Mrs. Anderson had the most beautiful lilies in Peaceful Terrace. They were her pride and joy. She gardened all the time. She said that flowers create a quiet tranquility that is necessary for all to live happily. She shared her secret of growing flowers with her neighbors. They all had beautiful gardens exuding tranquility. It was a very peaceful neighborhood.But Peaceful Terrace had a secret to their lovely gardens and tranquil environment. It would remain a mystery until Miss Peabody moved in.
Miss Peabody was very noisy and had a noisy little dog. She didn’t care about her garden. She was wild and had lots of boyfriends that came and went all hours of the night. They threw beer bottles and cigarettes in Mrs. Anderson’s garden. And Miss Peabody’s unruly little dog barked all the time and loved to chase Mrs. Anderson’s cat.
One day Miss Peabody's dog saw Mrs. Anderson’s cat in her lily garden. The dog tore threw the lilies breaking and shredding all in his wake. The little cat simply scampered up a tree. The dog yelped at the cat for an hour then suddenly it was quiet.
Miss Peabody was so upset when she couldn’t find her dog. She went over to Mrs. Anderson's garden to inquire. Mrs. Anderson smiled and shook her head. Then Mrs. Anderson asked Miss Peabody if she’d like some gardening tips, but Miss Peabody was in no mood for gardening.Miss Peabody went home and got very drunk. Then she walked up and down the street of Peaceful Terrace looking for her dog. She screamed his name and cried out in drunken blur. It went on for an hour then suddenly it was quiet.
When the annual floral contest arrived that spring, Mrs. Anderson’s beautiful lilies won first place-as they always did. All her neighbors were at the show each with their own lovely specimens. The judge asked Mrs. Anderson and her neighbors to share their secret fertilizer that must create the tranquil beauty of Peaceful Terrace gardens. Mrs. Anderson smiled and said there was no secret and all her neighbors agreed. It was simply blood meal fertilizer readily available at any garden store.
Then she smiled and said, “But we make our own on Peaceful Terrace.”
Vikki
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I know! How scary would it be to live on Peaceful Terrace? I’ve been gardening all week thus the stimuli for this quirky little story.
The original painting is called Lily and is part of my personal collection. Due to request - I’m making giclees (prints on canvas) that will be available for sale. A 12”x 24” giclee of Lily is $100 including S&H (U.S.A. only). You can contact me through The Red Chair Gallery for purchase.
My gallery of work-http://www.theredchairgallery.com/
The Artist Challenge- http://www.theartistchallenge.com/
21 comments:
couldn't resist the title.... and- eeeeuw! the story didn't disappoint. fun stuff!
Hi Marianne,
And Thanks. A lot of fun to write these little stories.
Vikki
VIKKI I swear that a friend of mine lives in Peaceful Terrace. She is an artist and wears hippie gear and puts her collection of found objects to be used in sculptures at the front of her house. She is not well liked in Peaceful Terrace.
I don't know about the blood meal,but it's certain that any person who prizes individuality in that pristine street doesn't make close friends.
Hi June,
That's so funny. Peaceful Terrace may just be an analogy of many suburban neighborhoods no matter where you live. A neighborhood just north of me (San Clemente) has a really exaggerated homeowners association. Homeowners actually have to get the associations approval before they paint or put a new roof on their home. Improvements have to meet the association standards or the owner is hit with illicit fines and are required to redo all.
When you drive by, all the houses are beautiful but they all look exactly the same.
Vikki
Now THAT was fun. Wonderful story and, again, a lovely, LOVELY piece of Art.
Things are finally starting to slow down a bit for me. I may even have time to start joining in some of the fun. Soon, I hope.
Hi Lou,
And thanks. I really enjoy writing these little spoofs.
Vikki
Hi Vikki,
Lily is beautiful. As usual, it looks as life like as your other paintings.
Your little story sure gave me a goose bump. Just thinking how innocent and nice you'd written Mrs. Anderson and then to find out in the end that she'd been making her own blood meal fertilizer, including the use of Miss Peabody's dog, to fertilize her lilies is just creepy.
