WEE WE INTERACTIVE WRITING- Mrs. Peabody goes...

It was long over due, this trip to the cleaners. She was frustrated by the load of soiled garments the others had left piled high at the u store it. On impulse she decided to gather them up and take them to the cleaners, this was prompted by her irritation over the red lipstick stain left on her new jade silk blouse. A blouse she had never worn and from the shade of lipstick she just knew it was Candy who had taken the liberty of wearing her new blouse without permission, not that Mrs. P would have allowed her to borrow it, maybe that's why Candy had decided to help herself. So off to the cleaners she went, arms loaded with assorted clothing, an interesting mix of women's garments in various styles, all one size.

As she left the cleaners she began to cross the alley when she stumbled, turning her ankle just before landing on her knees. The alley was gritty and dirty made worse by the rain that had fallen all day and continued to fall. She knew her stockings had ripped but as she stood and again stumbled she knew it was worse, she had broken a heel off of her new pumps. "Damn, what rotten luck" she exclaimed. The need to assign blame was instant, she thought of the pile of clothing in the corner of the u store, she thought of the city and how the pot holes seemed more abundant this year, she thought if only the cleaners had better parking available she would not have had to park a block away. Standing she slipped off her shoes to take inventory. Her stockings were ruined, her knees were scraped and her new hat was at this moment dancing down the alley bobbing up and down, carried by the wind. Removing her shoes, she went off in pursuit of her wayward hat.

As she pursued her hat the wind subsided just long enough for it to land near a carriage house right behind the cleaners. She quickly swooped in and nearly lost her balance as she grabbed it just before the wind blew again. "Gotcha, you little bugger", she was relieved that the alley appeared vacant as she didn't often have dialogue with inanimate objects and wouldn't want anyone to think her daft. With her immediate crisis over she began to admire the lovely carriage house, she had never noticed it here before but then again she had never chased her hat into the alley way before. She was intrigued by the location and the horseshoe knocker on the door. Weren't horseshoes supposed to be lucky? She could due with a bit of luck about now; she decided to touch the horseshoe, just for luck. Standing in front of the door she ran her gloved fingers over the metal, the impulse was at once overpowering, she lifted the knocker. Before she had time to second guess her actions, the door was answered. A deep male voice welcomed her, inviting her inside.

Mrs. Peabody was led to large room with a table and many Rocking chairs. The fire in the fireplace gave warmth to the room and the furniture gave an old world charm. Mrs. Peabody loved wood; in this place much of the furniture was wooden and old, highly polished and so very comforting. The Rockers were of varying styles and periods, the cushioned seats were all different as well. Mrs. Peabody chose a cherry wood rocker with a pink satin and lace cushion. As her tired feet touch the floor she was comforted by the hardwood. Bare feet on hard wood was such a pleasant sensation. This place was full of delights for the senses. This place was a wonder, she felt no unease here. There were others sitting in various rockers but no one spoke. Each person seemed at ease and perfectly content with their own thoughts and company. Some quietly ate chili or nibbled on warm buttered bread, the combined scents heavenly. She did not feel awkward in this room which was unusual, it wasn't often Mrs. Peabody could venture out without receiving stares from gawky, rude people. She thought she understood; after all how often does one encounter a six foot tall three hundred pound woman with five o'clock shadow?

Mrs. Peabody found peace here; she sipped white wine that seemed to magically appear in her hand and let the stress of the day fall from her shoulders. Her irritation with the others and their irresponsibility with the clothing had vanished; her worries about Candy and Auntie Mia were gone, not that Auntie Mia ever caused any problems. Give that woman an apron and some flour and she was content. Mrs. Peabody had stumbled through the door of a new world, a world where she could be Mrs. Peabody. She suddenly understood the term "Me Time".

As she glanced around the table at the other visitors she wondered where their thoughts were. She wondered if they were thinking about their families, their future plans or just taking a trip down their own memory lanes. Mrs. Peabody envied those who possessed memories. She herself had none of her life as Mrs. Peabody. She knew she was an older woman but always gave her age as forty when asked. She knew no one would dare question her, she was a large woman. She knew she had once been briefly married to a very wealthy man; he made her a very wealthy widow. She had traveled the world but couldn't remember a single landmark. Over the years she had taken many lovers though she could not remember a single face or romantic interlude. She knew all the details of her life but had no memories other than those of the last twenty-two years when she found herself trapped inside Steve's body. She could talk for hours about the places she had been and the life she had lived but she couldn't muster an image in her mind. Facts, all she had were the facts.

As she sat in front of the cozy warmth of the fire, she prayed this cottage was not a mirage. She knew she would have to come back to this wonderland in the alley.