Elf in the Break Room

A short prompt I did a while back. I can’t say all the writing I do for my prompts is always top notch or stunning but it always pays to start writing poorly executed or stunning to read I wrote it either way and in the end the whole point of a prompt is just that.  Here’s this week’s prompt.

Elf in the  Break Room.

The torn, stained, and sagging couch swallows me whole. Book in hand I lean against the armrest, chips crunching between my teeth.

“Busy day huh,” I nod, as the old man who’s name I don’t know walks past me. He works in this place’s garden, cutting and pruning the vegetables. I believe they call it a prep room. Falling into one of the wooden chairs that, like petals around a wilting blossom, make up the break room. He glances over his shoulder.

“Now, do those help you hear better?” he asks.

“Wouldn’t know,” I reply crunching on another chip as I finger through my romance.

“Thought I’d ask,” he works his hands along his lunch bag stale fingers creaking as he tries to open up the clenching teeth that bind his bag.

Maybe he’ll get it. My ears bob up and down to the creaking of his arm.

“Here,” fingering the teeth into place I ease it open.

“Thanks,” the old man replies with a huff of breath, “Enjoying your job?” he asks popping off the lid of one of the ‘plastic’ containers.

“Good enough,” I reply, sitting back down.

“Boss not too much trouble then.”

“She’s fine.”

“Guess that’s good, now if you don’t mind me saying.”

I draw my eyes back up peering over the spine of my book.

“Now don’t take this as anything but an observation from an old man but, I never thought your people were as, attractive,” he hushes the word out like a cat in a fish market, “As everyone said, now don’t take this the wrong way, but,” He takes a breath of air, “You’re a very attractive young lady, but that’s just the observation of an old man.” He turns to the tv, “If I was twenty years younger,” he shakes his head spooning up a mashed salad.

“Thank you,” I reply lowering the pages enough for a smile to pass between us.

“Just my honest observation.”

What a different but kind man I think humming to the tune of the wind that whips around the building. The tune taking on a warmer tone that kindles around my heart.