Photo prompt © Susan Eames
“How long has he been sitting there?”
Brody shrugged. “Was there when I got here.”
Linda glanced at her husband’s torso. Brody had two hues: pasty-white or lobster-red, and it took him about an hour to transform from one to the other. He was reaching lobster status. At least an hour, then.
“What’s he doing?”
Brody scratched under his shades, and Linda noted to herself that his face was following his chest’s example. “On the phone?”
“Put your shirt on, Captain Obvious. But why there? Is he watching for something?”
“It’s the tropics, Dear. Pirates, runaway coconuts, or tsunamis.”
For Rochelle’s Friday Fictoneers
Na'ama Yehuda 
Na’ama Y’kara,
Brody sounds like my husband. Bring on the sunscreen. 😉 Gotta love the guy in the tree. We all have to wonder what he’s doing up there and to whom he’s speaking. Love your take on it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂 Glad you liked it, Rochelle! I though that at least some of us (of the white-or-lobster disposition, which I am one …) would at least have some connection to at least the observing vantage point … 😉
(though as a child I’d probably be the one up there on the tree. I climbed just about any tree I was allowed to — and some I was not — and every high structure I was allowed to (and some I was not) … 😉
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My guess is runaway coconuts 🙂 Like it
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🙂 Yeah, I think he’s probably watching out for those. You never know what a runaway coconut might do, being a nut, and all that … 😉
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That’s what I was thinking. Plus, as far as nuts go, he’s a biggy; a hairy gaint of a nut. Personally, I’d turn shy.
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LOL!
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What a fun story! I loved the way Brody and Linda interacted; you make it clear that they’re a well-established married couple with your description. And your punchline is hilarious!
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🙂 Glad you liked it and … yes … in my mind’s eye they’d been married for a good long comfortable while … complete with knowing what battles aren’t worth fighting and how to push each others’ buttons besides … 😉
🙂
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You’ve created an excellent scene, here. I can just picture it so perfectly. Lobster man needs professional help. hehe!
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Seems like he can start with listening to his spouse and putting his shirt on … Aloe Vera Gel is probably already on board … 😉
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People watching is a great way to pass the time. Brody may regret the lack of sun cream though!
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Yep. I think Brody is practically SURE to regret it …
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Such a fun story, Na’ama. Loved the repartee between the couple.
Who cares what the guy is doing up there? Oh, well, it does gives others something to talk about!
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I guess hubby didn’t really care (or didn’t care to convey that he was curious …) but the wife sure seemed intent, intrigued, and perhaps wistful … 😉
Na’ama
PS Her half-grumpy stance may also signal she’s been through the post-lobster whine a few times … 😉
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Wistful… now that brings a whole ‘nother level to this here story! 😉
Yes, maybe a local boy who doesn’t turn lobster would be enticing…
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No comment. 😉
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Runaway coconuts sounds like the safest of those options 🙂
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Yep! 🙂
Unless you meet them at the earliest part of their escape (i.e. when they ‘leave’ the palm tree canopy) and you happen to be … um … underneath … 😉
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Pirates or runaway coconuts, I love this. Fun story. I tan like Brody, too.
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I think Brody is okay. Linda can be a bit of a nag, though her heart’s in the right place, too.
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A fun glimpse into the life of this couple. Nicely done.
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🙂 Thanks, Linda!
I think it might be recognizable to many couples … 🙂
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Love the interaction between the couple, who are speculating on what the guy in the tree is up to. Probably just wants to hang out and be left alone. =)
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Probably …
🙂
And it mostly just gives a glimpse into the couple’s lives and interaction, a lot more than it says anything about that young man, who seems to have taken himself some space … 🙂
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I have to admit, I’m also a people watcher. My husband and I have the best conversations when we speculate (not disrespectfully) but just for a bit of fun. =)
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People watching is fun stuff.
Living in NYC, there’s plenty of it … And it is a ‘skill’ one can then take with them to any other locale where they can ‘analyze’ and speculate and observe and wonder … 🙂
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Great visuals!! Loved it…
DB McNicol
author, traveler, shutterbug
Author Blog
Personal Blog
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Thanks! So glad you liked it! Thanks for reading and commenting …
(as for the visuals … I know from experience the realities of pale-or-lobster, even WITH sun-screen …).
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Two stories in one- lobster guy and tree man! Excellent.
My go at Friday Fictioneers!
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🙂 Thanks, Keith!
I think lobster guy will not appreciate being his own story but … I have a feeling his story might’ve kept him up that night tossing and turning to find a tolerable non-scalded position …
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Observing the locals is always a tourist’s pastime.
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Totally! One of my faves … though I admit to also “people watching” the tourists … 😉
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Lovely dialogue. You really capture the relationship between these two very well. And I love the last line. Funny.
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Thank you, Margaret! 🙂
What a lovely comment, and I’m so glad you liked it.
🙂
It was fun to write …
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This is wonderful dialogue Na’ama! Clever back and forth and lots of back story. Nice job!
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Thank you, Dawn!
It was fun to write! 🙂
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