Hello Dear Readers! Today it’s time for the weekly Trifecta Writing Challenge. The challenge is to write a 333-word story using the third definition of the word doctor: a : material added (as to food) to produce a desired effect or b : a blade (as of metal) for spreading a coating or scraping a surface.
Mr. Wondlewinkie Takes a Spill
Vonks Wondlewinkie climbed the stepladder and peered over the vines that separated his backyard from Mrs. Vera Trupp’s. “Have you seen my Mr. Coffee Machine, Mrs. Trupp?” He asked.
Mrs. Vera Trupp didn’t look up from weeding her petunias, “no, sorry.”
Vonks Wondlewinkie brushed away a vine that was tickling his ear. “Well, it’s been missing for months now, and it has a lot of sentimental value because I brought it with me when I immigrated eight years ago from the Province of Foy.”
Vera sighed as she carefully worked in some coffee grounds to doctor her over-used soil. Vera wanted to suggest that Vonks Wondlewinkie just go to Starbucks for his coffee like she and every other American did, newly immigrated or not. But bringing up any topic would cause Vonks Wondlewinkie to launch into yet another, long-involved story about his immigration from the Province of Foy eight years ago– so she just stayed silent.
“What’s that you’re mixing into the soil Mrs. Trupp?” Vonks Wondlewinkie asked as he pulled on the vine that kept tickling his ear in an unsuccessful attempt to uproot it (the more he pulled, however, the more it kept coming — like a handkerchief up a clown’s sleeve).
“Coffee grounds, Mr. Wondlewinkie.”
Vonks Wondlewinkie continued pulling at the vine as he chatted. “Coffee grounds? “
“They’re good for the soil.” Vera explained quickly. “Look around you, Mr. Wondlewinkie! Vera made a grand, sweeping motion with her trowel at her numerous beds of lovely Petunias populating every square inch of her backyard. “The best crop I’ve ever had!”
But Vonks Wondlewinkie had both hands on the vine now and gave it a mighty yank which sent him toppling off his ladder.
“Mr. Wondlewinkie!” Vera shouted through the vines. “Are you alright? But Vonks Wondlewinkie was unresponsive.
Vera panicked and bolted to the house to call 911. But even in her haste, still had the presence of mind to stash the Mr. Coffee Machine in the cupboard.
Manufactured in the Province of Foy
Until next time . . . I love you
I do hope dear Mr. Wondlewinkie is feeling alright and suffered no broken bones, because the nursing staff at the hospital would make a terrible mess writing his name on the admissions patient bracelet.
haha Ronnie. Sure enough he’d probably end up going home as somebody’s new born baby whose bracelet read Winkelwondie–
Excellent twist!….
I’m glad you liked it Ned!
Wondlewinkie! lol
What a writer you are! I enjoyed reading this, as I will others here…Skip
Ah hah! That’s where my coffee machine went!
Ah Drat!! I was hoping you’d been too busy to read this one . . .but no . . .just my luck . . . Andy’s got some extra time today . . . .wouldn’t you know it!!
~Walks off with it~ not gonna get past me! Nooooooo siree!!
Oh yeah, buster! Says who?
I think if Vera Trupp had a name like Vonks Wodlewinkie, she would want her irst and last name used every time she was referred to too.
But she’d still keep the coffe maker.
I know, the only thing Vera’s really got going for her is that “referred to thing”.
Oh she’s going to keep that coffee maker until it breaks! Then she’ll make a trip to the Province of Foy to buy another one just like it.
Hahahaha! You are such a clever writer!
Ah thank you so much Undercover!!
The names you come up with crack me up!
Ah Thank you Deanabo. They are fun to play around with!
did you get my message?
No? What message?
hahaha another great story… you always come up with the most interesting characters.^^
Thank you kz. So glad you enjoyed the antics of Vera and Vonks!
Poor man, all he wants is his coffee machine and she stole it!! Tsk tsk
That Vera! She’s nice enough, but untrustworthy as all get out!
lmao The bad thing is, I’d probably do the same thing
Hm . . . you wouldn’t happen to be from the Province of Foy would you?
Poor Mr. Wondlewinkie! Vera Trupp is doing my trick (not stealing coffee machines – putting the coffee grinds in the soil)
Clever Vera Trupp!
Oh, those tricky, tricky gardening ladies and their secrets! lol Great names, too.
