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Uncle Albert`s Wake

by tusker 

Posted: 17 April 2008
Word Count: 407
Summary: Flash 1 challenge; space


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Bella, an excellent cook, fretted on the day of Uncle Albert's funeral with the knowledge that her dear departed relation, a proud bachelor billionaire, would've have expected a grand send off. So in the centre of his garden, just a mere twenty acres of lush lawn, a marquee had been erected in readiness for his wake later that afternoon.

After Uncle Albert's coffin had been laid to rest in the family's marble mausoleum, hundreds of mourners, under their breaths, wondered how an ordinary coffin of ordinary size had accomodated the incredible bulk of the deceased in such a small space? But no one dared to address that question to Bella.

At 3.30pm Bella, accompanied by her husband, Reginald, arrived back at The Lodge issuing instructions to the head caterer of Yum Yums that she would continue to tend the boar she'd prepared, the previous evening, now wrapped in foil and, with the help of her husband, placed on a revolving spit which now turned lazily over a
log fire.

When the mourners descended, they gathered around the roasting boar, marvelling at the delicious aroma of herbs and garlic teasing their twitching nostrils, causing saliva to dribble from their lips.

One guest remarked quietly to another that surely the foil should be removed. Bella, overhearing the comment, retorted briskly that her herbs and spices must infuse well into the meat. A famous food critic looked doubtful. Bella caught his look and went on to state, that the foil would be removed only at the correct time to allow the boar's skin to form the most superb crackling they'd all wish to eat.

Uncle Albert's friend, Francois Duvent,a cordon bleu chef, owner of a string of restaurants, took a step back from the debate. No one, even experts, dared disagree with the hostess who considered herself ten notches above Delia Smith.

Then sighing with satisfaction, Bella whispered to her ever anxious husband standing by her side, 'Do stop fidgeting, darling. How many times did Uncle Albert insist that his body should not be wasted?'

Nervously casting a meek smile at his wife, Reginald glanced over to Uncle Albert's favourite Acacia tree where his limbs and head, last evening, had been ceremoniously buried. Then opening his mouth to contradict, shut it again, not daring to argue the point that Bella's departed uncle had specified that his body was to be donated to Medical Science and not stuck on a spit.






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Comments by other Members



Inspiration at 16:42 on 17 April 2008  Report this post
This is great. It sounds very much like those Edwardian/Victorian horror tales I love so much!

A few little nits: I think the sentence that begins with At 3.30...is rather long.

And I knew what the punchline was going to be, but I'm sure that is only because it's just the sort of story I am tuned in to. Saying that, I think that once you get to the sentence that 'his body shouldn't be wasted' we know for sure what's happened to him. Because of this, I'm not certain that we need the last paragraph. Or it perhaps could be blended into one - still allowing for that extra shocking 'bite' at the end.

It's the best wake I've heard of in a long time. Remind me not to ask my husband to have my body donated to medical science!

Chilling stuff!

XXInnIXX



V`yonne at 16:49 on 17 April 2008  Report this post
I knew what was coming. I think you maybe need to keep us in suspense a bit but lush descriptions and you really drew the horror out with that crackling Liked YumYums

tusker at 17:07 on 17 April 2008  Report this post
Thanks you two. Hate pork ever since I find out it tastes like human flesh.

Jennifer

Jumbo at 23:37 on 18 April 2008  Report this post
Jennifer

Great writing - all those smells and gastric juices. And some clever names!

So does pork taste like human flesh, or or does human flesh taste like pork?

Or does cooked meat just taste like cooked meat?

I agree with the comment re that 3.30 sentence. (In fact I'd cut the At 3.30am as I don't think knowing the time adds anything to the story.

Chilling stuff - well, perhaps not so chilling, more roasting!

Thanks for the read.

Cheers



tusker at 06:37 on 19 April 2008  Report this post
Thanks John.

Jennifer

tractor at 17:43 on 19 April 2008  Report this post
Hi Jennifer,

I can imagine the Medici family appreciating this end of Uncle Albert!

Great fun.

Mark

tusker at 17:57 on 19 April 2008  Report this post
Thanks Mark. Folk don't change despite centuries passing by, do they?

Jennifer

crowspark at 22:10 on 19 April 2008  Report this post
Hi Jennifer
A super flash! Lovely description and a crisp pace.
Ok, I guessed what was going to happen but it was a lovely trip.

Thanks for the read.

tusker at 06:49 on 20 April 2008  Report this post
Thanks Bill.


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