Written for RDP, where drkottaway asks us
to get creative with the word “brusque”.
Thanks, Doc! Here’s where the prompt took me.
The tea was still steaming when Elias set it down.
“I thought we could talk about the inheritance”, he began, his voice softening with a rehearsed vulnerability.
“No”, Clara replied. Her tone was brusque, a sharp blade cutting through the thick air of the parlor. She didn’t look up from her ledger, her pen scratching against the paper with rhythmic, mechanical indifference.
Elias flinched. “It’s been five years, Aunt Clara. Surely….”
“Door’s behind you”, she snapped, still not looking up. “Lock it on your way out.”
NAR©2026
This is “Hit the Road, Jack” by Ray Charles & The Raelettes
All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
He’ll be back…
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Good story – yes – ‘Sling yer hook! 🙌 Great song choice too Nance 😃
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Hahaha! Thanks, Ange. I love these great old songs! ♬
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🙌
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Oh, that told him!
Great to hear that song again.
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Right on! And I think it sounds much better than “Hit the Road, Elias!” 😂
Thanks, Dear Keith.
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Hmm… he won’t get a penny
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Not if the old battle axe has anything to say about it! 😂
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