Prompt: Introduce a character in a scene but write about what they say and do with hints at their appearance. Please avoid character summaries.
She had tried to weasel her way out of this task like she had hundreds of times before, but today all of her friends were away for the summer. Heather slowly walked to the old, wooden door, afraid her legs would collapse under her weight. She shakily reached out a hand and knocked on the door. No answer.
She called out, “Mrs. Jones?” but was met with silence. She called out again. “Mrs. Jones, are you home? My mom sent me over with some pie for you!”
Finally, the wooden door slowly creaked open to reveal the icy eyes of Mrs. Jones.
“Little Heather from across the street? Is that you?” she croaked.
“Yes ma’am.” replied Heather.
“Well, come on in and enjoy some of that pie with me.” said Mrs. Jones, as she beckons Heather in.
Heather catches a better glimpse of her now that she is inside and they are face to face. Discreetly, she drinks in her image, hoping to capture every detail to tell all of her friends about the shut-in that lives in the haunted, old house. While she is studying her, Heather notices that patches of her silver hair are missing. She also notices that despite all of the dishes her mother drops off for Mrs. Jones, the elderly woman is not much more than skin and bones.
Following Mrs. Jones as she enters the kitchen, Heather is instructed to wait at the table while she cuts up the pie. While she waits, Heather looks around the kitchen, hoping to find something eerie. Before she can scan the entire room, her eyes stop on the kitchen counter. On the counter, there are several little orange pill bottles, all with the name Ophelia Jones. Heather took one more look at old Mrs. Jones, and notices that she is wrapped in a thick, red blanket with black, wooly socks. Putting together the pieces, Heather starts to think that the old house isn’t haunted after all, maybe Mrs. Jones is just a sick elderly lady who lives alone. Maybe that’s why her mom cooks dishes for her all the time and tries to convince Heather to go visit her.
Comments