This meme was started by Delores a long time ago. When she left us briefly we realised that the meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast. I am very, very sad (and angry) to write that a troll has led Delores to leave us again. She will be missed and I hope her meme continues.
Essentially the aim is to encourage us to write. Each week we are given a choice of prompts: which can be words, phrases, music or an image. What we do with those prompts is up to us: a short story, prose, a song, a poem, or treating them with ignore... We can use some or all of the prompts.
Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. I would really like it if as many people as possible joined into this fun meme, which includes cheering on the other participants. If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.
The prompts will be here this month (Margaret Adamson and her friends were to provide them, but she is travelling so we have swopped).
This week's prompts are two phrases and a very short story for you to expand (or not):
You can't judge a book by its cover;
And/or
The squeaky wheel gets the grease
And/or
For Sale.
Wedding Dress.
Never worn.
Have fun. We have a house guest arriving in a few hours who will be with us until Sunday afternoon. I will be largely away from the computer but hope to visit your blogs in the early morning before the rest of the household surfaces.
You can't judge a book by its cover. But I did. They did too.
ReplyDeleteWhen first I met his family they judged me, and I judged them. I was pretty certain that we were light years apart and that I was not good enough for their perfect boy. I was right. Ironically I was not enough because I was too much. I was too loud, too opinionated and too fat. They knew that my size fourteen body was a sign that I was lazy, and self indulgent.
I tried, really I did. I dieted and exercised and held my tongue. But those first impressions stuck harder than glue. Mine and theirs. He listened to them.
This squeaky wheel may or may not get any grease but it is happily rolling away.
For Sale.
Wedding Dress. Size 8.
Never worn.
Great job!
DeleteGood decision!! :)
DeleteSince you marry the whole family, you got the better part of the bargain leaving them behind!
DeleteSize fourteen is considered fat? Maybe if one is under five feet tall.
DeleteSo sad, that first impression judgement, but ultimately right and glad she got out.
I LOVE this and can imagine through your words the struggle of her life. So clever and meaningful, too. A great lesson that we should never try to please others. It just never works out.
DeleteTeresa
Oh I'm sadder for your woman more than my own. How hard she tried!
DeleteXO
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I'm glad she's happily rolling away into a future without horrid judgy-people. :-)
DeleteI like that she's leaving happily.
DeleteHave a lovely day.
Well done, and good for her!
DeleteWell written!!!!! Well done EC! Good for her! Big Hugs!
DeleteBel post.
ReplyDeleteBuon mercoledi.
Giancarlo: Many thanks.
DeleteIf that is a true story, I'm truly sorry but I'm very impressed by your skill in writing the story.
ReplyDeleteA great post.
Hugs, Julia
Julia: It isn't my truth, but I suspect many people can relate to it. And thank you.
DeleteThe father placed his strong hand on the slim shoulder of his youngest girl as they stood outside the thrift store.
ReplyDelete"You can't judge a book by its cover," her voice broke as she looked down at the white wedding dress inside the protective box. "That's what I said to you, rememeber, Papa?"
"Yes, my darling, and you were so right, but he fooled us both, didn't he?"
Although she nodded her head, the tears splashing against the cardboard box was the main answer.
"There'll be someone else for me one day, I know that. It'll take time, but I'll be fine. I'll be happy again one day. I know I will."
She raised her head to look at her father and his heart broke for his beautiful girl. He was never good at this stuff and wished that Suzie was still here. She'd know what to do.
"The squeaky wheel gets the grease, my love," he said and it sounded lame, but it won him a half of a strong smile.
"Papa, you really have to work on your methaphors," she said, but he felt her shoulders come up.
An hour later, they stood once again on the street outside the store and watched as the young volunteer moved some items around and the box was proudly placed as the new centerpiece.
They read the handwritten sign in silence:
For Sale.
Wedding Dress.
Never worn.
"Let's go, Papa. Let's go get some lunch and talk about the cruise in December. I'm really, really looking forward to spending time with you, Brendan and Pat now, that's for sure."
