The Surprise Present

*** Entry for Daily Flash Fiction contest (300 words or less). Prompt: Write a story involving a ball of yarn, a telephone, and a candle. ***

I don’t ever receive nothin’ by mail, ‘cept bills and credit card ads. I was real supprised to see a package at me front door this morning, wrapped in heavy brown paper.

I adjusted me reading spectacles, ‘n read the label. Me name was on there, all right! Whatever can this mean?

I shaked the box and listened. My curiosity got the best o’ me and I ripped it opened. There sure was lots of tissue paper! But wait... a piece of yarn sticked out at the top. I pulled, and rolled, and pulled, and rolled. Man, there was ‘nough yarn in there to make a whole scarf!

I kept pulling ‘till I reached the end. The ball of yarn was now bigger than me cat! There was sumpthin’ tied up at the end of the yarn, a candle, all gold and glittery.

I took the box to throw it away, but sumpthin’ else was in there! I digged out all the tissue paper and found... a remote? ... a telephone? What in the world is that gizmo? I pushed the green button, and heard a sweet voice:

“If you still care for an old flame,
Show the lit candle in the window
I’ll knit you a sweater just the same
As I did b’fore I became... a widow!”

I peeked at the house across the street and saw Martha, my sweet Martha! Back after so long! I should have knowed! Only her can make such lousy poems.

The candle rested beside the telephone... the recorder... the thing. Me cat practically destroyed the ball of yarn. And me? I was already across the street, huggin’ Martha!

(276 words)