Shortest one I've done, I think. This a 'subtext' challenge - thank you Sarah for providing the both the challenge and the situation - or there wouldn't have been one this week.
A Housewarming Gift - 514 Words
“What do you think?” Marcia peered at a black glass and marble table lamp.
“Very…um…designer,” Suze said. “So, have you seen their place? I mean is that the sort of look they’re…”
“No, well, I don’t know. It’s Barry’s sort of thing, though, isn’t it?”
“I suppose. Yes. He likes things like that.”
“It’s not just for him, though, is it,” Marcia said. “The trouble is I don’t really know what she likes. I’ve only met her a few times.”
“Oh?” Suze said, picking up a paperweight and weighing it in her hand, looking at the flower frozen in the glass.
“Well, you know. We’re all so busy these days!”
“That’s the twenty-first century for you,” Suze said, putting down the paperweight, and absentmindedly rubbing her left arm. “Everyone rushing about, no time to pay attention.”
“Well quite. I feel a bit bad,” Marcia said, “I mean my own brother, you know, and I hardly see him. Anyway Deirdre seems nice enough.”
“I’m sure she is,” Suze said.
“So anyway how are you?” Marcia said, abandoning the lamp and moving towards a basket full of eggs made out of marble and onyx and steel. “These are rather fun.”
“Quite expensive, though,” Suze said. “Unless you buy one a year, and build up a collection, like a charm bracelet. I’m fine.”
“Funny running into you like this. So, are you getting them something?”
“Oh, no,” Suze said. “Barry and I…we’re not really in touch.”
“That’s a shame,” Marcia said.
“What’s she like? Deirdre?”
“Well, like I say, she seems nice enough. I mean the couple of times I’ve met her. Lively girl. She’s younger than him, of course. Well you were too, weren’t you?”
“I still am.”
“Well of course, you know what I mean. She’s a bit like you, actually. If you don’t mind me saying.”
“Oh?”
“Yes,” Marcia said, turning and looking Suze up and down, with a marble egg in one hand. Suze’s eyes followed the egg, watching it as Marcia gestured. “Yes, she’s slight, and dark, like you. Wish I knew your secret for staying so slim.”
“Stress,” Suze said, with a half-smile.
Marcia turned away and put the egg down and Suze’s shoulders relaxed.
“Oh, and it’s funny, there’s another way she’s like you. Accident prone!”
“Oh?” Suze moved to a shelf full of thin glass vases, and stared at them.
“Yes! She was laughing about it. Great bruise she had, all up her arm. Shut it in the car door, silly girl.”
“Funny,” Suze said, “well, they say men go for a type, don’t they?”
“I suppose so. Oh, dear, I can’t make up my mind. Maybe I’ll buy that lamp after all.”
Suze looked at the lamp. It was big, dark, heavy. The base had brutal corners. “No,” she said. “No, how about…” she cast around for something else, grabbed one of the vases. “How about this?”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Marcia said. “That doesn’t look like Barry’s sort of thing at all.”
“He likes fragile things,” Suze said. “He doesn’t worry about breakages.”
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