A Brief Scene

Today's Prompt: Write a brief scene that includes the following: a wilting poinsettia; misgivings; a scruffy dog; a loud bang; the smell of boiled shrimp.
(Reprinted by permission all rights reserved (c) C.M. Mayo "Giant Golden Buddha and 364 More 5 Minute Writing Exercises"  www.cmmayo.com/d5mwe.html)

Rebecca sat erect on the edge of the couch, willing away the wave of nausea that washed over her with the smell of boiled shrimp coming from the kitchen. She wasn't sure if it was her father's cooking or her own misgivings that were making her sick.

She smoothed the folds of her floor-length ball gown. She'd never dressed so extravagantly in all her life. But instead of feeling elated, she felt sinkingly like the wilting poinsettia on the coffee table. What was she thinking? She couldn't go to the party with Darren Bentley. She was sure to make a fool of herself. He was surely regretting his choice this very moment.

No, he was pulling into the driveway, his gleaming Jaguar making her father's Volvo look even shabbier than usual. She saw Darren jump out, dashing in his tailored black tux, heading for the front door. There was a loud bang when he knocked. Somehow she couldn't will her legs to move until her father appeared in the kitchen doorway, wiping his hands on a towel.

"Do you want me to get that, honey?"

"No." She leapt up, kicking aside the scruffy dog that curled up by the front door, and turned the knob.

That was fun,
The Brown-Eyed Girl