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entry for the 5-day prompt challenge |
| Prompt day 1 ▼ Walter felt the irony that his name rhymed with swelter, it seemed it was his destiny to swelter in the pavement enhanced heat of the city. He sat in front of a fan with a wet tank top on, and he was still sweating. Not that it would help cool things off to open the window, but even if it did he didn't want to because of the stench. The sidewalk could fry an egg. Frankly, the city smelled like someone had cracked open a dozen rotten ones among many other foul things. The garbage lined the streets but the mayor continued to insist the garbage worker's strike would be over tomorrow, or maybe the next tomorrow. The heat really didn't help the smell. wordcount ▼ Prompt Day 2 ▼ Summer nights were so different when Walter was a child, back when he had lived on his grandfather's farm. The summers hadn't been so hot back then. Or maybe he just took the heat better as a child. He spent the nights sleeping on the screened-in porch on a camp cot with the fireflies dancing like fireworks as the dew settled on the grass. Everything had smelled so green and alive. Walter chuckled as he remembered climbing the apple trees in his grandfather's orchard. He loved them when they were a little green. The tart juices would run down his chin. Walter opened his mouth and closed it he could almost taste it until the reality broke through and his tastebuds were attacked by the smell of rancid garbage. wordcount ▼ Prompt Day 3 ▼ He tried to turn his mind back on the apples, the tart juicy sweet-smelling apples. Oh, and what grandma could do with the ripe ones. She would spend half the afternoon peeling and slicing them before putting them in a big pot with sugar and cinnamon and other things. She would cook them down into a lovely gooey chunky pie filling and can jar after jar of it. It was delicious right out of the pot but when she opened up a jar and put it into a pie shell it was magic. Walter licked his lips at the thought of that pie. Then gagged at the smell of the apartment. He had to do something about this situation! wordcount ▼ Prompt Day 4 ▼ Walter kicked out of his slippers and robe. He showered for the first time in a week. Then he dressed in a casual shirt and pants. He slipped his feet into some Birkenstocks and then headed out of the apartment. He locked the door behind himself and was relieved to find that the smell of garbage was much weaker in the hallway. He pulled his mask over his face. It was lined with a dryer sheet to counter the smell. Outside he walked purposefully down the street towards his favorite coffee spot. The garbage was picked up from behind the buildings in the business district. So the sidewalk in front was a little less aromatic than in other parts of the city. Walter pulled open the door to the coffee shop and was relieved by the blast of air conditioning and the freshness of air passed through heavy-duty filters. It didn't smell like a cool spring day but it didn't smell like a summer garbage strike either. He sat at the counter and winked at the barista. Within moments she placed his usual coffee in front of him. "Nelly, I think I would like to try some of that apple pie too." wordcount ▼ Prompt Day 5 ▼ Walter thought about finishing his pie and coffee and having to go back out into the smell. "Wait what time do you get off?" Walter asked. "In about fifteen minutes." "Pack a picnic lunch for the two of us. We can retreat deep into the park and pretend the world really does smell that sweet." Nelly raised an eyebrow. "A date?" Walter paused. He had just thought of it as a friendly picnic, but Nelly was an attractive woman. "Yes, a date!" Nelly blushed. "I suppose...if you can stand me all smelly from work." "You smell like coffee and apple pie, there are worse smells." Nelly dipped her head and looked away coyly. "I had no idea!" Walter smiled, "I come in here at least once a week and you know what I want before I can sit down. I thought maybe you..." Nelly smiled back, "Well, since it appears to be mutual. What kind of sandwich would you like?" wordcount ▼ |
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