About Me

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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Final Citron Presse

(Our hostess for this week's Fun Monday, Woodlandmama , has thrown out a rather unusual challenge. She wants us to write the first paragraph of an unusual, but not real, love story. I was tempted to write about a dog, but that would have been too easy. So, here's my first attempt at writing a tale of love. One as bittersweet as the citron presse shared by the lovers on their last morning together.)

Eduard left his apartment just off the Place Stanislas in Nancy, France. His route through the town was a familiar one. Four days a week Eduard met groups of tourists and students in the square and led them on explorations of Nancy's world famous Art Nouveau architecture. Today would be different though. He was meeting only one person, Madeleine. Eduard was pleased that the blue doors of Madame Perrin's flower shop were open. He carefully selected a small bunch of lavender for Madeleine. The fragrance would remind her of the warm afternoons they spent together on day trips through the French countryside. Madeleine sat on the steps of King Stanislas' statue in the square, waiting for Eduard. Without saying a word, she held out her hand. Eduard gave her the lavender and picked up her suitcase with his free hand. They walked silently to the cafe across from the train station. Eduard stopped at the ticket window to buy Madeleine's ticket back to Paris. She went on in the cafe. He found her at their special table. Two citron presses were already on the table. By his drink, Madeline had carefully placed four packets of sugar.Tears stung Eduard's eyes. On their first meeting many months ago, they has shared a citron presse. Madeline had given him her sugar that day. Today, however, Eduard knew that no amount of sugar would ease the bitterness of saying "Goodbye."

(Hint: if you want to get a closer look at Eduard's neighborhood, click on the images to embiggen. And, when you recover from this bittersweet tale, be sure to go over to Woodlandmama's and check out other Fun Monday love stories. I suspect we'll have many good reads.)

23 comments:

SwampAngel65 said...

Another great "story". We have some very talented blogger here doing the Fun Monday thing, I'll tell ya! I didn't sign up this week because I can't write worth a crap (pardon my French..heheh). I want to know more about your lovers and why they have to say good bye! Maybe you can keep telling the story sometime...?

KittyHawk said...

Nice story starter. I think there needs to be more sweetener though. ;-)

Woodlandmama said...

I am not entirely sure what a Citron Presse is, but it's a great start! Thanks for participating!

Faye said...

woodlandmama--a friend ordered a citron presse in the train station cafe pictured in this post. Think it's mostly lemon juice and a bit of water poured over crushed ice. All I remember is that she had to have every packet of sugar at the table. . .appropriate for parting lovers, right?

kittyhawk--voice of experience?

swampangel165--something tells me there's lots of fodder for a good story--love or otherwise--from your many expeditions.

karisma said...

Ohhhhhh Poor Eduard! And I am so glad to see that someone finally has written a "chapter" rather than a paragraph! LOL! Now it only just dawned on me that this was the case! (I will have to go back to Hulagirls and point that out! She left us hanging!)

I did not play this week been writing too many poems, no time for love stories but am thoroughly enjoying reading everyone elses! If you want to drop by my place anyway I did kinda write a story in a poem!

Hootin Anni said...

Whoa....

just whoa. Leaving us wanting more.

Mine's posted. Stop by if you can...it's all about Sarah and Jake!!

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

*sniff* Bittersweet, for sure!

Rayne said...

Great story. So sad. Does she come back?

Swampwitch said...

Makes me want to go to France and have a Citron Presse...I'll take extra sugar.

Sayre said...

Very nice, Faye! I wouldn't mind trying one of those citron presses - but I'd have to put Splenda in it.... Not nearly as romantic!

Anonymous said...

I want to live next door to Eduard. Thank you for the read. Very nice story.

Hula Girl at Heart said...

Oh, I want to know more about the goodbye! Excellent beginning. And I love the pictures!

Jo Beaufoix said...

That was great, and what a gorgeous place. :D

storyteller said...

What a wonderfully creative illustrated response to today’s challenge. Alas, creativity abandoned me this morning … so I’ve taken a different path today at Small Reflections … just because.
Hugs and blessings,

Alison said...

great story Faye and I love the pictures, just gorgeous!!

IamwhoIam said...

You sure your not really one of those romance writters?

storyteller said...

Hi -- I'm back again to let you know I left something for you at Small Reflections in my Tuesday post.
Hugs and blessings,

karisma said...

Hi Faye, Just replying to your comment on my blog about "boy joy"! The little boy in the picture is not mine, the picture belongs to Robin (Penieve) she puts a picture up every Wednesday and we write about it! As you noticed I tend to write a poem each time! (I could not help going with a long one this time)

In answer to your question, I actually have two little boys aged 9 and almost 11 (we homeschool) and three daughters aged 16, 18 and 20. Not so sure if Im really a "boy mom", not much choice really, though I found the girls so much easier! (Boys are utterly exhausting!)

Unknown said...

Dang, I thought the guy was always supposed to get the girl! Dang it. :( Poor Eduardo! I breathing lavender now though. :)

Patience-please said...

What fun! I've go to get my life back into control so I can play Fun Monday again...
Great story!

Patience

Lane Mathias said...

What a lovely atmospheric story. The lavender, the blue doors, the citron presse - I was right there with them. Stay Madeleine. Stay!

And the photos! I just want to take Madeleine's place:-)

Lane Mathias said...

Faye, just dropping by to say hope everything's ok with you and your sister. I suspect you're busy with helping your sister move. Hope so anyway.

Hope to see you back here soon:-)

Alison said...

Hi Faye, thanks for signing up for FM this week...Cassie is very excited to be "hosting" it!! She is 13 years old.
Alison