kaolin fire presents :: writing :: fiction

"APrickofTheTongue.0"

words

A Prick of the Tongue to Whet the Appetite

Robert looked up from his salad, face screwed up in confusion and pain, eyes beginning to water. "Dearest heart?"

"Yes, blossom?" Angeline absently glanced at the roast, as if to osmose whether it was ready.

"I bit something kind of funny," he strangled around an attempt to not exacerbate the situation.

Angeline turned to her husband and scrutinized his expression. "What did you say, honeysuckle?"

Robert grunted with reserved exasperation, and stuck out his tongue.

"My, you've got a thorn in your tongue. However did you manage that?" Angeline's delicate fingers plucked the invader from his tender organ.

"Perhaps a slight confusion between the petals and the stem," he replied, wincing with every dorsal consonant. "How are you doing with your medication?"

"Fine, just fine. Though I seem to remember losing a couple of pills. I'm sure they'll show up."

"I hope the cat doesn't find them first."

"Oh my, quite. Have you seen Mittens? I was grooming her earlier, but the time just flew; before I knew it, I was halfway through preparing dinner."

"I haven't." He nodded at the oven timer. "But I think the roast is ready."