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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Tea Leaf Tales: Serving Big Hats Only


For weeks, there was a car parked outside and a man and woman coming and going carrying boxes and grill tops, a huge coffee maker, and other restaurant-size appliances, usual things for a restaurant, so no one paid much notice expect to ask around if anyone knew the new owners. No one did, which seemed odd but not too odd, because most folks were eager for a new place to eat out as a break from the winter blahs.

But when the couple taped newspaper over the picture windows and even the front door glass panels, people began to wonder. When an old pick-up started arriving every evening, always at the last light of dusk, the talk really got going. Some, who could always be relied upon for the latest gossip, drove by the place extra slowly and gave reports of a wide variety of antiques being unloaded: two china cabinets; a grandfather clock; a pie safe; at least a dozen tables and countless chairs, none matching any that went before or after. All in all, too much to fit inside the space of the business. This got the gossips’ tongues wagging, saying the place was going to be an antique store instead of a restaurant, and that notion began to catch on when a huge old hall tree was moved in.

The man finally hung this sign today, and it seems like they do intend to serve lunch…but only to clients with big hats, which is obviously why they needed that hall tree. The couple must have been riled by all the talk going ‘round about them, since whispers are pointed to go somewhere across the street even though only the gas company building sits there. No word from the town gossips.


Tea Leaf Tales is a series of original ten-sentence short stories by Marsha A. Moore, relating to photos/scenes that resonate with her.
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Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance: Book One, SEEKING A SCRIBE, Book Two, HERITAGE AVENGED, and Book Three, LOST VOLUMES. She has also authored the Ciel's Legacy series, with fast action mermaid/pirate storylines: TEARS ON A TRANQUIL LAKE and TORTUGA TREASURE.  For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

2 comments:

Pat Walsh said...

I love the whole idea of your "Tea Leaf Tales" — from the discipline imposed by the brevity to the airy flavor of the observations.

Just last night I went to an open mic (music, mostly) here in my neck of the woods (NY), and I was amazed at the self-indulgence that some people permit themselves when sharing their work with other people. You have obviously mastered the art of doing just the opposite, and your ability to engage your readers is something I envy a little bit as a fellow writer.

Thank you for sharing these wonderful pieces!

-- Pat

Marsha A. Moore said...

Pat, thank you so much for your kind words. I enjoy writing these short creations, and it gives readers a taste of how my imagination is oriented.