Short Story

Sunday Morning With Carlo & Marie

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for The Unicorn Challenge where
we are urged to get creative in 250 words or less.
The photo below is our inspiration; this is my story.

© Ayr/Gray

Carlo sat at the kitchen table working on a crossword puzzle, fresh-brewed coffee in his cup and biscotti from Nonna’s bakery for dunking. A steady thumping sound from across the room broke his concentration. Carlo glanced up to see his wife Marie making homemade pasta; he adjusted his glasses for a better look.

Marie’s rhythmic undulations were mesmerizing; Carlo thought “After 30 years of marriage and six kids, Marie still looks hot. My good luck! I married a goddess!”

Placing his glasses on the table, Carlo stood up and walked over to Marie. He eased in closer, their bodies touching. Marie chuckled and leaned back, her head resting on Carlo’s chest. She whispered softly “Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“What?” Carlo countered defensively. “You look so alluring and seductive, I thought we’d have a little booma-booma.”

Marie spun around, brown eyes shooting gamma rays of death. “Booma-booma, my foot, Mr. Hot-To-Trot! In the first place, we just got back from 6AM Mass and you’re thinking sex! You’re sick! In the second place, this is the kitchen, for God’s sake. What kind of people have sex in the kitchen? And in the third place, I’m cooking here. Nothing short of a heart attack interrupts Sunday gravy. Now, remove your hands from my hips or, I swear to God, I’ll break your fingers with my rolling pin!”

Carlo retreated to the safety of the den, mumbling “La mia sfortuna! Ho Sposato una strega!”*

“I heard that!” Marie snapped.

NAR©2025
250 Words

*My bad luck! I married a witch!

This is “Oh Marie” by Louis Prima

The Unicorn Challenge- 14/03/25

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

31 thoughts on “Sunday Morning With Carlo & Marie”

  7. I’m laughing over here. Church is supposed to stir up your emotions, I believe Carlo’s initial reaction should be considered appropriate. Having said that… Marie was busy.

    They were both right.

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  8. A lively portrayal of what Sundays were like back in the day, when a woman’s place was as clearly defined as a man’s right to sit doing crosswords and dunking Nonna’s biscotti in fresh-brewed coffee.
    I can see where Carlo’s coming from, but I suspect Marie, six children in, is secretly lining up her bra for burning.
    Great take, Nancy.

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  11. lol

    excellent(to!)

    we try (imo) to write engaging stories… this, well, this is a door with someone we thought of as a friend, their hand on our backs, pushing us into the room

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