Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Make Hay While the Sun Shines" (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (03/06/08)
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TITLE: You Never Know | Previous Challenge Entry
By william price
03/11/08 -
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It was a strange sight for Bradford Busby. He scratched his head as he got out of his green Impala.
One, two, three…eight blankets? What’s she up to now?
The Busbys lived in a moderately sized ranch style brick home in the suburbs. The newlywed husband noticed the back door was open. The aroma of freshly baked bread reeled him in to the kitchen. Bradford’s heavenly smile quickly disappeared.
“What are you doing, Darla?”
“Hello, Honey. Home already?”
Mrs. Bradford’s yellow cotton dress was covered in flour. One long powdered lock of her blonde hair escaped from her ponytail and tickled her mouth. She blew it out of the way.
“Well, right now I’m baking bread.”
Darla tried to blow her hair away from her mouth again and smile.
“I can see that,” Bradford remarked as he mentally counted a dozen loaves on the kitchen table. “It looks like enough bread for the entire neighborhood.”
“Well, you never know.”
Bradford blinked his eyes twice and shook his head. He could remember the initial time he heard her say that on their first date. A month later they were married. He hated to ask, but.
“Never know what?”
Darla was forced to blow the hair out of her mouth again.
“There might be a gas shortage and the price of bread will soar so high we can’t buy any because we have to use all of our money on gasoline.”
Darla took a deep breath, put her hands on her hips and smiled.
“And?” Bradford asked.
“And, we’ll have bread.”
“Did I miss a news bulletin today on the sudden rise in gas prices?”
“Oh yes, Bradford. It’s supposed to be to four, maybe five, dollars a gallon by August.”
Bradford tried to process that information.
“So, you made the bread today, because?”
“BECAUSE, Bradford.”
Darla was getting a little upset.
“I’m not the only one watching the news. Soon, everyone will realize the same thing, then, wham, nothing left in the stores to make bread with. It’s called, thinking ahead, BEING proactive, using my noggin.”
“Okay, I get the picture. So, how are we going to keep all this bread fresh for that dreaded shopping rush on yeast and flour.”
“Freeze it, Bradford. Duh? You’d think you were the blonde.”
The husband knew the size of the freezer above his small refrigerator, but he looked at it anyway.
“We have another freezer?”
“I just bought one from the Wife’s Home Spending Network. It’ll be here in the morning. When I saw your credit card on the desk I took it as a sign to go ahead and make the purchase.”
Bradford had to take a seat at the kitchen table.
“You used that credit card, eh? And they took it?”
“Yes. Was there a problem?”
Darla craned her neck to look out the kitchen window into the back yard.
“No, not yet,” Bradford mumbled.
“What was that, Honey?”
“Nothing. Hey, what about those blankets in the back? Don’t we have a drier?”
“Yes, Bradford, and it is full of sheets and pillow cases.”
“Nothing to do with the price of gas I hope?”
“No, smarty-pants, but, it might rain tomorrow.”
Bradford had to blink his eyes multiple times again.
“But?”
“But, what?” Darla demanded.
The husband sighed.
“Even if it does rain, why would we need eight sets of everything?”
“You never know…”
Darla was cut off when the telephone rang. Bradford answered it.
“No, I’m not watching the news. $5.00 a gallon. No kidding? You mean it just rose a $1.50 in two hours. Yes, that is incredible. Stores are preparing for what? Are you and Darla playing a trick on me? Okay, don’t get offended. Now what? Why do you want to spend the night? Your wife’s brother’s family too? Yes, I guess if the storm is going to be that big. We do live in a vale and have a basement. What to bring? Well, we have plenty of bread and blankets. Okay see you then. Bye.”
“Who was that, Honey?”
“Just my brother, we’re going to have company. I better get those sheets in. And, the next time you and God are praying, let me listen, okay?”
“One more thing, Bradford.”
“Yes, Darla.”
“I ordered a baby crib today too.”
Bradford’s eyes didn’t blink.
“Why?”
“You never know.”
Darla winked as she put another loaf of bread in the oven.
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This is one of your most clever pieces. Loved, Loved, Loved it!
Your ending was perfect. Actually, this whole story is perfect.
This one is going on my favorites list. Thank you so much for sharing your gift of words and wit Sir William. :)
Congratulations, Loren