Saturday, April 12, 2014

K is for . . . THE KNISH

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.


*****


THE KNISH

Edna wanders the farmers’ market, another lonely old woman trying to lose, and find, herself in the crowd.

A knish stand appears as if conjured from her childhood’s Brooklyn neighborhood. The old man hands her the warm, doughy potato goodness. Grease seeps through the wrapper, coats her fingers. The first bite takes her home - to the corner deli, to Italian ices and chocolate egg creams, to boys playing stickball, to wishing Tony Lombardi would notice her….

“That’s three dollars, Miss.” The old man grins, winks.

Blushing like a fool, she pays, and catches a glimpse of his name tag.

Anthony.

*****

34 comments:

  1. Could it be...?
    Be sure to stop by today, Madeline!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love that fact that it's taste that conjures the memory :)
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
    Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alex - I'm on my way! :)

    Sophie - I usually try to work different senses into my writing as much as I can. Glad this worked!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ah, so she does get her "Tony-Anthony"? Or at least a wink. :) Nice story!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh now I LOVED that wrap up that leaves you hanging! Great flash!

    ReplyDelete
  6. BTW, pinned your blog on my blogs I like board...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lisa - thank you so much! And I really appreciate your comment on my "A" post.

    Susan - you never know.... :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the imagery you provide.

    ~Patricia Lynne~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, YA Author

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love it! If I ever fall in love over a knish, my life will be made. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love this! You sucked me right into the story...and you made me want a knish!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Patricia, Madeline - thank you!

    Liza - I actually had a knish today. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. It was so descriptive that I'm hungry now. I'd like a knish, too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That's really cute, I love it! I love your line, "...trying to lose and find herself in the crowd." Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Kudos and glad to see you're helping to elevate the knish to its rightful status as repository of memories and catalyst for stories and deliciousness.

    Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fanny - if only I could've shared the one I had today with you all. :)

    Laura - love your comment! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Aww, this is so clever! Great little story :) Now I have to look up a recipe for knish, never heard of it!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Perfect! In my mind I know it's her Tony. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. KMcHendry, Bob - thank you!

    Phoenix - watch out, that will be dangerous. :)

    Julie - maybe…. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Pretty neat, thoughtful beginning and loved the ending, too! Hope it's his Tony :)
    Andrea, #atozchallenge Mighty Minion Asset
    Music and Words
    My Road To Happiness
    The Script Bible


    ReplyDelete
  20. That was so awesome! Love the ending. How cool that you are not only doing the A to Z challenge but it's a challenge with 1 new story each day!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Madeline, a new follower here. I envy writers who can write short fiction (100 words). I just need a whole lot of words to tell a story :(

    Loved ' The Knish'

    ReplyDelete
  22. Rachna - thanks! I don't usually start out with just 100 words - I have to keep cutting it down until I get to the kernel, the heart of the story.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Just that one word "Anthony" leads to so many possibilities. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Crystal - more stories or more knishes? :)

    Susan - you're welcome!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ah, a knish sounds delicious right now! Cute story! Just came by to say "hi" from Alex's!

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have no idea what a knish looks like, but what a beautiful little story. Taste and smell are such wonderful nudges to memory.
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings - AtoZ (Vampires)
    FB3X - AtoZ (Erotic Drabbles)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Empty Nest - thanks! And thank you for stopping by.

    Tasha - if you like potato, you'd like a knish. :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. LOVE this one!! You took me back there with her to the corner store. I could practically feel the grease on my fingers and see the kids playing stickball in the street. You are truly talented!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Kristin - I love when my work does that for people!

    ReplyDelete
  30. How cute!!!

    And Knishes were always one of my favorite parts of visiting the city (I grew up about an hour north so we went there a lot).

    ReplyDelete