Words for Wednesday

 

Words for Wednesday

River has supplied the words for this week’s prompt. They are: conviviality   adoration   willpower   mellow   gentle   guitar

The aim of the words is to encourage some form of writing. Why not join in and also visit some of the other participants?

Will Power was a gentle giant. At least, that’s what his friends called him. He was embarrassed by the nickname and understood how awful his girlfriend felt when everyone referred to her as Miss Conviviality.

That name was not given in a spirit of friendliness, more as a slur on her character. In her teenage years she had been too generous with her affections to the bolder youths of the small seaside town, thinking that was the way to gain popularity. What she had mistakenly thought was adoration proved to be contempt and scorn. Changing her attitude had brought ridicule, since the lads refused to believe she was different. Will had watched and listened and made up his own mind.

He saw how she sat apart from the rowdy crowd on the beach, strumming softly on her guitar and singing in a sweet, low voice. He watched as the rougher youths catcalled and made lewd remarks and how she made no response. He noticed how the quieter girls sat close to her, as if to protect her.

He decided he liked her and wanted to know her. He courted her in an old-fashioned manner, and she responded cautiously, her nervousness and distrust slowly giving way to confidence and self-belief. Will’s strength and assurance gave her poise and grace.

Gradually, the taunting voices fell silent, and the town ne’er-do-wells slunk away like scalded cats. No foolish young man dared any longer to belittle her. Will was mild-mannered, but would stand no nonsense from anyone. He would never start a fight but would not hesitate to finish one.

In the mellow sunset of a late summer evening, Will asked her to marry him, and she consented. Peace and happiness followed and the unpleasant past became a faint memory.