Welcome to my Tuesday Tales weekly post. Tuesday Tales is a group of authors writing in a variety of genres. Each week we write to a word prompt and once a month we spin a scene around a picture prompt. Picture prompt weeks are limited to 300 words, so reading that week is quick.
For the next few weeks, I’m stepping away from romance and working on something new, Ten O’Clock Scholar. In this story, Peggy, a mother of two young boys, decides to go back to college and get her Interior Design degree. The only problem with her plan is a reluctant husband. Peggy soon learns what it’s like trying to complete homework assignments, draw plans, and take required home tours while maintaining a home and caring for two little ones – with no support and a lot of opposition from hubby. Will she survive and achieve her dreams? Or will the struggles and arguments undermine her and make her give up? Stay tuned and read along as we find out.
This week we’re writing to the prompt ‘track.’
Enjoy this week’s story snippet, then return to Tuesday Tales for more delightful reading.
“I stopped by and picked up catalog at the college yesterday.” Peggy sipped her soda as her head swiveled to the play area behind her, doing a head count looking for her two boys.
“Girl…you did not tell me you were doing that.” Surprise registered on her best friends face. Samantha, or ‘Sami’ as most of her friends called her, was busy doing the same thing as Peggy, keeping a close eye on her two girls as they ate lunch and caught up with each other while the children played on the playground.
Peggy’s head swiveled as she chatted. Talk and look. Watch and count heads. One boy there. Where’s the other? There he is. Both accounted for. All is well in the world. “Yes I did. I told you a few weeks ago.”
“You did? I don’t remember. With everything I have going on right now, I guess I can’t keep track of what’s happening in your life.”
“We were here when I told you. Probably sitting on the same bench…” Peggy paused as she stood and yelled across the play yard to her oldest son. “Clifford Anthony! Do not help your brother up there. He’s too little.”
Sitting back down, she muttered, “Good thing these play yards are all plastic now and not metal.” She fidgeted with her hair, fixing a ponytail escaping from its stretchy band and groaned in frustration. “Kids. Those two wear me out. That’s why I need to go back to school. I need to do something for myself.”
Samantha raised her palm in the air. “High five, girlfriend. I hear you on that. So…what classes are you going to take? Any special program, or just general education classes?”
“Interior Design. I’m going to go back to working on the degree I started to get ten years ago.”
“Oh, you’re before-kids-schooling? Before all your time went to mothering?”
“My before-marriage-schooling. I stopped taking classes long before the kids arrived. Once I had a ‘Mrs.’ in front of my name, Derek didn’t like me going to school and being out in the evenings.”
Samantha’s hand stopped in midair, holding a French fry halfway to her mouth. “If your old man didn’t want you going to school then, how’s he taking the news now that you have two little ones?”
Peggy pursed her lips and stalled. “Hmmmm…well…he doesn’t exactly know yet.”
Trisha Faye 