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The Casket of Fictional Delights

Brooches Podcasts Stories

Getting Ready

by Vivien Jones

Flash Fiction Nostalgic, Playful

Lock the doors, close the curtains. Check next door is at work. Nip upstairs.  Make-up, hair and clothes. Apply a little tangerine lipstick, mascara from the spiral brush, backcomb the top, spray the lacquer from the thick plastic bottle, poke with the tail of the steel comb. Open the walnut wardrobe, flick through the hangers, take out the orange and pink print dress with three layers of frills, find the tights and the white smoked shoes.  Look in the mirror. Yea. Downstairs to the kitchen, grab a finger roll, pick out a hotdog from the saucepan, a swirl of mustard, a curl of onion, a bottle of Coke from the fridge, with a straw.  Into the lounge, heels clacking on the bare floor, open the radiogram, find the six 45s, fix them on the changer, lean towards the Play lever. The letter-box slaps. Expecting something important, pick up the brown envelope, run a thumb along the flap, take out the white paper, read it. Good. Back to the lounge, push the Play lever, listen for the crackle until the needle finds the groove. With the drum intro, start moving. When Chubby starts singing already halfway to the floor, arms in opposition.  ‘Come on, Baby, let’s do The Twist‘.

Good that the pension’s going up even by so little.  With the price of mascara these days you need every penny you can get.

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About Vivien Jones

Vivien writes short stories, poetry and theatre pieces, many of which have been published or performed. She is one of three editors of 'Southlight' literary magazine for the south of Scotland and beyond. When not writing she is a performing early musician on viols and recorders and other wind instruments.
Visit Vivien Jones on the web

You’ve reached the end of this story. Please do explore further. And if you’re feeling generous today, donate to The Casket and help keep the fictional delights flowing. Want to know when more stories arrive? Make sure you sign up for regular updates.

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The Casket is a platform for new, fresh and enjoyable short reads. We don’t receive any grants and your generosity helps us provide FREE accessible ad-free content. Any donation is hugely appreciated. If you would like to contribute, donate by PayPal by submitting your name and an amount.

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3 responses to “Getting Ready”

  • Sarah Dhesi says:
    February 14, 2017 at 12:34 pm

    Well, I didn’t expect that! Thoroughly enjoyed it.

    Reply
  • Hazel Lowther says:
    February 14, 2017 at 1:34 pm

    Glad to be showing our age and yeah! It brings it all back.

    Reply
  • Amanda Hunter says:
    February 14, 2017 at 1:41 pm

    Loved it! Vivien Jones sure knows how to twist out a story.

    Reply

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Everyone at The Casket is hoping 2021 will be a better year than 2020.  We have some great short stories and flash fiction lined up for your delight.  We kick of the year with a story by Lydia Unsworth “The Smallest Boxes” and then for Valentine's we have a story by Dylan Brethour which will also be available as a podcast. Later in the summer we have a new Flash Fiction Summer Collection which will be published online and as podcasts read by Menna Bonsels and Richard Hodder.  We hope you enjoy the stories we have for you and look forward to welcoming you back regularly.

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Text & stories © Joanna Sterling 2021
Stories © various authors
Audio by Menna Bonsels
Brooch photography by Mark Colliton
Other photography by Rosie Marks
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