For this week’s 15 random words I’m using:

• 1 word that was left in the comments of last week’s post:

elephant

• 14 words from https://www.randomlists.com/random-words:

advise – develop – overrated – obnoxious – notice – ludicrous – connect – toys – muddled – sophisticated – warm – balance – ray – chop

Above are screen prints of the words it gave me (I got them in 4 batches because otherwise they were covered by ads).

Below is the story scene I wrote using these words. This week I felt motivated to write a bonus scene for Ed and Joe of Cultivating Love. This is from Ed’s 3rd-person POV:

Bonus Scene – Cultivating Love

Ed looked up from the chaos masquerading as a half-made casserole on the kitchen counter when the front door opened announcing Joe’s return from an errand in town. He stomped the snow off his feet and tossed his coat onto the rack.

“Ran into Eliza at the grocery store.” Joe handed Ed the can of flaky biscuits he needed for the “taco bubble-up bake” he was attempting.

“Yeah? What’d she have to say?”

“She’s collecting stuff for a white elephant sale they’re having down at the church this weekend.”

“That’s not much notice.” Ed replied.

Joe shrugged and rubbed his hands on his biceps then held them out toward the preheating oven. “Damn, it’s colder than penguin snot out there. Kitchen’s nice and warm, though.”

“Anything in particular they’re looking for? Can they use clothes? We’ve both got some we never wear anymore.”

The obnoxious Ray Comfort propaganda movie Joe’s brother had given them for Christmas also came to mind, but he didn’t want to encourage anyone in town to watch that ludicrous nonsense, either. That thing was destined for a bonfire. They’d probably end up wrestling for the right to throw it on.

“They’ll take anything, but she says toys are usually most popular. If we had more time I could ask my sister if she has any old Barbie dolls or whatever.” Joe peered at the jumble of ingredients on the counter. “What can I do? Want me to chop those green onions?”

“Yeah, thanks.” Ed slid the cutting board toward Joe. To hell with grand romantic gestures. That shit was overrated. Give Ed a man that would run out for a forgotten ingredient without complaint, then join him in the kitchen as they strived to find a good balance to sorting out household chores.

Joe grinned and leaned over for a kiss that started out as a quick peck, but as he pulled away, they locked eyes. Joe stopped his retreat, and Ed pulled him back.

The kiss soon threatened to develop into a trip to the bedroom. Joe was flushed and breathing heavily when they came up for air. “Damn, if I wasn’t so hungry… How long does this take in the oven once we finish up the prep?”

“Only twenty or twenty-five minutes.” In other words, not enough time to get down to any serious fun while it was in the oven. Not without rushing, anyway. Which should he advise, putting the ingredients aside, or waiting until it was out of the oven—and likely eaten?

“Nuts.” Joe frowned.

Ed laughed at the comical grimace on Joe’s face. Joe might not be particularly sophisticated or refined, neither of them were, but they muddled through. No, they did better than that now. “Muddled” described their past. They acknowledged their love now, and the future looked bright.

The words of Steve Jobs came to mind: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

Maybe so, but he could do his best to at least line up those dots.

Ed hitched his head toward the hall that led to their bedroom and smiled. “Come on. It won’t hurt this stuff to sit awhile on the counter.”

Joe’s answering grin confirmed that was the right decision.

Once again, #sorrynotsorry for ending it here. 😜

As always, because I can’t resist a good challenge, I’ll take the first 15 prompt words given to me in the comments, below, for next week’s Flash Fiction Friday post. One word per commenter, please. I’ll make up the difference using a random word generator site if I don’t get 15 here.

Blurb – Cultivating Love

A man of few words, Joe is a hard-working farmhand who likes his simple, uncomplicated life. Ed is satisfied with his existence as an auto mechanic, but thrilled when an unexpected development in his life allows him to help Joe realize a dream.

It forces them, however, to reevaluate the casual, undefined nature of their relationship. They’re too macho to speak of love, and neither would ever dream of acknowledging he doesn’t really mind when it’s his turn to bottom. When life throws them a curve ball, and the rules of their game get old, Ed makes an effort to take every aspect of their relationship up a notch. Will Joe be able to adapt to the open sentimentality Ed’s injecting into their relationship, let alone the new spice in their bedroom activities?

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