Hurrah! It’s good to be back with Friday Fictioneers. I’ve missed you and your fine stories. I’m enjoying my new part-time job at the tea shop, although I still have a lot to learn. If any of you ever make it to the Chicago area, we can have a Fictioneers meeting there (on a day when I’m not working.) But enough with the compliments. On to the story…and then work.
(For anyone new to Friday Fictioneers, a photo provides the prompt for the week and each person responds by writing a 100 word story. To access all the stories written, please click on the blue link creature at the end of my story. Enjoy.)
Copyright Marie Gail Stratford
Wetting the Bed
They wouldn’t carry the bed upstairs. “Sorry. We’re only paid to deliver inside the door, ma’am” and off they’d gone, leaving everything in the lobby. I bribed some neighbors with cookies and coffee to help me to carry it to the fourth floor apartment: mattress, box springs, heavy, wooden, custom-made frame. I assembled it all myself and made it with my new sheets.
I sat, watching the rain-blurred colors of the changing street and car lights, wetting my new bed with tears shed for the the man I’d hoped to curl up with all the rainy days of my life.
This, that and the other thing 
Great title and sad story.
Thanks! Hopefully she’ll be able to move on.
janet
Oh man. And I thought mine was sad. Nicely done.
Thanks and thanks for the visit. I’m looking forward to reading the other stories.
janet
A sad story, brimming with nostalgia for happier times. Nicely done Janet, and so glad to see you back here. You’ve been missed.
Thanks all around, Sandra. Time for my heroine to move on. Hopefully the next man she finds will be the right one for her.
janet
Excellent interpretation. I like it!
I’m glad. Thanks for letting me know and for visiting. I appreciate it.
janet
Welcome back Janet. Well, that wasn’t the story I was expecting from the title 😉 But the one you’ve written is lovely, very sad and sweet.
Rather than misdirection at the end, I did it in the title. But I’m happy you enjoyed it and it’s nice to be back. Now to get started on reading! 🙂
I’m third of three holds for your book at our library…whenever they get their copy/copies.
janet
For me “wetting my new bed” sounds a bit too close to a think you wouldn’t really want to do. How about wetting the pillow instead of the bed? Better? Worse?
ps Welcome back…Wednesday’s should never be wordless 🙂
Just seen the title. Hmmm, perhaps my comment would then make the title not work. Ah well. I’ll shut up.
Paul, I went for the twist from the title’s expectations to what “wetting the bed” really meant. Hopefully it wasn’t too contrived. Either way, thanks for the read and the welcome back.
jan et
“shed for the the man” – might want to get rid of one “the” in the fourth line.
A sad tale. May she find solace in her new neighbors.
Thanks for catching that, Alicia. I got rid of it it. 🙂
janet
You’re welcome! Your reply made me smile.
So nice to have you back Janet.. I like the sadness here the first part filled with a promise poised against the second part of the strong reality makes this real effective.
Thanks a lot, Bjorn. From this sadness, she can grow stronger and move into the next part of her life.
janet
Did not expect that… thanks for the twist. I feel for her. Well done.
If Friday Fictioneers had an official dance, it would be the twist and I love dancing. 🙂 Thanks very much, Kimberly.
janet
No matter how brave we are, there are moments when we break down and cry. But, then we wipe our tears away and look for a friendly smile. Very poignant story. Welcome back and many happy customers on your new job.
Everyone has these times. All you can do is move on as quickly and easily as possible, learn from it, and be ready for the next step. As for the job, so far, so good.
janet
The title threw me, too. With “Wetting the Bed” on my mind, I envisioned the delivery of a hospital type bed for someone to wait for their body to shut down- starting with the parts that govern elimination of waste. Clearly, that wasn’t where you were going. 🙂
As for the story itself, a very sad tale. I hope she finds a new love.
No, I did my misdirect via the title this week. I also hope she finds a new love as most of us do after being disappointed one or more times. It’s all part of life. Also better to have it happen now than after they were married.
janet
Dear Janet,
It’s good to have you back on the playground. The watery colors of this photo work well for your theme, and I love the title paired with this story. There is more than one way to wet a bed.
