A Tale Of Two Travelers...A Short Story

Let the Weekly Writing Challenge fun begin!

This week we have a picture and five words to include in a short flash fiction challenge. In some ways I like this challenge over the two photographs and no words challenge.

Of course, if you'd like to join in on all the fun, just follow these rules:

1) Use the above photo and five randomly-chosen words in your story.

2) Keep your word count 500 or less (or a few more words if they're needed...).

3) You have until next Tuesday night to link up your story.

4) Use the Blue Link to add your story at Leanne's, or Tena's websites--follow the instructions.

5) Have fun, don't stress, and let those creative juices flow!

This week's five words to include in your story are:

Wine

Arm

Frown

Chapel

Bottle

And so, on with the show!

A Tale Of Two Travelers

Sarah and Jim were hardly unique, but due to increased claims submitted to various Human Resources departments across the country, relationships between co-workers were discouraged if not outright prohibited. So when the two accountants working for Clark, Putnum & Schartz got engaged, got married and returned from their honeymoon, their friends at the firm could hardly wait to hear the details of their romantic trip to France.

Bess pulled Sarah to the break room the first change she got upon her return.

"Sarah! So, how was it? How was Paris? Was it just like in the movies?"

"Please, Bess--one question at at time!" the newlywed said, a glow still surrounding her young face. "First...Oh, Bess! It was wonderful! Just wonderful! As soon as we landed and took a taxi to our hotel, I knew I was in heaven! Jim was just a prince--he even carried me across the hotel room threshold--we laughed and laughed about that as he opened a bottle of wine. Oh! And the view! Our room was across the Seine from Notre Dame! Look!"

Sarah fired up her phone and showed her a picture of the famous Paris landmark. Bess swooned.

"And here's the Arc d' Triumph, and the Eiffel Tower, and Sacré-Cœur Chapel..." Sarah raced through the pictures hardly giving her friend a chance to catch up."

"Oh, and here's the underground cemetery--you're not allowed to take pictures, but I snuck one," Sarah said as a picture of a subterranean wall composed entirely of human skulls shown on her phone.

"What's that?" Bess said as another picture went flying by. 

"Oh, that's that bridge."

"What bridge?"

"Yes, you know. There's a bridge in Paris where a couple's supposed to put a lock on the bridge then throw the key into the Seine. It's supposed to bring good luck."

"I've never heard of it," Bess admitted.

"Oh, it's famous! We found it walking around and I begged Jim to go buy a lock so we could start our marriage off right. He said he didn't believe in silly superstitions. I gave him a frown and then he did the sweetest thing. He gently took my arm and whispered in my ear, 'Sweetheart,' he said. 'There's only one lock in my life--the lock that opens my heart and you are the only person I'm giving the key to, so we don't need some French trinket to remind me just how madly in love I am with you.' Oh, Bess--it was perfect! Just perfect!"

The women hugged and even shed a tear or two.

Meanwhile, as the women spoke, Tom leaned over the cubicle wall that separated himself and Jim. "Hey--you're back! So, how was the honeymoon?"

Jim looked up at his friend while he continued typing an e-mail. 

"Good. Oh...and the food was great." The two men nodded at each other then each went back to work.

Word Count: 493