Short Story

Woman Of Substance

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for The Unicorn Challenge where we are
asked to get creative in 250 words or less using
the photo below as inspiration. This is my story.

© Ayr/Gray

She was one of those confident girls, accomplished in many things. Her mother made sure the hired help taught her how to provide for herself and maintain a proper house should she ever find herself in a position where she needed to do so. 

She grew to be the perfect combination of a woman of substance able to fend for herself but one who also delighted in the company of a gentleman who could well and ably provide for her. Her mother warned her not to become attracted to a man like her father who was full of empty promises.   

She was wooed by many young men – those belonging to the country club who knew how to sail, play croquet and turn heads at garden parties. There were others who caught her eye – the ones who labored on the docks, skillfully shoed horses and dabbled in boxing in the back rooms of pubs where people shouted out their names and placed bets on who would win.

When time came, she chose one from her station. She soon learned he was callow, selfish with an overbearing mother and a useless father. He could not hold on to her. He cried into his pillow every night and cursed when he saw her with a sparring dockworker who was ten times the man he was.

The pugilist treated her like a queen at all times and the woman of substance found she quite liked the feel of calloused hands on her spotless breasts.

NAR©2024
250 Words

The Unicorn Challenge-01/11/24

This is “The Boxer” by Simon & Garfunkel

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.



21 thoughts on “Woman Of Substance”

  2. I’m frankly surprised she actually did marry within her station first. I would have thought she would go straight for the pugilist. Of course, prepared as she was, there must have been some curiosity to find out if that existed within her station, so I cannot really fault her.

    Wonderful write, Nancy.

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    1. There’s just so much we can do with word limitations, ya know? In my mind she chose the dandy but I don’t see them marrying. She had a change of heart before tying the knot and took off with the boxer. I doubt she has any regrets. 😊

      Thanks for your beautiful comments, Dale. ♡

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      1. I hear ya, sistah! She chose the dandy just in case he was outside of what her mama told her. Smart of her to get out before and go towards the real.

        Always a pleasure, amica mia.

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  6. Beautifully written, Nancy, in the style of the times.
    I suppose she couldn’t have chosen a husband outside of her station in those days, not without huge scandal, but what a big girl’s blouse she chose!
    No wonder she looked elsewhere for what he couldn’t give her.
    And you left me wondering if she took the next big step – and put her ‘fending for herself’ skills to good use…?

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    Reply

    1. Thank you, Jenne.
      Putting myself in my MC’s blouse, I would have done the same. It’s difficult for me to conceive of a life of unhappiness just to meet the standards and norms of the time. Then again, I always was a rebel.
      In the immortal words of Sir Mick, “You can’t always get what you want but if you try sometimes you’ll find you get what you need”.
      I believe my MC got both.

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