“She’s talking about her six dead husbands again,” the front desk nurse said as I signed my name into the visitor’s log of Cedar Retirement Home.
At seventy years old and in the best shape of her life, Grandma could easily pass for fifty-five. However, with my busy Flight Attendant’s schedule, she was often lonely. So I checked her into an assistant living facility where she would always have an audience.
While the other residents were much too far gone to understand, she enjoyed their company—the wanderers in colorful fuzzy socks whose minds permanently resided in the early 1900s, the stroke victims whose numb left sides left them with the ability to utter only a few words (they were the best listeners).
Grandma sat in an armchair nearest the entrance door. Four other seniors huddled around her.
“…the hood slammed right on his head!” Grandma was saying.
“Husband number three.” I turned to the nurse. “He died fixing the engine on his truck.”
“Your grandma sure has the worst luck!” she said.
word count: 173
—Nortina
Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is a weekly challenge where you write a story in 75-175 using the provided photo prompt as inspiration. Click the froggy icon to read other stories inspired by the photo and add your own.
She’s been one busy married lady!
LikeLiked by 1 person
She sure has! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so impressed you got a story within a story from this one! This is such a good depiction of a nursing home–always one or two spry folks in there. Great piece!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
An audience at last!
I like the way you’ve carefully developed this story in such few words.
Ellespeth
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike
So we know how husband #3 died, what about the other 5?? This was super creative, by the way!
P.S. in your last sentence, you used the wrong “you’re”, it should be “your”. Just a slight typo 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good question. I wonder if the magnitude of their deaths increases per husband… 😉
Thanks for catching the typo! Pesky SOBs, I swear. I promise I know the difference between “you’re” and “your” 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Future writing inspiration, perhaps? I’d love to see how creative the other deaths could get xD And don’t worry, I’m sure someone who writes this well knows the difference 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely future writing inspiration! I could have fun with that! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems like Grandma’s got a few ‘dead husband stories’ to tell!
I enjoyed your take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d be a little suspicious after the third one!
Thanks for reading, Mike! 😀
LikeLike
😀 loved it! would you mind following back please I just bega writing fictional stories as well
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure! What’s your blog address? I can’t see to access it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
esescogitation.wordpress.com thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! This sounds like a character from a movie I’ve watched. All her husbands died after the wedding. She may have the worst of luck. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! She must be cursed! 😀
LikeLike
She sounds like one of those Arsenic and Old Lace grandmas! Great story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! Thanks, Jenn 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is cute. Six husbands and she outlived them all. Good quality storytelling information.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! She’ll have stories to tell for days 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want to know how she got all the accidents to happen lol.
LikeLike
I love Grandma – if you have so many dead husband, you have to get the most out of it. Great take on the prompt, this 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Especially when they die such interesting deaths! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a way to go. Nice take on the prompt. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Deborah! At least we can say he went out . . . quickly? LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! Cute story. She likes to tell stories. I’m assuming, not all of them the truth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope not, because if so, the authorities should probably look into why all her husbands keep dying. Haha! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s killing them off? LOL!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! It’s a mystery… 😉
LikeLike
Hahaha! She sounds like a cute old lady! But then,,, again,,,LOL!
LikeLiked by 2 people