Saw something like that about to happen lol Diane
Ha ha Diane! It’s hard to pull the wool (or vines) over your eyes!
Oh what images you evoke… like a handkerchief up a clown’s sleeve… I love that one. And the going to Starbucks… good one!
Thank you Ted. I think it’s safe to say that vines are much more interesting than shrubs!
I love the Starbucks suggestion that Vera Trupp didn’t make. lol
Haha Bee!! I know! She’s a mass of contradictions isn’t she?
Fun story.
Thanks Katie and thank you for coming by to check it out!
This is another O’Henry-like story, full of irony and sadness. Here, all he wants is the coffee, and all she wants is the grounds, but due to cruel fate (and a little larceny) neither is fully happy. Oh yeah, I guess Vera is just fine, if she can live with the guilt (I think she can!) Great one.
Gosh, Lumdog, I was having a pretty good day until I read your powerful take on Vera and Vonks. Now I’m feeling peckish and temperamental about their cruel fate, and I don’t even know exactly what peckish means! So I’m giving you comment two thumbs up! (I’m going to go look up peckish now).
Well, I think peckish means that you are a little hungry, perhaps for coffee grounds? If so, I suspect a monosodium glutamate deficiency. I’d immediately grab some Egg Fu Yung. But I didn’t mean for you to feel bad; I was really thinking that, at least Vera, was on top of things, like her mountain of coffee grounds and Vonks…he’s just hapless.
Haha Lumdog!
Well now I’m totally peckish for some Egg Fu Yung and some hot coffee!! That really does sound good!!
Ha!ha!Such a sly one that Vera:-)Her “quick” explanation did make me suspicious-& what presence of mind to hide the coffee machine in the cupboard even in an emergency;-)As expected you managed to tickle me pink-again
Ah Thanks Atreyee! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Haha you’re right about Vera’s presence of mind being pretty impressive. She should get a job as an Emergency Medical Technician, but alas, I fear it would take too much time away from her precious Petunias.
Oh,who can not enjoy your writing Linda:-)That’s what an EMT is-was going to look it up today-we have no such occupation here-so though I guessed from EL Guapo’s piece that it has to be somethg to do with the medical profession ,was wondering-how we learn every day:-)Funny,whenever I hear “petunia” ,am always reminded of Porky’s gf,lol!
Oh I remember Petunia!! Haha! I haven’t thought of Porky Pig’s girlfriend in years. LOL! She’s a much undervalued cartoon character.
Where do you live Atreyee? I just figured you were from the U.S. Let me guess . . .the UK?
Sneaky little think that Vera is, hiding the coffee maker so she’s not discovered. I just wonder why couldn’t have her grounds, and he have is coffee too.
Haha Janna! I’m so glad you wondered that! LOL!!
I’m always satisfied and envious after I read you. I like the intellient hunor here. Great piece.
Gosh what a nice compliment. Thank you Lance.
Wonderful! This one was lots of fun to read.
I use coffee in my garden too, so I see why Vera has to guard that pot.
Haha Kitty! I don’t think there’s much Vera wouldn’t do for her beloved petunias!
Lovely. I hope Mr. Wondlewinkie survives his fall. Maybe Vera could buy her own coffee grinder?
Haha! I hope he does too. And Vera definitely needs to go on e-bay and find a coffee grinder!
From the first sentence I laughed and continued ’til the end. Climbing a ladder to ask a neighbor about a missing coffee maker is so absurd it makes you laugh out loud. And then to find out she took it! You are so excellent at this. It brightens my day when I read your writings!
Steph! Thank you so much for your very kind words. Gosh I can’t tell you how good that makes me feel to know I have brightened your day!
Thanks for brightening mine!! 
Exquisite, bwana!! I was sorry when it abruptly ground to a halt. Now I must pack my Mr. Coffee and other essentials– I’m emigrating to the Province of Foy. Wait a minute– what’s that vine coming thru the window??
Aiyieeee! (insert thumping and gurgling noises here) : P
LOL!! It’s so funny, Mark, because I wrote this about a couple of days before my daughter when into labor with her first baby and her anesthesiologist’s name was Dr. Foy! Isn’t that amazing! I had to tell him all about how I had just written about the Province of Foy, but just looked at me kind of funny. I suspect he was a secret agent from the Province of Foy, but I can’t prove it! It’s probably best that the story, as you so aptly pointed out, ground to a halt! LOL!!