustled indoors by his -- she wonders what they call each other. Boyfriend? Partner? Lover?

She turns away from the window and gets out the ingredients for a Bundt cake. No time like the present to welcome them to the neighborhood. Of course, the cake will take a while to bake, but given the look on the dark-haired one's face, that's just as well. She thinks they're going to be ... busy ... for a while.

382 words

Comments

[reginagiraffe]

*peers over neighbor's fence*

*sees nothing but weeds and dog poo*

Hmmph. Some people have all the luck!

Thanks for this! I think I'm *really* going to enjoy the fruits of this challenge!

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! And thank *you* for suggesting it -- I think we're *all* going to enjoy this ...

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

I second Regina's emotion! I was weirdly and strangely moved by this long lensed view of the guys--hanging sheets on a spring day, of all things. I like your narrator, too, who gives proper attention to each thing in turn--the boys, the mower, the towels. Really sweet!.

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

Yay! I moved Ces weirdly and strangely!! Yay!

Thanks for the fb, I'm having it framed. ;)

[umbo.livejournal.com]

Awww! That was great!

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

Thanks! (Again!!)

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

Like an old angora sweater...

Thanks!!

[kist.livejournal.com]

I can't stop smiling. (g) It's a lovely view from here, isn't it?

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm. (Thanks!)

[duesouthficrecs.livejournal.com]

Oh, I liked this.

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly. ;)

[maubast.livejournal.com]

Such a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing.

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Bast!

[thermidor.livejournal.com]

That was really enjoyable.

I like your narrator; she's a great observer. Also, she should kick Estelle Parker's ass.

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yes, I think she should. Or maybe has.

Thanks!

Re: 'Gina's Voyeur Challenge

[yeungmaisu.livejournal.com]

S, reading this left me feeling all warm and happy. Furthermore, I just love the understated, relaxed texture of this - it's both cozy and comfortable, yet with the patchwork effect of a favorite quilt. So I hope you understand what charming images you've created here.

[(Anonymous)]

how could i have not read the first entry to dsflashfiction before? and it's so darn good, too! i really liked this, and it seems the perfect intro to this great community.

thanks (belatedly) -- tally