Steady Rhythm

Challenge

"You must be joking", I thought. For effect I said it out loud as well. Fred turned to look at me, inscrutable expression on his face. "I thought this would be your kind of thing", he retorted.

"No!", I exclaimed. Did he not know me at all? Best elaborate, I decided, so this sort of thing never happened again. "I like a challenge, Fred. But this is too much. ...For anyone, surely."

Fred turned the garishly pink garment over in his hands, scrutinizing it as though that might change its very ...well, fabric. "A challenge? But it's just a dress", he said, clearly perplexed.

I sighed. Demonstratively.

"How am I supposed to pull off that color? It clashes horribly with my skin tone."

"Skin...tone?"

"Yes, Fred, skin has tones, and undertones, and ...Ugh, nevermind. I should have just bought something online". Catching the flicker of hurt on his face, I hastily added "Thank you, though. It would look nice on someone else."

"But you said.."

"Nevermind what I said. Just...just...Oh okay, next time we'll find time to go dress shopping together. I'll tell you all about cools and warms and neutrals."

"Uhm, okay?"

"It'll be great. I love to spend time with my favourite uncle, you know that."

Taking a moment to assure myself the wounded look was completely gone, I carefully added "But this one...You kept the receipt, right?"





Notes ▼

For "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 

Prompt:You must be joking (include the line)

Words: 230 (max was 300)