She smiled at him and he saw the strength in her smile and the fortitude she always had. It would be rough for his darling, but he'd be there, as much as she wanted him around, and he knew she was right. He nodded at the window. One day, maybe in awhile, everything would be okay.
Very good, Mark. :)
DeleteWell told!
DeleteMark Koopmans: This is sad - and lovely. Thank you for joining us again.
DeleteA really lovely story Mark.
DeleteXO
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Very nice, Mark!
DeleteWhat a sweet, sad story. At least she got to go on a family cruise.
DeleteHave a lovely day.
Well written and heartfelt.
Delete*THANKS* everyone. Means a lot to read your kind words.
DeleteJenn knew she couldn't afford a new wedding dress. The prices were simply out of her reach and she knew that the money spent on an item to be worn only once could be put to better use for things they would need.
ReplyDeleteBut her heart ached a little. She had always dreamed of "that kind" of wedding, looking every bit the bride, distinguished instantly by her dress.
When the email arrived she could hardly believe what she read - For sale - Wedding Dress - Never worn. At first she thought it was spam and almost deleted it but then she knew that her friend Lucy would not be forwarding junk mail. It was real. And the dress looked perfect, and about her size, but if it needed a few adjustments she could handle that.
Immediately, Jenn made arrangements to go to see it.
She felt a little uncomfortable knowing that some kind of tragedy had made this dress available and was reluctant to probe.
She didn't have to. The middle aged lady selling the dress poured out her heart. Her daughter had been engaged to be married, and had found out just days before the wedding that her husband-to-be had been caught cheating with her daughter's best friend, a young woman chosen as a bridesmaid for the wedding.
"He seemed like a really nice guy, perfect for my daughter," said the mother, "But I guess you can't judge a book by the cover."
She went on to say that her daughter had entered a convent and vowed never again to associate with a man.
"I feel like I have lost her twice," wailed the poor mother. "Take this dress away and let me never see it again."
Ouch! That was a drastic decision!!
DeleteYou used the prompts well, David. :)
One woman's tragedy is anothers dream, in this instance. Excellent story.
DeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Another sad and truly lovely story. I do hope that both women are happy in their very different lives.
DeleteWow to a nunnery indeed. Quite an ending.
DeleteXO
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Wow. Isn't it a bit extreme to become a nun because of that? But at least someone else gets to wear the dress.
DeleteHave a lovely day.
Tragic, but I'm glad her daughter is at least alive. Well done!
DeleteI will brag a bit because I can still get into my wedding dress! But I'm not revealing the size!
ReplyDeleteSeems like I've read this story about the bridesmaid and the cheating husband-to-be some place before. Sounds all too familiar.
But a good story can be told and retold. Good job!
nothoughtnoprayersnonothing: I have never married but would most definitely not fit into any clothing I was wearing when himself and I first got together. All praise to you.
DeleteAnd yes, some stories are universal.
Best wishes everyone!
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Thank you.
DeleteHere's my little tale...enjoy your time spent with your visitors, EC...and thanks for the prompts. :)
ReplyDelete"Looking at the For Sale items in the window of the local Op Shop something, in particular, grabbed my attention. It was a glossy photograph of a rather elaborate wedding dress.
“Never worn” was the notation at the base of the photograph.
I couldn’t help but wonder about the story behind the image. No doubt many tears had been shed over the making of the definitive decision.
Words often uttered by my mother during my childhood came to mind...”You can’t judge a book by its cover” she wisely told me over and over again.
Perhaps the unknown bride-to-be had had a wake-up call before it was too late. Silently, I wished the stranger, the once eager bride-to-be, happiness and contentment in her future.
Another of my late mother’s sayings jostled for position in my mind as I made my way home in my old car.
“The squeaky wheel gets the grease” she used to regularly inform me.
My car was well overdue for a grease and oil change. I laughed to myself, thinking the way I’d been limping around lately maybe I needed one, too!"
Heeheehee! Yep, i probably need some greasing as well. Fun story, just following her thoughts.
DeleteLee: Both of those phrases were heard in our house too. And I most certainly could do with a grease and oil change. At least. Love your tale.
DeleteHa ha good one, loved it!
DeleteXO
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Excellent! LOL.
