This week’s Trifecta writing challenge is to write between 33 and 333 words using the third definition of the word intention:
3a : what one intends to do or bring about
b : the object for which a prayer, mass, or pious act is offered
Mrs. MacSmathers Makes a Phone Call
Mrs. MacSmathers had no intention of calling unwanted attention to herself. Heaven forbid! Hadn’t she always prided herself on her refined good manners and ladylike behavior?
But somehow wherever Mrs. MacSmathers went or whatever Mrs. MacSmathers did, she was always managing to call unwanted attention to herself.
Take yesterday for instance, when it started raining step ladders over Mrs. MacSmathers’ house (and nobody else’s as far as she could tell).
Mrs. MacSmathers placed an emergency call to the International Weather Bureau to report it.
“International Weather Bureau. Larry MacLathers speaking. How may I help you?”
“Mr. MacLathers, this is Mrs. MacSmathers over in DanRathers? And something really weird is happening here.”
“Yes, what seems to be the problem, Mrs. MacSmathers?”
“Well, you see, it’s raining at my house but not at anyone else’s house.”
“Hmm. . . that’s unusual, Mrs. MacSmathers, but not entirely unheard of.”
“But you don’t understand,” said Mrs. MacSmathers. “It’s raining ladders, Larry, . . . . ladders!
“Ladders Mrs. MacSmathers? What kind of ladders?” asked Larry MacLathers.
“Step Ladders.” replied Mrs. MacSmathers.
“Hmm. . . now that is weird. I don’t know what to make of that. I better get my supervisor, Mr. VonBladders. Can I put you on hold, Mrs. MacSmathers?”
“Certainly.”
“Mrs. MacSmathers?”
“Yes.”
“This is Mr. VonBladders, Larry MacLathers’ supervisor. Sorry to hear about your ladders, Mrs. MacSmathers, but there’s really nothing we can do about it. After all, we only report the weather, we don’t cause it. Ha ha! The Eyewitness News is on the way to your house right now. And you are going to be on the 6:00 news tonight Mrs. MacSmathers! How about that? . . . Mrs. MacSmathers? . . . Mrs. MacSmathers are you still there?”
But Mrs. MacSmathers had dropped the receiver to run into the bathroom to fix her hair before the Channel 7 Eyewitness news arrived.
For as we have already said, Mrs. MacSmathers had no intention of calling unwanted attention to herself. Heaven forbid!
The shy, retiring Mrs. MacSmathers of DanRathers.
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Until next time . . . I love you