I truly believe that you'd be a great Mystery/Thriller novelist.
Good night,
Tasha
Hi Tashbud,
Thank you. I’ve always loved stories about ‘the people next door’ who seem to be normal and then you find out they’re really homicidal maniacs storing bodies in their backyard. After the fact, TV news interviews a neighbor who always declares, “OMG-They seemed like such a nice family?”
That just cracks me up. My story is a take off from that sort of theme and also an eye opener in my own life. Someone I thought was just a nice intelligent man in truth was a convicted felon. I was suddenly the person going, “OMG-He seemed like such a nice man.”
Vikki
Hi Vikki,
That would be scary to personally know somebody like that. I'm so glad that the guy didn't bother you at all. Just the thought scares the "begizzers" out of me.
I remember watching the movie "Sleeping With the Killer" or "Sleeping With the Enemy". I can't remember the exact title, but Julia Roberts starred in it. I also saw parts of Ted Bundy's story and it just made me wonder how those people close to him truly felt after finding out that he was a serial killer amongst them.
And you know what? As scared as I am to read and learn about these types of stories, I'm actually drawn to them. Strange, huh?
If ever I reach the pinacle of my writing abilities, I'd like to write thriller/mystery novels next. This will really be the ultimate challenge for me. I'll just have to keep dreaming and learning.
Have a great day,
Tasha
Hi Tashbud,
I'll tell you how you feel: you not only feel frightened but you feel like a fool for not checking out the situation earlier. You also find - you look around at everyone going ‘So, what’s your problem, Buddy?’
I think we're drawn to what we fear, because we're trying to understand it. If we can understand -then we're no longer afraid. Its like- I have a major fear of sharks. I can't fathom any worse death. Yet I find myself watching all the shark movies... even though they terrify me. (Unfortunately my shark research has never succeeded in getting me past the fear.)
Vikki
oh my -i didn't want to read the last line- it pulled the piece together with a powerful punch that made my heart drop into my gut- but your beautiful lily made it easy to swallow
Hi Odd Chick,
I was just having fun. It's really just a new twist on the odd neighbor next door theme. LOL
Vikki
STOP PRESS VIKKI
The FINAL 6,000 word long episode of Pip's story 'Paternity' has just hit Journeys in Creative Writing. Your portrait of her has head billing.
Hugs
June
Hey June,
I'll check it out.
Vikki
Great job ...beautiful!!Loved the story. I'm rereading "The Witching Hour" by Anne Rice, after years of it sitting around. My memory is so bad it's like reading it for the first time. Your story reminds me of it, ha!
Hi Sandy,
Thanks. I do the same thing. I have an Anne Rice-’Violin’- sitting in my bookshelf- I’ve never even opened it!
I haven't read Witching Hour but maybe I should buy it and let it sit for few years and then read it.
When I was writing this little story, I was thinking about the actress who does the voice-over for Desperate Housewives. She’s be perfect for the voice of my little spoof.
Vikki
Just dropped by to say hello.
Have a great week,
Tasha
Absolutely I agree, that voice over for Desparate housewives. There is a commercial airing now, ...sounds like the same woman, and it is for....oh God I forgot...a woman who opens a store, ..shoot...I'm only catching glimpses, and nude loving people show up....okay...I'm trying to remember here...could it be for Ross or Marshalls or something..anyway...Shouldn't have stopped at the pub I did on the way home this evening, my memory is fading, ha!
You have GOT to read witching hour, for some reason I think it would appeal to you big time. I love that book.
Hi Sandy-
You're so funny. I enjoy writing these things so much and my readers seem to like them also.
Two of my favorites of these quirky little stories are 'Dependable Susy' and 'Thoughts in a Boudoir'
2/1 to 2/08/09.
And I will definitely get The Witching Hour. Anne Rice is always a great read.
Vikki
Thrillers are my favourite entertainment...... Loved this to pieces! Cheers....
Pauline
Hi Pauline,
I'm with you on that one! and I always get so tickled when I come up with a scheme for a story line.
Thanks for stopping in.
Vikki
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