This is my 300 word entry for the Blogger’s Bash, scheduled for Saturday May 19, at the George IV in Chiswick, London. I can’t attend this year but wish I could!
P.S. Please excuse the profanity, but it was necessary.
Royalty
Peggy smoothed down her men’s trench coat and wrapped a grungy scarf around her neck. It’s really cold today. Where do I stay tonight? The shelter over on Peabody? Someone there had stolen things from her shopping cart. Mulling over her options, she shoved her cart down sidewalk. In the distance, bells tolled for a wedding.
People gave Peggy a wide berth as they passed and cast her pitying looks. Either that or they deliberately bumped into the cardboard hanging out of her cart. At the next corner, there was a driveway where she parked her cart. Her friend Sid was already there, sitting on a camp stool, hat on the ground, looking sad in the hopes of getting coins to fill it.
“Peg, my girl! What’s happening?”
“Nothing, just cold.”
Sid pulled his ragged parka closer around him and looked up at her with a smudged face. “Damn right.”
“Sid, when was the last time you washed? You look like a chimney sweep.”
“Hell, no one even knows what a sweep is, any more. I’ll get a shower and clean socks at the shelter tonight. Clean sheets, too. You goin’ there?”
“Nope. They steal from you.”
Sid picked at something between his front teeth. “Suit yourself, but you could freeze.”
“I’ve got my cardboard house…”
“Hell, that won’t give you any warmth. Here.” He bent over to the box next to his stool and pulled out a moth-eaten, dirty red wool blanket. “Take this, but I want it back tomorrow.”
Peggy knotted the short end of the blanket around her neck, giving Sid a toothless smile. Head high in the air, she walked to her cart, giving the Queen’s wave to imaginary people and dragging the blanket behind her.
“Who do you think you are, Peg? Fookin’ royalty?”
Vivid and enjoyable to read – it’s like a camera shot of kindness on the street.
Thanks, Bruce. I sort of did an homage to the royal wedding upcoming – had to use the swear word to make sure people knew this was England!
LOL! Glad to hear they don’t swear in NC – gentle rednecks and all!! I could tell it was set in England all the way through – the narrative voice simply sounded that way – so well done.
Thanks, Bruce. Oh we do swear here – and you should hear my son (Army)!
😀
Noelle,
It’s good, it holds the reader, and it’s poignant.
GOOD LUCK with it.
Hope you’re feeling a little better.
Big hugs
john
Thank you so much for your kind words, John. And yes, I am left only with a cough from my bout with the flu. My fault I was so sick, because I waited to see an MD. Don’t you do the same!
im doing ok for now, just
Hang in there. Spring is coming, along with sunshine and fresh air – I’m looking forward to getting rid of all the winter germs. The middle schoolers I tutor are little nests of them and I know where I caught the flu! Back with them today…
Any time you want to come over to the Bloggers’ Bash, my house is yours 🙂
Aw, thanks so much. This year we are heading to Iceland. If we can afford it, we will go to Korea with my daughter and her husband early next year and then later Ireland -I am hoping to tie the trip in with the Bash next year!
Iceland, eh. Weather permitting I’ll get there on Thursday 🙂
Really! That’s awesome! And serendipitous! You’ll have to tell me all about it. Who will take care of the boys?
One of my gp friends comes in daily. She used to run the rescue, from when I got Victor to after I got Dylan and Dougall 🙂
This is a poignant story, even those who have fallen out of society have their pride. I wish you well in the competition. I am sorry to here you will not be joining us this year.
I have entered my entry a while back a poem in a similar vain as yours . Great minds.
I hope you are recovering from the flu and your hubby is doing well. 💜💜
We are officially recovered, Willow, and your poetry is so special, I’m sure it will be a very strong contender if not a winner!
I am so glad that you are both better you have a tough time both of you. Thanks for the kind words but there will be lots of amazing entries yours among them. 🌹
Interesting behind the scenes story.
Did you get the inference to the royal wedding?
Well done.
Thanks, Bette!
Great story, Noelle. A great depiction of a character and a situation. And love the spirit!
Thank you, Olga. Much appreciated! Peg was a fun character to create!
Sid is a king for sharing his blanket! That’s royalty!
Absolutely – a friend for one in need!
Fun read and yet poignant. I can imagine her walking away mimicking royalty😀 but she’s living a tough life…
Nice to imagine, though!
I’m so glad you’ve entered the competition!
Thanks, Suzie,. I came in second last year! Won’t see you there this year but maybe next year?
Well done, Noelle. I love that you managed to add a bit of whimsy to the end of a serious subject. Hugs.
Thanks, Teagan. Your comments mean a lot!
A lovely story, Noelle. I loved the sense of humour displayed at the end.
Thanks, Robbie. Three hundred words was a challenge.