Short Story

The Apartment: The Continuing Story of Harvey and Fiona

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for The Unicorn Challenge where we are encouraged
to get creative in 250 words or less using the photo prompt
as inspiration. This is my 2nd story of Harvey and Fiona.
For another look at the 1st installment, click here.

© Ayr/Gray

Harvey and Fiona were as different as a gorilla and a swan but they had an undeniable chemistry and started falling in love. No one was more surprised than Fiona .… except her parents.

There was a major obstacle her parents couldn’t overlook – Harvey was Jewish. Fiona’s very Irish-Catholic father hated Harvey, calling him ‘Christ killer’ and ‘kike’.  Her mother was crushed. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Can’t you see he’s no good for you? I don’t trust him, Fina girl!” she warned, crying into her apron. Fiona would not be dissuaded; with a heavy heart she closed the door of her childhood home behind her and never looked back.

Harvey and Fiona were married in city hall, the judge and his clerk their only guests and witnesses. After a weekend honeymoon in Niagara Falls, the couple settled into Harvey’s tiny apartment – a walk-up on the fifth floor with a depressing view of factories and government buildings.

Harvey worked the graveyard shift as a printer at the local newspaper, seven days a week from midnight till 8:00 AM. His fingernails were perpetually stained with black ink. The first morning he came home from work and saw the newly decorated apartment, he yelled furiously at Fiona for spending his money on unnecessary things. Uncaring, he left ink stains on the new bedspread when he sat down to remove his shoes.

Fiona cried silently in the kitchen. Harvey sidled up behind her, kissed a spot below her ear and she leaned into him.

NAR©2024
250 Words

The Unicorn Challenge-07/06/24

This is “Love With The Proper Stranger” by Jack Jones

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

41 thoughts on “The Apartment: The Continuing Story of Harvey and Fiona”

  2. I somehow missed this one. I dunno about these two… There is a growing period for all couples but they have to have a good base. I don’t like the yelling then kissing… most abusers do that. I hope I am just wrong.

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  3. Pingback: The Heartbreak: The Continuing Story of Harvey and Fiona – The Elephant's Trunk

    1. It gives me such a thrill when people pick out little things in my stories which I hoped they would. You’re today’s winner!

      So glad you enjoyed this one, Sally. I have no idea what I’m going to do with these two!

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  7. This has reeled me right in. Great storytelling. These two have really got the odds stacked against them. Gorilla and swan – love those descriptions. I’m thinking the parents will come around – they usually do, especially if the couple lasts the distance and if little Fionas and Harveys start arriving. You’ve really got me intrigued with this story, Nancy. Gripping dialogue and a multitude of obstacles that they manage to overcome – just. Gotta say, I have little niggling doubts about Harvey’s furious yelling and uncaring inky residues on brand new bedding. No, not niggling, grave misgivings.

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    1. Margaret, I would be sorely disappointed if you didn’t have misgivings. It’s not like you to jump into the deep end without checking the water level first. Will this story continue? Your guess is as good as mine. At this moment, I have no definite plans so anything can happen.

      As always, I am most grateful for your insight and your gracious comments. Thank you!

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  9. A great story and as always you write it so well.

    Sadly it has started badly… I dont like the sound of this guy… No an agrrssive uncaring bully… Who thinks sex can cure everything. She should run while she still can.

    I am the product of a mixed Marriage, me catholic ( noe lapsed) hubby Protestant. We survived ,💜💜

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  10. you know why I keep practicin’ this writing thing? to get to the point of being able to come up with:

    “No one was more surprised than Fiona .… except her parents.”

    a fricken ‘S’ curve on a narrative highway is all that badboy is!

    cool

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  12. Mixed marriages are a tricky topic, Nancy, but you handled it with your usual aplomb.

    Speaking as one who abhors sectarianism, racism and most of the other isms that are used as excuses to hate someone a bit different, I wish power to your pen.

    I like ‘as different as a gorilla and a swan’.

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  13. I guess they have a bit of communicating to do now that the initial madness of falling in love is over…
    I reckon they’ll make it – I looked up ‘Fina’ and found ‘Fina is inspired by the Hebrew word seraphim, known in Christian and Jewish belief as a name for heaven’s highest order …’
    Good story, Nancy, with your signature lively style.
    (PS It’s exactly the story of the parents of a friend of mine – Polish Jew marries Irish Catholic Scot – disowned by family. Later described by the sister, who spent years ignoring her sibling, as ‘the happiest marriage I know’.)

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    1. Funny how it works sometimes, eh?

      I didn’t know about the name Fina being inspired by a Hebrew word … ironic! It certainly makes sense. I wanted a shortened name for the mother to call Fiona so I Googled ‘nicknames for Fiona’ and Fina was one choice.

      Thank you, Jenne; I always enjoy reading your take on my stories. Hope you’re recovering nicely from cataract surgery. You’re braver than me!

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      1. It’s all gone fine, Nancy. Splendid new vivid colours to be seen. Only drawback? White has apparently been sort of yellow for a while and now that it’s white again, I can see dirt in corners I thought were clean!

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