This is my entry in to this weeks #constrainedwriting contest by @svashta (check out his post: @svashta/constrained-writing-contest-11-winners-of-constrained-writing-contest-10)
This week the rules are:
Tell a fictional story from (at least) two different perspectives
The entire story must be at least 300 words long
My story is 502 words long...
Gill had made her mind up.
It was over.
At first Dave's forgetfulness seemed cute, endearing even. But it was wearing a bit thin now. Lost car keys were one thing, but it was the second year in a row he had forgotten her birthday.
It just showed a lack of respect.
He obviously didn't care.
It wasn't even as if she wanted much. A little bit of breakfast in bed would have been nice. He’d gone downstairs almost an hour ago, said he'd be straight back with a cup of tea.
She knew if she went downstairs now, she'd find him sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee, reading the newspapers on his laptop.
And I bet he hasn't even made the tea.
The door swung open and for a second - for the briefest of moments - Gill thought she would see Dave standing in the doorway, breakfast tray laden with pastries, presents and champagne.
No.
It was just Bruno, the dog. Looking very pleased with himself. Bruno hopped onto the bed, wagging his tail. He belched and tried to lick her face. She pushed him away and got out of bed.
“I don't know what you've been eating,” she said, as she took down her suitcase from on top of the wardrobe. “But I do know your breath stinks!”
Bruno seemed to smile at her, and then started licking his balls.
…
Dave was starting to get stressed.
He'd been planning this for months. Well, a year really. Ever since the fiasco over her birthday last year. He had made a real effort to be less of an airhead this year.
He'd even embraced lists.
Dave used to hate lists, but he had to admit, they did help him remember stuff. He looked at the tray again.
Toast, check. Champagne, check. Chocolates, check. Single red rose, check.
But where the hell did he put the croissant?
He checked the oven, again. It wouldn't have been the first time he'd let something burn, without noticing.
No, not in there.
He'd checked four times already. He knew he'd got it out, let it cool. And then he had sliced it open and hidden the engagement ring inside.
He remembered that much.
But where he'd put it after that, he had no idea. He decided to retrace his steps. From the beginning. He swore, as Bruno the dog got under his feet again. He opened the kitchen door and shooed the dog out.
“Go and find mummy,” he said.
…
Bruno was happy. He was having a great day. Not only had he been given his breakfast early, but then he had found that croissant - it was still warm and buttery!
Bruno ran up the stairs licking his lips. He leapt at the door and onto the bed, let out a bit of croissant burp and tried to lick mummy's face.
Now, what? he thought, one eye on mummy, as she got the Holiday Bag down.
Ah, I know! Time to lick my balls…
...
The photo is a picture of a croissant I cooked for guests in our B&B this morning. The ring is my wedding ring, with a little drawing added to make it look like an engagement ring, and the posterised using the phone editor.