The Colored Bottles

This is a re-re-post, originally written in 2011.  It was a photo prompt given by ??  You will find that answer under the photo!

1st Writes Photo

Over the years, Helen had dusted the shelves for her Great-Aunt Elspeth.  At first Helen could reach only the bottom shelf, and Aunt Elspeth had praised her. 

“Oh, what a magnificent job you have done!  Someday,” Aunt Elspeth had pointed to the very top shelf, “you will reach that shelf!  I will let you choose the bottle you love the most!”

Each time Helen polished and cleaned the shelves, she gazed at the bottles so far out of her reach.  ‘Someday…’  One time Helen would favor the green bottle, but the next time she dusted, she desired the pink bottle.

Years stacked up in numbers as Helen grew and she could dust the next shelf, and then the next.  Which one would she choose?  The blue?  The violet?  So lovely, so hard to decide.

When Helen could just almost reach the shelf, Aunt Elspeth dropped dead right in front of her. 

 By this time, Helen was now grown as much as she ever would; she was a mother with a small child.  As she closed the eyes of her now-deceased aunt, Helen smiled gently.

Then Helen found a sturdy stool and a box.  She stepped onto the stool and stood level with the shelf.  Gazing fondly at each bottle, Helen sighed.  

Reaching tentatively, Helen spoke, “One?  Hell, I’m going to take them all!” 

Wednesday Words

Today is Monday, November 05, 2012, the day before the Presidential Election. 

This has been like a long pregnancy when the mother-to-be is two weeks overdue.  A friend of mine experienced that with her first child.  She became so distressed and overwrought that she decided she would be pregnant forever.  Her husband came home to discover her dismantling the crib and packing away baby clothes. 

Oh, she had the baby a day or so later.  She was an extremely intelligent woman with a PhD in English.  But, there comes a time…

These are my Wednesday Words for my November 7, 2012 post,  words that have been batted around until they are shredded and weary:

Slump       Triumphant      March      Defeat    Direction

                                                Dust

The last word “Dust” has been used before, I realize.  But I am surrounded by dust in my dusty house.  Since the dust doesn’t leave despite my efforts, it will be included in another post.