spiffed

welcome readers & writers! a good wednesday to you, mateys. thanks to krowles1981 and chuck galle for your early morning posts on yesterday's photo - i was happy to see them in my inbox. 

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i took this photo on a trip through western texas in july. in case you can't read the small writing under "ROO'S" it says NAILS & TOES. here's my story about Roo's place. i'd love to read yours!
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Roo dabbed some powder on her nose. Still in the parking lot, she was waiting for Lonestar's Already There to end. With a click she shut the compact and tucked it into her purse, humming along. The energy she felt for work now was amazing. She'd been renting a chair in a big salon a few blocks from town square, but the place was the pits. Gossip. Catfights. No one hired to sweep up or wash towels. Most nights Roo was the last to leave. Even the owner would take off early, calling to Roo, "Thanks, hun!" Roo left exhausted, only to do it all again the next day. Until February. 
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On Valentine's Day, her husband Burt took her out to dinner and then, on the way home, pulled into this very lot. She'd made a joke about parking. He'd laughed and leaned in to kiss her, but only once before pulling her out of the car into chilly night air. When they were front and center to the building he'd hollered "Okay!"  His buddy Frank, who'd been waiting to turn on the porch light, flipped the switch. "Happy Valentine's Day, Ruby Marie," he'd whispered in her ear. She'd been in heaven ever since. Long hours and sore feet as an investment in your own place is a real pleasure. 
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She chuckled, wishing again that he hadn't painted it brown. New paint was already stashed in the back room, but she was gonna wait another month or two so as not to hurt his feelings.  No matter. It might be beige on the outside, but inside, from nine to six-thirty Tuesday through Saturday, the place was abuzz with color: Palest Pink, Fire Engine Red, St. Patty's Green, Jack-O-Lantern. Bright smiles, good music, and laughter. The song ended and Roo hopped out of the car. Time to start the day!
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Click on comments below to share your story, poem or creative non-fiction response to the photo.    

found

happy one week birthday to write away every day!  we've had over 300 visits in the first week, and the average visit length is six minutes plus, so folks are reading.  many thanks to readers and writers alike.

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special kudos to De Langer, Ab Fab and Anonymous for keeping the comments section alive the last couple of days.  great posts!!  Megahloo, where are you? would love to read more from you, as well as Stacy, Pauline, Alison, Sunny, Nolan, Christa, Ab Fab, and De Langer.  and, of course, the one or more persons posting as anonymous.  anyone new ready to share?

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here's my take on today's prompt, an earring i found at a gas station (right there on that red post):


Char fit the nozzle into her gas tank and squeezed the trigger to the low flow setting.  A gulp of Pepsi washed away the ashy taste of her last cigarette.  With only eight dollars, forty-five cents in her pocket, she watched the digital display closely.  But soon the baby began to wail inside the car.  She pulled him through the open window and perched him on her hip, lisping sweet words into his ear.  Resting his damp head on her shoulder, he twirled her hair around his tiny fingers.  His other hand found her earring and tugged.  "Ow, you little monkey," she said, trashing her Pepsi, then working her earring free and setting it on the post beside her.  Turning, she saw the digital display tearing through the ten dollar range.  She cursed; the baby started and his face crumpled.  Gas splashed her flip-flopped feet as she yanked on the nozzle.  It splattered on the concrete, soaking in for a moment before evaporating off in a wavy mist.  She stuffed the nozzle back into its cradle and the screaming baby back through his open window.  Struggling to buckle him as he struggled against her, pushing his belly out and kicking his legs, she debated. Try to explain and pay in part or just drive away?  Digging the bills and change from her pocket, she finally set it on the post, under the earring.  The rear view mirror showed no signs of pursuit as she pulled away.  And the baby settled, finding comfort in his mama's voice and the sing-song promise that they would come back soon, a day or two maybe, and pay the rest.


i'd love to read your spin on the photo - submit it by clicking on comments below.  250(ish) words or less.  thanks for a great first week!