Marge leaned down to speak with Ilene through the rolled down window of the El Camino.
“I’m heading out to get some paint.”
“Hop in Marge, I’ll drive.”
Marge’s maneuver was more of a plop than a hop but she did fit herself into the El Camino.
“I was headed to the hardware store myself, Marge. Wedding supplies.”
“Won’t be any wedding until I’ve finished painting the boys’ handiwork.”
“Painting. Just a letter switch away from waiting.”
“That’d be wainting, wordsmith.”
“Wainting– when one wants and waits and wants to wait at the same time; wainting. A dreadful condition.”
***
“What’s going on Marge? You taking your Paxil?”
“This is a big change, Ilene.”
“Marrying the man you’ve been living with? Marge, nothing’s going to change except that you’ll make Ernest so happy.”
“Will Mr. Biggs be happy if I don’t take his last name? That’s a change. Ilene, I’ve been Small my whole life.”
Ilene looked sidelong at her friend. Marge was contorted on the bench seat that was pulled forward so that Ilene could reach the controls.
“Hyphenate, both of you. Small-Biggs, Biggs-Small…Marge, it’s all good. And if you want, I’ll help paint.”
“Waint that be nice.”
***
“Jeez, Ilene, put the seat back so I can get out.”
Ilene was already out taking measurements of the El Camino bed. “Oops, sorry Ms. Small, I forgot you’re too Biggs for this vehicle.”
“Only when you have the seat crammed into the dashboard, Ms. Higginbottom. Let me drive on the way back. What’s with the measuring?”
“You put me in charge of decorating. You’ll have to wait and see.”
While Marge got her paint Ilene picked up a rectangular blow-up kiddie pool. She would transform the El Camino into the largest beer cooler the gang had ever seen.
***
Get it, Bells and Paint? They both peel/peal. The Carrot Ranch June 27, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that involves paint. It can be fresh, peeling or in need of a coat. What is being painted and why? Go where the prompt leads! I present a triple from the ongoing saga of Ernest Biggs and Marge Small.
I enjoyed your play on words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I enjoy playing with words and these characters make it easy.
LikeLike
Ha! I love it! Very creative
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I enjoy these characters, and they carry me through the prompts.
LikeLike
I need to click the link and find out more about the characters 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bring a camp chair and have a cold one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehehe. Your stories are very appealing. (Get it?) I’m not sure if I knew and had perhaps forgotten about Small and Biggs, but it’s very clever. I do recognise Ilene’s name though. They are going to have some party!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My, aren’t you the punny one. Yeah, they’ve always been Ernest Biggs and Marge Small, and they are both big. Ilene leans a little because of her leg and is small with big hair. See you at the party, Buddy.
LikeLike
Can you hear my pealing laughter? Hope you don’t drive that truck of yours nose to the dashboard or I might have trouble plopping into place beside you! 😀 Wainting ain’t fun! But it is clever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Long legged are ya?
LikeLike
Pingback: Paint « Carrot Ranch Literary Community
Reminds me of the ’72 El Camino my family had when I was a kid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So you know about the front bench seat where you’re all in it together. Built in ashtrays in the armrests. This one has an 8 track player. Maybe fuzzy dice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember the big bench seat, and riding in the bed back when that was legal. Good times.
LikeLiked by 1 person