“They call me ‘The Pocket Lady.’ I’m not sure who came up with that name, but it fits. You see, I am the featured attraction at the Children’s Museum. Yes, they come to see dinosaur bones, learn about the Milky Way and all the planets in the solar system, but at the end of the day, there is one final delight and that is me. I’m not bragging, mind you. See, I’m at the end of their journey through mazes, facts, films, and such. They spot the old lady with the white frizzled hair, rosy cheeks, and a kind smile.” A smile slowly spread across her flushed, wrinkled cheeks.
“But what really sets me apart from everyone else, is my bright, happy apron, with a background color of the bluest sky, dotted with rainbows, unicorns, sunshine and lollipops. There are bluebirds, too, and fuzzy white bunnies and puppies. All the children delight in looking at the pictures, but that’s not all. Oh, no. The apron is covered in pockets. Not just any pocket, mind you. Pockets full of sweets and treats. One at a time, these little angels—and sometimes devils—will line up to stick their hand in a pocket and pull out a surprise!” She stopped for a moment and stared off in the distance. “I never tire of seeing the joy on their faces when they pull out their little hands. They’re so happy they even give an old lady a hug.”
The smile disappeared replaced with a frown. She paused for a moment and stared at the floor. “Bugger, I’ll miss those faces. You see, I was fired today. One of the parents smelled liquor on my breath and complained. I thought the mints did the trick.”
Pocket lady swigged from a tiny silver flask she pulled from a pocket. Then she folded the happy apron neatly, and put it away—for good.
Leave a comment about an unusual character like “The Pocket Lady,” from your own childhood. I’d love to hear from you!
Penelope Silvers is founder of PhilosBooks.com,
where Independent Authors are introduced to the World!
She is a freelance writer, publisher, and radio host of
Penelope’s Book Chat on Blog Talk Radio.
Hi, this was good! Never saw the ending coming. You posted it on Noelle’s birthday. Sorry I haven’t written but choked on Thanksgiving, couldn’t breath or talk. Since then I haven’t been able to swallow and lost a lot of weight. Got tested yesterday and they say nothing is wrong but I still can’t swallow. I will write soon or call.
Hugs, Micki
Thanks, Micki. So sorry to hear of your health challenges, especially over the holidays. I’m glad to hear you liked the story, and didn’t see the ending coming! I like writing those kind of twists, and wrote this short story for my 8-week, Future Learn Writing Fiction course. It was awesome, and FREE! For anyone who’d like to check it out, here’s the link: Future Learn Writing Fiction Course
The course is ongoing, and even if you’re already writing, it’s a great refresher. You’ll love the student participation and critiques on your work. Take care of yourself and we’ll talk soon. Love and hugs.
P.S. Happy Birthday, Noelle! 🙂