#99Word Stories; Gloria & #SSS; Lounge

These two scenes feature characters who debuted in The Verge and who have shown up for Six Sentences and 99 word challenges off and on.

The March 6, 2023 story challenge from Charli Mills at Carrot Ranch is to: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about Gloria. You can name a character that comes to you as Gloria or you can interpret the Laura Branigan song into a story. What image comes to you? Go where the prompt leads! Submit at Carrot Ranch by March 11, 2023.

The word from Denise for this week’s Six Sentence challenge is “lounge”. Link HERE to join in for that challenge.

Where Everybody Knows Your Name by D. Avery (99-words)

Daddy told Katie and Bob how good it was to see Gloria was still around. 

“Who’s Gloria?” I asked.

“The woman we met on the sidewalk.”

“Oh.” I remembered. And that Daddy had hurried on, without even saying hello.

Bob was saying yes, still here, still Gloria, still crazy after all these years.

“Why is she crazy?” They all looked at me. Katie and Bob looked at Daddy.

“Well, Peanut, she’s… different.”

“So?”

“Don’t worry, Penelope,” Katie said. “Gloria’s okay.”

“Yeah,” Bob added. “Everyone knows Gloria.”

I wasn’t worried. But somehow I didn’t think anyone knew Gloria at all.

Breakfasting by D. Avery (99-words & 6-sentences)

As Daddy and Katie got busy opening the diner, I swept the sidewalk in front.

“Good morning, Gloria.”

“We meet again,” she studied me, smiled when I asked why she was crazy. “The plot of my story is unexpected, that’s all; have coffee with me, I’ll tell you some of it.”

Katie looked over her shoulder at Bob when we went into the diner but led Gloria and me to my lounge, the booth with the ripped seat where I was allowed to leave my drawing pad and books.

“Once upon a time,” Gloria began, “There was a princess.”