The drawer was pulled open. The utensils slammed against the back from force. The plastic tray holding them scraped the bottom, the same rattle-scrape for twenty-five years.
These knives were once weapons used against us both.
I’ll be glad when they’re gone.
To find out what the gargleblaster is, click the badge above. You can read the other entries into the challenge and vote for your favorites on Tuesday.
Edited to add: Hey look! I came in 7th and earned myself a top row seven badge. Yay me!
Sounds like the movie, Mr and Mrs smith. 😛
… just with a much less attractive cast!
I remember the post you wrote about those knives last year; it stuck with me for a long, long time. Here’s hoping they’re gone soon.
I’m glad you enjoyed that post, Sam!
I liked the visual of the utensils sliding back by force, I could hear that sound in my head.
We will all be better when the knives are put away. Nice write.
Thanks, Kir! I can still hear the sound of that drawer in my head, even though I haven’t actually heard it in over a decade.
Such a visual piece. Like Kir said, I could hear the sound in my head, too.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
A moment with powerful clarity. There’s just enough here to raise goosebumps.
Thanks!
Perfect imagery. Your words are most evocative!
Thank you!
The “slam” and “rattle-scrape,” wonderful sounds. I love how the title is so integral to the meaning of the piece.
I could really use a lot more than 42 words to tell the whole story, but I thought this was a nice chunk of it.
Wait, what?
Yes.
I say get rid of them already! I remember the knife post. So heartbreaking.
Getting rid of them is another part of the story.
Wow. Powerfully executed, Michelle. I can hear that scraping – and feel the tension beneath the words.
Thanks, Suzanne!
This was intense and focused. Sharp, like the knives.
Thanks!
“The same rattle-scrape for twenty-five years” is the part that really gets me…not only can I hear that sound, but can hear that rattle-scrape endlessly scraping over and over again throughout the years. Vividly.
I think sounds from our childhoods are like that – such a huge part of our lives.
I remember the knife post, too. I love the title of this post and how you continue the story.
Thanks Marcy!
Great use of the ‘homey’ kitcheny sound of cutlery drawers in contrast to the threat of violence. *shivers*
Thanks so much!
That slamming moment! I can hear it, Michelle!
Thanks Shailaja!
ha, this is fantastic. How clever!
Thank you.
Your talent for scene setting is so evident here. I could picture/hear this vividly, and the emotion behind it all.
Thanks for the kind words, Meg!
So long hurtful knives! Very happy for you. Time to move on.
Yes, it is.
i really like how you described the sounds vividly hear. the rattle-scrape. the slam. it answers the prompt so well.
additionally, i especially like how you linked it to your old post. even though it was a tough, sad read, so it must have been even harder to write and share about. thanks for sharing about your experience, despite how painful it must have been.
it will be good to let those knives go.
Thanks for such a thoughtful comment and for taking the time to go back to the old post. I was working on a longer essay about the estate sale at my childhood home and during a break from writing it I read the prompt for this week. It was just one of those crazy coincidences.
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