A Strange Love Triangle

By Ellen Bowers Davenport

                John, Marsh, and Winnie worked in a small office and often shared their breaks and lunches with each other. They were all good friends and often the three of them would go out after work to enjoy an evening together. 

        “Abby, I’ve known Marsh and John for over two years, and neither of them has ever asked me out alone. Until now. Marsh asked me out to dinner this weekend. Just the two of us. I know I’ll have a good time, but I have been trying to get John to notice me. What should I do?”

        “Am I that ugly?” she asked, looking in the mirror.

        “No Winnie, you are a beautiful person, inside and out. Why don’t you go to dinner with Marsh, and then, next week, keep talking about how much fun you had. Maybe that will make John take notice,” Abby suggested. 

        “Yes, it should make him jealous,” Winnie said, staring into a mirror and patting her hair. 

        Saturday night Winnie and Marsh went to a trendy bar and had a wonderful time. The music and food were excellent, and the atmosphere was very romantic. When Winnie made a trip to the ladies' room, she noticed John, sitting alone, in a dark corner booth. Smiling to herself, when she returned to her table, she leaned over and kissed Marsh, and touching his cheek, told him how much she was enjoying their time together.

        When Monday rolled around, Winnie went into work with a smile on her face. She walked by John’s desk and cheerfully asked if he had had a good weekend.

        “Fine,” he snarled, turning away from her.

        Midmorning coffee break was always a welcome interlude in their busy office, and the three friends usually met up in the lounge. Winnie had grabbed a doughnut and a coffee and was heading for an empty table when John asked if he could join her.

        Inwardly smiling, she answered, “Sure.”

        John sat and stirred his coffee absently, although Winnie knew he took it black. “Winnie, I saw you Saturday night out with Marsh. You looked like you were enjoying yourselves.”

        “Oh,” she replied, “did you wish it were you I was out with?”

        “No, actually, I wished I was out with Marsh.”  

~~~~~~~

       NOTE: Ellen’s story is from the September Writing Exercise. The challenge was to write a story inspired by a common trope and subvert it. The Love Triangle is a familiar and very common trope with predictable, often uninteresting, conflicts. Ellen was able to subvert it, creating a surprising and interesting ending to her story. –Charles

 Ellen’s book is a record of the 100 years of reunions of the descendants 

of Job Bowers and Elizabeth Ballenger Bowers. The record spans a century of changes,

 in society, the world, and families and lists the 

names of attendees each year.

      

Ellen's  book.is available  CLICK Here