All my best,
Marie Gail
Marie, it’s always nice to be back and I’m pleased you liked the story. I just had to go with something not too obvious this week and I’m glad it worked.
janet
oh my, i didn’t expect that sad ending. i hope she moves on and not waste the new bed for a loser.
I agree, Plaridel.
janet
Dear Janet,
Love the title and the way your heroine had to bribe her neighbors with coffee and cookies to help her get the bed upstairs. (What? No tea?) Poignant ending.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS. Welcome back.
Thanks! Much appreciated.
Perhaps the neighbors would have helped without bribes (and yes, why didn’t I go with tea??) or perhaps it was more of a thank-you. But either way, at least the bed got up there!
janet
Dear Janet, Such a realistic story with offbeat details that make this a gem! Poor girl wanted the bed with her love to sleep in and now it appears it won’t be. I hope she finds someone so much better than the first one. Good story! Nan 🙂
Thanks, Nan. I actually had a futon delivered this way many years ago and had to have help carrying it and the riser up to my third floor apartment. That started the story but the rest is pure fiction.
janet
“Awwwww!” – that’s exactly what came out after reading the story ! It went very close to my heart.. and welcome back to the party… best of luck with your work !
How sad! I love how you twist the meaning of the title.
A sad interpretation of the prompt. Only comment I would say is that the shift to lost love in the last line is very sudden and broke the flow of the story a little. Feels like you needed maybe an extra paragraph just before to set it up.
Thanks. I appreciate the feedback.
janet
Sad take on the prompt. Nicely done!
What a sad ending 😦 Even worse for her if she/they ordered the bed before they broke up. Hopefully she’ll find someone new to share it with 🙂
Scared me, Janet. For a minute there I was concerned it might be a bladder control issue. Men are a dime a dozen, but Depends run about $15 a package.
😉 Good one, Russ. Or maybe they’re cheaper by the dozen but more trouble. Or perhaps a woman can’t depends on them.
janet
I think the latter is probably true. 🙂
Gayer is funny.
I was thinking that not every cushion provides comfort
But every comfort is a cushion.
Randy
🙂
janet
Hopefully she won’t have to wet the bed for much longer. Sounds like there is a big city out there.
Excellent but so sad. 😥
Thanks very much. ☺️
janet
talk about a title that will hook you into reading. And a good read it was1
DJ
Danny, I’m glad both the title and the story worked.
janet
Welcome back, Janet. I hope things are going well at the tea shop! Great title and moving story. I hope she can move on and share that new space with someone more deserving of her love.
Amy, the job’s going wonderfully and I’m really enjoying it. Having great people with whom to work is a big part. As for the story, I’m glad you enjoyed the title and I, too, hope she finds someone better.
janet
Glad to hear you like your co-workers. It’s so nice to work with people you want to see everyday.
Janet, this was so sad. Love your misdirection with the title – I was intrigued, as I knew we wouldn’t be going where the title suggested Good to have you back, you have been missed.
🙂 Aren’t you glad it didn’t go where the title implied?? It’s good to be back.
janet
Shattered lights on rainy glass and a shattered life. Nice connection to the photo and the tears.
Thanks very much, Tracy. I appreciate your visit and comments. You nailed the connections I was trying to convey.
janet
I’ve missed you terribly! Glad to have you back with us. A sad story though an excellent take on the prompt.
That’s so sad.
Re pouring the tea, in the UK we have class war around milk first vs tea first. Hope you don’y have similar. And whatever you do, don’t stock Eccles cakes!
A very surprising interpretation of the picture, and a sad story. I like the delivery details and dialogue, and the twist at the end. Well told.
Thanks very much, Margaret, and thanks for stopping by.
janet
What a well-written bittersweet story. Tell her to call me, maybe we can work something out! And good luck with your part-time job.
Hey, Perry, thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you liked the story and I’ll be sure to mention your name when I talk to her next. The job’s going really well so far and thanks for the good wishes. Stay warm, my friend.
janet
Good story, and welcome back,Janet. I liked the way the action progressed until we found why she wanted the big bed. Good twist at the end. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
Suzanne, thanks for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the story. Can’t believe it’s already time for another story tomorrow. 🙂
janet