At this week's Three Word Wednesday, the given words are Obedient, Raspy, and Sombre.
“.....Your obedient servant, Claude Underwood”
He placed the letter on the table. Without raising his head, he peered upwards over the rim of his gold-framed spectacles.
There was stunned silence from the assembled family. The atmosphere was sombre. The words from solicitor Solomon Greenwood’s raspy voice hung in the air.
He held a crisp white handkerchief to his mouth as he cleared his throat.
“Does anyone have anything to say?”
Slowly removing his glasses, he looked around the room from one person to the next and then the next, patiently awaiting a reaction.
The sound of Jennifer Underwood softly sobbing broke the silence. “It’s alright Jenny” whispered her brother Rufus as he tenderly laid his arm across her shuddering shoulder “It’s alright”
Without a word the family members pushed back their chairs, scraping them across the oak floor as they rose to leave.
Mumbling ensued as one by one they left the dining room, the scene of happier times when the exceedingly wealthy Claude Underwood hosted extravagant dinner parties and regaled his overly appreciative audiences with his humorous stories and witty rapport. But it was he who had the final laugh.
“Disgraceful”
“How could he?”
“But it should have been ours”
Solicitor Solomon Green sat alone for a few moments. Then he placed the letter in his leather briefcase, folded his spectacles which he placed in his pocket, and in an uncustomary moment of mirth he muttered “I just hope the creatures at the Charlton Dog Rescue Centre appreciate his fortune!”
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How generous :D Maybe he felt the dogs were better deserving. Who knows?!
ReplyDeleteEither that or he was barking mad!
DeleteAnd what do we learn from this story...? Be nice to rich relatives :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Annalisa, good to see you (even though I can't!) Lesson? Don't be greedy!
DeleteBarking mad I would have to go with - although sometimes money is wasted on people if they don't know truly what a gift it is.. another thoughtful and unique story ;)
ReplyDeleteThe family were certainly barking up the wrong tree if they thought they were getting it! Thanks Jae Rose.
DeleteHey nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award. love your blogs.
ReplyDeleteCheck this link
http://indiandramaqueen.blogspot.in/2015/07/versatile-blogger-award.html
Woo! I am honoured! Thanks so much.
DeleteNicely written. The descriptions of the room and the characters, those little nice touches (i.e. the gold frame) really make the scene come to life.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. It's not my normal style but I thought I'd stretch myself and hopefully not strain anything!
DeleteI like it! And Mr. Henrichs says beautifully what I was thinking. Well done.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, thanks so much Darla.
Deleteit kind of makes you winder what they did to get cut out of the will. well written Keith
ReplyDeleteI was thinking greed. Thanks Sheilagh.
DeleteJust why should we profit from someone else's toil? I have always thought it strange that the hope and dreams of people should be frustrated by lazy relatives.
ReplyDeleteHere-here! That's exactly what led me to jot down this piece.
Delete...and this really happens. Sometime deservedly, sometimes not. But everyone can do as they choose with what they have.
ReplyDeleteThey can indeed. Thanks for dropping by Shadow.
DeleteTerrific, and the snapper at the end...
ReplyDeleteToo kind Berowne
Deletebrilliant, the twist was unexpected
ReplyDelete... to the family too!
Deletenice story, beautifully narrated
ReplyDelete