“This old piano belongs to my first wife. Would you play for me?” asked Charles to Ruby, his girlfriend.
Ruby sat in front of the piano and removed a disfigured doll. Slowly, she started tuning the piano.
Just as she was finding music, she heard a scream.
“How dare you throw my grandson’s toy to the floor? Who are you?”
Ruby saw an old woman with dishevelled hair and wrinkled dress in the foot of the stairs.
“This is my mother-in-law.” said Charles, embarrassed and resigned. He waited for her to leave.
But, Ruby picked the toy from the floor, dusted it and walked to the old lady. “I am so sorry. Tell me about your grandson.” she said, softly.
This was written for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. Thanks to John Nixon for the photo.
Nice. Not all people will run at the first sign of quirky queens 😉
Yes, few people show signs of tolerance and are patient in listening to others’ troubles. Thanks, Alastair
I thought it was a lovely ending to it.
Thank you, Alastair
🙂
I kind of was caught on the line disheveled hair and wrinkled hair. Was that intentional? A good story regardless as the girlfriends seems able to stomach a little conflict.
No, meant to be wrinkled dress. Thank you. Corrected it now:)
It is your special gift to find order amid chaos.
CLAPPING.
Hi Aesop, Thanks a lot:)
Such a poignant piece. Well done.
Thank you so much, Sandra
What a beautiful story.
It is the ability to empathize, which sets the girlfriend apart. Thank you, Susan
This is lovely Padmini, so very well done, rich with meaning. I like your story a lot! 🙂
Happy you liked this and thanks so very much, Penny
In reading your story a second time, I picked up on details that I had missed. Details that gave a depth to the story. Such as connecting the grandson as probably Charles’s son (unless the mother-in-law has a grandson from another child that’s not Charles’s first wife). The doll being disfigured and the disheveled appearance of the mother-in-law makes me wonder if a tragedy happened happened to the first wife and grandson. Sorry for being dense… did I pick up these correctly?
Yes, you are absolutely right. The mother-in-law lives with Charles and she has kind of lost her mind after the accident involving her daughter and grandson. Charles is looking for a girlfriend who would understand and adjust with the mother-in-law. Thank you for so much for taking the time
Good for Ruby! I’m glad she was nicer than Charles.
janet
Yes, she is more sympathetic and understanding. Thank you so much
This was a thoughtful story and nice written. 😀
Thank you very much
That’s a very nice ending. Some people would get offended, but the girlfriend seems to have a caring heart.
She could have left like others before her, but decided to stay on. Thank you for the read and the comment:)
A grandson? Hmmm….sounds like some baggage there
Yes, baggage from the past. Thanks a lot for reading
Lovely Ruby, and poor Charles – he seems to have had a run of ladies leaving! I wonder if the grandmother will heal from her loss. Perhaps with a listening ear!? I like the depth in your story. A bit of seriousness, and love.
The grandmother might improve since Ruby is as old as her daughter and also empathetic. Kindness helps people with emotional problems (at least a little) Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. Cheers, Nightlake
Kindness certainly does help soothe and comfort! It has been a pleasure dropping in – thank you for having me! Your story brings hope and many possibilities for love to work in the characters’ lives. 🙂 Well-written!
You are welcome..and thank you so much for relating with these characters in the story
You made it easy to relate 🙂
Thank you:)
Great show of tact and cool in the face of adversity. Nice take on the prompt!
Thank you kindly, Perry
I think I’d like Ruby. Lovely story 🙂
Yes, she is very empathetic. Thank you so much for reading:)
To be as understanding as Ruby is something I’d like to aim for in life.
even me. Thanks a lot for the read and the comment:)
Diplomacy always trumps warfare. Nicely crafted.
Yes, diplomacy certainly helps…and some understanding and kindness could make a lot of difference. Thank you so much, Mike
Beautifully done – I need a Ruby in my life.
Hope you get somebody like Ruby:) Thank you so much
Ruby seems better than Charles deserve… hope he improves-
Yes. Maybe he is tired of all his former girlfriends’ reactions and expects the same from Ruby.. Thank you so much for reading, Bjorn
Charles better hold on to Ruby…she has an empathetic and sensitive heart. a beautiful life can grow from it. lovely story, Padmini. ♥
Yes, I think Charles would get the message:) Thank you, Sunshine:)
awww lovely story… that should tell Charles that Ruby is indeed a catch
A special girl indeed. Thank you, kz
This is so good – so much implied without being said. Ruby is one understanding women and Charles needs to hang onto her – his mother-in-law will surely benefit. A sad story but Ruby injects the future with hope.
His mother in law would benefit for sure and Charles could also learn a lot from her sunny positive nature. Thank you kindly for reading, Sarah, and taking the time to comment
Excellent writing! She will shortly be an ex-girlfriend, I feel. I was intrigued by the comment that the piano had belonged to his FIRST wife. Then he must have had at least two wives. I suspected the story might become a horror and that the disfigured doll might have been at one time this first wife. I feel this story could be expanded. Ann
You have an amazing imagination:) Thank you for stopping by and reading:)
🙂
Suspenseful.
Thank you:)
I love the empathy the girlfriend feels but Charles is an okay guy as well. He certainly doesn’t have to care for his sad mother in law, does he?
You are right. Many people have their parents in the old-age homes. But, Charles is nice enough to care of his mother-in-law. He is a human too and can get frustrated once in a while..
Yes. I am glad I didn’t mis read that.
Awesome story.Thoughtful ending despite the chaos .Thank you for liking my recent posts.jalal
Thank you for dropping by:)
just loved it!
Thank you:)
Hmmm….makes me wonder what happened to the first wife, and the grandson. I hope Ruby is close enough to the front door to make a run for it! Seems like that’s what the MIL should tell her to do…just for picking up the toy and stopping.
Cheers.
Think the first wife and grandson had an accident and so the MIL lost her reasoning. Maybe Ruby would help her regain her senses:) Thank you for reading and commenting, Jules:)