So. It’s Wednesday. There was a big storm Monday night/Tuesday morning. Fun times. Not! Most of the CITY lights went dark and all the CITY mice stayed in bombarding CITY Hall with complaints. Such is life in the big CITY. Which brings me to today’s #1lineWed theme and a crazysauce bit of flash fiction I wrote a bit ago, totally forgot about and now I sort of want the rest of the story. Anyway. The only set-up I can give you for this is that there were three prompts, a photo, a phrase that had to used exactly, and I think the third was a theme of flowers(?). Anyway, here’s what came out…
****
I gazed through the window without seeing the fog-shrouded city below. Raindrops rolled down the glass and I pretended they were the tears I was supposed to shed. I glanced at my watch. Time to go.
Driving through rain and darkness, I arrived at the cottage I’d rented to find a circus elephant on the front lawn. A. Circus. Elephant. With a pretty girl in a pink tutu. I’d never done drugs so this wasn’t a flashback and I’d had a triple shot of espresso at my last stop so I definitely wasn’t dreaming.
The girl waved as I stepped out of my car. “Hi! Are you Mrs. Ramsey?”
Not anymore. The divorce was final yesterday, but she didn’t need to know that. I nodded, reaching in to pull out my suitcase.
“Awesome blossom. Miz Petunia said you’d be arriving today. Welcome to Pansy Cottage. I’m Poppy. I live over there.”
I’d obviously stepped into Alice’s version of the Secret Garden. “She said someone would meet me with the key?”
“Look in the windowbox.”
The elephant beat me to the colorful flowers. “Not for you, Magnolia!” The girl laughed and somehow maneuvered the animal away. “Just come knock on the door if you need something!”
Flabbergasted, I wondered what I’d gotten myself into.
“Welcome to the crazy.”
I whirled. A man, covered in tattoos and leather, offered his hand. “I’m Thorne. I live next door.”
Of course he did. “Violet.”
“You’ll fit right in.”
I didn’t have a choice.
****
The only thing I know for sure was the phrase: “look in the windowbox.” Welcome to my brain. Covered in crazysauce. And Iffy, with scissors in hand, running and giggling like a toddler on Double Dutch Chocolate Brownie Ice Cream with Gummy Bears Cake Delight. Writers, got any city words to share? Readers, what city is the top of your bucket list to visit?
Silver James 
Fun! I’d definitely read more of this. Gimme. You know, when you get time to write it and junk.
Here are some city words from Ugly and the Beast:
“I don’t think you’ll have any choice in the matter, Mr. Braxxon.”
We both turned to see Detective Surrell standing there with his hands on his hips like he owned the place.
“Sorry,” he said, one eyebrow rising as if to assert supremacy over its fuzzy caterpillar brother. “The door was open. And sorry I didn’t get here sooner, Jen, but there was an incident and traffic is tied up all over the damn city.”
My father puffed up his chest, stepped forward, and placed himself between me and the good detective. “Who do you think you are coming into my home and telling me what I will and won’t have a choice about?”
It wasn’t much but it was about as pissed as I’d ever seen my father. And I really couldn’t say I blamed him. I’d be the same way if someone waltzed into my place without so much as a knock.
Surrell wasn’t ruffled by any of it. He held a hand out toward Dad. “Detective Lance Surrell with the Midtown PD. We met at your son’s house the other night? And I’m here because your daughter called me for assistance.”
Dad deflated. “Sorry. It’s been a long day.”
And it ain’t about to get any shorter, but I couldn’t say that out loud. Not to my father. Not then anyway.
Speaking of “GIMMEE!!!!!” 😉 And yeah, I really need to figure out the story on this one. Maybe I could incorporate it into one of the former KW series I still write in. It’s a thought. 🤔
Anchorage
Interesting choice! When (which season) would you want to visit?