Friday, November 7, 2014

Flash Fiction by Linda Casper


Hospitality

The young woman offering me water in an enamel mug was wearing a headscarf the colour of marigolds.  I accepted gratefully and gulped it down quickly while she nodded her head, smiling, revealing even, white teeth.  I thanked her both in English and French but she spoke in a language I couldn't understand.  She turned and went swiftly through the doorway into the dark interior and re-emerged with some wet muslin with which she dabbed my cheeks and forehead.  As she did so, I noticed the sleeves of her brightly coloured top were soaking wet and wondered if she had piped water or whether she had used some of her precious supply to attend to my needs.  Three young children wearing coloured beads round their necks and little else peeked out at me but disappeared when I said hello.  I tried to think if I had something in my bag I could offer in return for the hospitality she had shown me.  A crumpled notebook and a few pencils were all I could offer and they would be little recompense for quenching my thirst.  As I rummaged about my hand found a small oblong shape.  Perhaps the children would find a harmonica amusing.  I drew it out, put it to my lips and played one of the few tunes I could manage.  Three little faces appeared once more, hands covering their mouths as they tried to stifle their giggles.  Not for the first time, I thought children are children the world over.



Linda Casper hails from Yorkshire and, after a long career as a high school teacher, she has recently begun to write and has had many short stories, poems and travel articles published.  Linda has a keen interest in gardening and is a judge for Yorkshire in Bloom.




12 comments:

  1. Let your site Best SEO Company In india be the answer to all the solutions. Search engine optimization with a combination of various tools to help the site reach the desired ranking.


    Best Internet Marketing Company in india
    Best Internet Marketing Company
    SEO Services India
    Best SEO Company India
    SEO Company in India
    Best SEO Company In india

    https://www.iaptris.com/
    info@iaptris.com
    support@iaptris.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Property Management Software - Find online information about best property management software, real estate management software, online property management software, simple property management software and related more."


    Property Management Software

    iRent Sales
    719 Scott Street
    Wichita Falls, TX 76301
    919.473.6805

    ReplyDelete
  3. Inflatable pontoons can be deflated and stored in a small

    Inflatable pontoon
    Launching wheels
    Small inflatable boat
    Inflatable boats canada
    Inflatable boat with motor
    Inflatable dinghy

    Visit our Website-http://www.bcimport.com/

    Call us Now-1 7788196619


    Email-dibyamkumar432@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kingsway Counselling provides professional counselling in Maidstone

    Best psychologist toronto
    Best psychiatrist Etobicoke
    Couples counselling Etobicoke
    GPT therapists
    Mindfulness Etobicoke



    Visit our Website-http://www.counselling2wellness.com

    Email-rahulkumars1009@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

  5. There's no time like the present to take a cannabis-infused trip

    Cannabis tourism
    Glass blowing
    Hemp & Marijuana tour
    Recreational california
    Santa barbara
    Social lounge
    West coast cannabis
    Yosemite


    Visit our Website-http://greentoursla.com/

    Email-dibyamkumar234@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Choose Eastern inspired dark teak furniture to vintage industrial

    Modern crafted table
    Modern solid wood furniture
    Modern solid wood side tables
    Solid Ash Furniture
    Modern Style Furniture
    Modern Night Stand


    Visit our Website-https://www.monsoonblue.com/



    Email-sohansharma2345@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

  7. The good thing about downtown Mississauga

    Best condos in mississauga
    Best new mississauga condos
    New condos mississauga
    Newest condos in peel region
    Peel region condos


    Visit our Website-https://newmississaugacondos.com/

    Email-chandanjhas3456@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Golf Channel offers up its 18 best instruction tips over the years


    Luxury golf channel
    Luxury local golf channel
    Luxury mls realtor



    Visit our Website-https://luxury.golfshirehomes.com/


    Email-dibyamkumar2345@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. We’re a local roastery based in the heart of the Ottawa Valley. Since 1998, we’ve been roasting and delivering fresh coffee each and every week. We have a passion for good coffee and a deep respect for the people who grow it.

    Fair trade coffee in Canada
    Weekly delivery in Canada
    Direct trade coffee in Canada
    Single origin coffees Canada
    Espresso best Canada
    Espresso best Canada
    coffee roaster Canada
    coffee roastery in Canada
    coffee shop roaster in Canada
    local coffee roasters in Canada
    roastery coffee house in Canada
    natural coffee in Canada
    coffee house in Canada
    fresh roasted coffee in Canada

    Visit here: https://www.equator.ca/
    Elgin St.
    Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1
    equatornac.cna@gmail.com
    613.563.7771

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wholesale Yard Sign, Yard Sign in Orlando, Yard Sign in Florida. Send your order online for yard sign wholesale, cheap yard sign in Orlando, cheap yard sign in Florida and yard sign in USA

    wholesale yard signs
    yard sign usa
    cheap yard signs
    yard sign wholesale
    yard sign in orlando
    cheap yard sign in orlando
    yard sign in florida
    cheap yard sign in florida
    custom yard signs
    wholesale yard sign in usa

    ADDRESS :
    Wholesale Yard Sign
    1415 McCoy Rd,
    Orlando, Florida - 32809.
    EMAIL ID : sales@wholesaleyardsign.com
    TELEPHONE : 407-401-8787

    ReplyDelete