Inspired By Writober Day 9 Image: From the Depths of Hell
Edith was sitting in her sun room , she sitting in a high back rattan chair near the window and was reading a ‘women’s magazine’ that was popular at the time-
inside of it’s pages were instructions on how to bake bread, the best way to scrub a floor and in this particular issue in an ad a woman is draped across her husband’s knees.
She is looking up at the artist with surprise painted on her face, her husband has a pipe clenched in his teeth and his about to spank her because his dinner was cold…but never fear the reader is reassured, if she purchases this oven, there is a drawer below the oven that will keep her husband’s dinner warm on those nights he is late.
Edith looked at the ad. She snickered because if her husband ever tried to spank her for serving him a cold supper, she’d gut him like a fish and serve him his innards warm and fresh, yes sir, and that meal would be very warm and beautifully plated.
Edith stretched her legs out in front of her and then drew them back, she crossed her ankles and sat up straight.
Not a hair was out of place, her dress lay against her, crisp and smooth. She had a dab of White Shoulders perfume behind each ear and a little dab on her the inside of each of her wrists.
A single strand of Pearls circled her neck.
She heard her husband making his way down the stairs from the top floor of their house. She heard him cross the hall to the sun room
” Afternoon Edith ” he didn’t as much offer her a greeting then he was announcing himself.
” Lionel.” she said without looking up from her magazine.
” I saw Fannie on my way in today. She told me Stan passed away. ”
Edith closed her magazine, she set it on her lap. ” Passed away?” she asked with just a touch of skepticism in her voice.
” Well. I don’t want to bring up any unpleasantness but Stan. He was- well he was murdered Edith. ”
” Oh dear. ”
” Somebody stabbed him- it was awful. Just horrible.”
” That is horrific Lionel. ”
” He just bought Fannie new kitchen appliances. He said it was to make her life easier. Plus he said she spends a lot of time in the kitchen so- ”
Edith looked right into Lionel’s face. Her smile was prim and proper. ” I suppose it’s good that at a time like this Fan’s home maker obligations will be easier to meet. ”
Lionel cleared his throat again. ” So. Um. You wouldn’t be interested in-” Lionel’s voice trailed off. His mouth went dry.
Edith picked her magazine back up and began to flick through the pages, ” Dinner is going to be late afraid. I was busy this afternoon.”
Lionel didn’t turn his back on his wife when he left her Sun Room- he backed out.
Turning your back on Edith when that icy tone in her voice frosted every word she said was never a good idea.
Patrick William Adam,
