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 
Haha!! No mincing words from Clara! Love the song ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
No way! She says exactly what she means. 🤬
Thanks, Lisa 🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
You nailed that one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Thanks much, Jodi!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are lots ‘bad’ Inheritance stories my friend … my father-in-law basically left my out of his will, the estate was worth about a Million dollars, and I received $10,000, which worked to be $300 a year for caring for his daughter for thirty years …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no! That’s a harsh reality to face, dear Ivor. I’ll never understand what makes people act the way they do. In your case, it was clearly money.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s life my friend …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rehearsed vulnerability, eh?
Aunt Clara’s nobody’s fool, but she may be in danger…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That old battle axe? It’s gonna take a lot to rattle her bones!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’ll be back…
LikeLiked by 1 person
If he’s got any sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good story – yes – ‘Sling yer hook! 🙌 Great song choice too Nance 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! Thanks, Ange. I love these great old songs! ♬
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙌
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that told him!
Great to hear that song again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right on! And I think it sounds much better than “Hit the Road, Elias!” 😂
Thanks, Dear Keith.
LikeLike
Hmm… he won’t get a penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not if the old battle axe has anything to say about it! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep! 👍🏼
LikeLiked by 1 person