DeleteExcellent prompts, brought up a memory of a true story i once read.
ReplyDeleteMy post will be right here when Wednesday finally arrives for us.
messymimi: I look forward to reading it, and hope to get to it soon(ish).
DeleteWell done.
DeleteHmmm. Hmmm. These require actual thought. Luckily I don't have much planned for tomorrow, so I'll spend the day on it.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I am really looking forward to your take on the prompts too.
Deletelaurie: Thank you. Some day I hope that you will share some of those stories in your head.
ReplyDeleteMy old boss, Ed, would tell us repeatedly that the squeaky wheel doesn't always get the grease. This was my first introduction to the expression, but in its negative form. I thought it was a funny thing to say, but he meant it. Danaya could be very persistent when trying to get her way. The more she complained/whined, the less likely it became she'd get what she wanted. Usually, it was a shift change or to be cut early from the roster. What I found interesting is that Ed never fell for her squeaks, however good looking she was when she made them. She was tall, light-skinned & light-eyed with tight, tidy dreads & an ample decolletage pushing out of her work shirt. I possessed none of that. What I did have, however, was an even voice and deep tone. No squeaks from me when asking for what I wanted. And, fortunately, I would often be rewarded.
ReplyDeleteBea: We were told that the squeaky wheel is the quickest to be replaced. I am glad that Ed was smarter than Danaya. It so often isn't the case - and I loved your use of the prompts.
DeleteGood for Ed for seeing through Danaya.
DeleteXO
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Well done!
DeleteI chose the words: wedding dress and never worn. But not once did I use them in my entry.
ReplyDeletehttps://nothoughtsnoprayersnonothing.blogspot.com/2019/10/words-for-wednesday_16.html
nothoughtsnoprayersnonothing: I loved your take - which was evocative and sad. The words were implicit throughout your poem.
Deletewell done. heartbreaking.
DeleteHe was handsome she'd give him that. But that was the end of the qualities one would brag about on him. Too many times he'd let her down and she'd sworn off men altogether. Just about the time she'd sworn off men, along came one she previously would not have considered. Thinking back she realized she'd been judging men by their exteriors and not enough by their interiors. This was the one she'd end up marrying and all these years later she again realized you can't judge a book by it's cover.
ReplyDeleteExcellent use of the words.
DeleteXO
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Linda Starr: Good that she left the handsome no-good behind.
Deletea wise woman!
DeleteOh how I've enjoyed reading these stories, Sue.
ReplyDeleteThey were just what I needed today, as I'm currently laid up with a nasty chest infection!
So, thank you all for cheering me up...so much!😊👍
Do hope all is Ok with you. Always in my thoughts!
Much love and hugs ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Ygraine: A nasty chest infection? I am so sorry to hear that. I hope you get better very, very quickly and am glad to hear that the talented story-tellers here helped.
DeleteHuge hugs.
Finally rejoining the choir after many missed weeks. Here's the link to my take on the prompts, I'm looking forward to the rest of the stories!
ReplyDeleteWisewebwoman
XO
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Wisewebwoman: Welcome back. It is lovely to have you joining us again, and I really liked the use you made of the prompts.
DeleteVery well written!
DeleteI hop this is not your story. It is well written all the same.
ReplyDeleteUglemor: Thank you.
DeleteMy take is here Melinda met the devil or so she thought
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day.
lissa: I have read your story and am intrigued. I do hope that you can continue it (with or without prompts).
Deletenicely done!
DeleteA little late, and two weeks worth of prompts because I missed last week while we were in Alabama, but mine has been posted here: the bride
ReplyDeleteCindi Summerlin: I have been and read your story. And want more. Soon (ish).
Deletedebating on continuing it. waiting to see next week's words.
DeleteYou can't judge a book by its cover; and there are so many who do; but eventually they do see so much more … well I hope most do!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: That is a phrase I have trouble with. Sometimes the 'cover' tells us more than enough, and sometimes further investigation is needed.
DeleteLove reading everyone's stories! Big Hugs EC!
ReplyDeleteMagic Love Crow: Thank you so much for going through my back posts - and for your never ending support. Hugs to you. Always.
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