#RomanticFridayWriters - Challenge No 46 - Birthday Madness. 'Satin Sheets to Cry On.'

It's RomanticFridayWriter's time! This challenge is to write 400 words of prose or poetry to the prompt, Birthday Madness. All my attempts were rubbish, so in desperation I've reworked a much earlier story so it fits the theme somewhat. I hope you enjoy my story based on the delightfully dreamy Country and Western song, 'Satin Sheets', sung by Jeanne Pruett and others.

'Satin sheets to lie on

Satin pillows to cry on

Still I’m not happy can’t you see?'

‘Angelique! Stop with that maudlin rubbish!’

‘What’s wrong with country music, Antoine?’

‘It shows your roots.’

‘That’s mean.’

‘Enough of your teary eyes and dreamy looks. It’s party time.’

‘I’m not going!’

‘It’s my birthday. I brought you something to wear.’

‘Again?’

‘We can’t have anyone outshining you my dear, especially Lady Rushmore.’

‘And I care?’

‘It’s time you did. It’s what keeps you in trinkets.’

‘I don’t care for those things.’

‘But you do. You’re the perfect model for the fine things in life, Glamourpuss.’

‘Is that why you married me?’

‘And to save you from that cowboy you still pine for. Ha! He could never afford to shower you with expensive gifts. You’d still be wearing torn jeans.’

‘I remember you walking into that bar and heading straight for me. You couldn’t keep your hands off my torn jeans.’

‘And Randolph didn’t like it, did he? But he was too busy wailing all that country music to all those women falling at his feet. You stood out from the crowd.’

‘So did you in your business suit and sawdust on your fancy shoes.’

Antoine reached into the pocket of his tux and drew out an exquisite box scrolled in gold script - Cartier.

“For you.’

‘But it’s your birthday. This makes my present look pathetic.’

The box sprung open to reveal a necklace of sparkling diamonds.  She looked at her husband and was stunned to see the adoration in his eyes. Does he actually love me? Why can’t he convey his love without expensive gifts?

‘Don’t cry darling girl.’

‘Why? I’ll offend Lady Rushmore?’

He kissed her, lifted her blonde curls and gently hung the diamonds around her neck.

‘No, my love, you’ll terrify me that you’re going to leave me for that guitar-strumming poseur. The only gift I crave is your promise to stay with me forever.’

‘Lead me to your Cadillac, darling. I’m not going anywhere.’

‘I know how that song ends.’

‘How?’

‘You want me to set you free.’

  

‘Walk away from all this?’ She swished her red satin gown, shrugged into her white fur stole, then clattered across the room in her black stilettos. ‘Why would I want to be set free? To starve with Randolph?’

But Antoine heard the catch in her voice.

She was leaving him…though he’d given her everything that money could buy.

©DeniseCovey2012

WORD COUNT: 409

FCA

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

#Romantic Friday Writers - Third Challenge - Glitz and Glamour theme - my story, Satin Sheets.

Well blogger is playing up again so I know even if you are reading this you may not be able to comment. Let's hope blogger gets its act together soon! I've been reading your posts but only manage to get a couple of comments in a day before it crashes on me...I am posting my story while I can...

 Here is my third story for the Romantic Friday Writers challenge. Thank you to all the participants and all the readers. The standard has been high and we are really letting our imaginations run riot with the themes. So far we've had many 'Dire Moments', many sad stories for 'Lost', and this week, maybe there'll be some over-the-top glitz and glamour, or will these flash fiction writers tease us? I hope you will read and critique my story then read many others. Find them @ #RomanticFridayWriters on twitter, in your blogger roll or by clicking on the badge in my sidebare for the linky of participants...

SATIN SHEETS

Satin sheets to lie on

Satin pillows to cry on

Still I’m not happy can’t you see?


‘Turn that maudlin rubbish off!’

‘What’s wrong with country music?’

‘It shows too much about you, where you come from.’

‘That’s the meanest thing you’ve said to me for, like, ten whole minutes.’

‘Only ten? Well get over it. Enough of your teary eyes and dreamy looks. We’ve got a party to get to.’

‘I’m not going!’

‘You are. I brought you something to wear.’

‘Again?’

‘Well we can’t have anyone outshining you my dear. Lady Peekles will be there.’

‘And I care?’

‘Well, time you started to care about what I do. What keeps you in satin and diamonds.’

‘I don’t care about those things.’

‘Oh but you do. They suit you. You’re the perfect model for the fine things of life, little Glamourpuss.’

‘Is that the only reason you married me Antoine?’

‘And to save you from that long-haired, guitar-strumming cowboy.’

‘Randolph?’

‘You’re still pining for him. Ha! As if he could ever afford to deck you out in the best. You’d still be wearing your torn jeans and scuffed boots.’

‘What was wrong with them? I can remember you walking into the bar and heading straight for me, torn jeans and all. You couldn’t keep your hands off my torn jeans.’

‘And Rudolph didn’t like it, did he? Not one bit. But what could he do? He was too busy strutting his stuff. All that wailing country music. All those women falling at his feet. You stood out from the crowd.’

‘So did you with your business suit and polished shoes.’

‘You forgot the bow tie.’

Antoine reached into the pocket of his tux and drew out an exquisite red satin box tied with a white ribbon scrolled in gold with the Cartier logo.

‘Open it.’

Angelique reached for the box. It sprung open to reveal a gorgeous necklace of sparkling diamonds. The whole room took on a fairytale cast. She looked at Antoine and was stunned to see the adoration in his eyes. Did he really love her then? Was all his bluster just because he couldn’t convey his love except by offering her glitz and glamour?

A tear rolled down her cheek.

‘Don’t cry darling,’ he said tenderly.

‘Why? Or I’ll spoil my perfect make up? Offend Lady Peekles?’

He stepped close, lifted her blonde curls and gently hung the diamonds around her neck.

‘No, my love, you’ll terrify me that you’re really going to leave me, go back to that guitar-strumming poseur.’

‘Lead me to your Cadillac, Antoine. I’m not going anywhere but to this party.’

‘But I know how that song ends. You play it often enough.’

‘How’s it end?’

‘You want me to set you free.’

‘And walk away from all this?’ She swished her red satin skirt, reached for her white fake-fur stole and clattered across the room in her black satin party shoes. ‘Why would I want to be set free? To go and starve with Randolph?’

But Antoine had heard the catch in her voice.

She was leaving him…though he’d given her everything that money could buy.

I hope you liked my story. When I thought of the theme, 'Satin Sheets' by Dolly Parton got into my brain and wouldn't leave until I'd written a story. Those of you who know the song will get a few more of the innuendoes. I appreciate you reading and commenting.

And congratulations to J.L. Campbell who was honoured as our first Featured Writer for her 'Dire Moment' entry, and to Roland D Yeomans, who is the Featured Writer for the second theme, 'Lost.' You will see this badge on their blogs: