29 May, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt (Day 3118) Part 3 | Prompt: throw him under the bus (echarle la culpa a él)
Source
! [Recap Part 2]
A married couple, Lionel and Beverly Buckley's life is about to turn disastrous as summer approaches and their home has become an empty nest. Beverly is searching for her new responsibilities now as not to allow boredom to set in. A feisty female with a wry sense of humor, she's about to bring some excitement into their lives.
Her adorable, but somewhat clueless husband has been chosen as the scapegoat for destroying the neighborhood prize petunias. The HOA is furious and determined to find the culprit.
Beverly provides an anonymous tip to the Association naming Lionel as the culprit. What she doesn't realize is that she has set in motion a series of unexpected events as the HOA President is on the way to her home to interrogate her husband.
HOA President Preston Milworth was hell bent on discovering who killed the potential prizing-winning petunias. As runners-up in State, he promised the master-planned community the coveted winner prize next season.
A severe blow was dealt upon discovering his plans for re-election had gone awry, and his reputation along with it if he didn't unveil the culprit before the upcoming annual HOA meeting.
His deadline: thirty days. However, a stroke of good luck. He'd received a tip.
Now all he had to do was follow up and make a convincing case against the culprit to the HOA Board, one way or the other. And that Board held strong to the promise of greatness.
Almost as famous as the bluebonnets of Texas, the neighborhood prided themselves on last year's petunia blooms. To be celebrated at our nation's capitol was the desire. In other words, those petunias held status; to be protected at all costs hoping to one day vie for the coveted first place title.
As he stood in Lionel Buckley's driveway with shovel in hand, he'd not leave until the culprit admitted guilt.
Preston's greatest strength he reasoned was this ability to unleash a barrage of verbal assaults on his victims. The perfect opportunity presented itself that morning. He moved closer to Lionel and positioned himself in between Stanley, with his back to him as if dismissing him completely.
He extended the shovel in Lionel's direction, but the message was lost in implication.
"On good advice, Lionel Buckley, I accuse you of poisoning the community's petunias. And you call yourself a law-abiding resident of our glorious area! I'd like to know exactly what was your motive and how you intend restitution for your cowardly act? Have you no shame? Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Standing on the cracked concrete of his dilemma, Lionel froze. Approaching the beginning phase of foundation problems; at that moment, he wished it would just open up and swallow him whole.
No such luck. Slowly, he returned to his driveway and scratched his head as if to release the hidden answer. Immediately, he remembered Stanley's advice: squint, look confused, and accidentally look guilty. What Stanley didn't know was that, decades earlier, he'd already mastered these techniques with Beverly. However, he couldn't hold them for any length of time.
So he began.
Hands shaking, in a thick and unsteady voice, Lionel rambled about "mandatory manicuring". He ended with "unrestricted weed growth" that just popped into his head from a news anchor's report he watched the night before. He totally forgot the part of the report referencing various lawn pesticide products available to assist homeowners.
Milworth seized on the opportunity.
He pulled out his notepad from his back pocket and scribbled furiously, "Calculated, anti-establishment manifesto."
Stanley and Lionel just stared blankly, utterly confused how the killing of petunias translated to whatever Milworth was documenting.
Finished writing, Milworth turned to Lionel, bloodshot eyes piercing through his resolve.
"So you admit to being the mastermind behind the murder of our precious petunias? Not to mention, the online negative campaign to disparage the HOA? You've been jealous of me and the outstanding work I've accomplished these five years!" Preston's bulging chest almost pushed Lionel backward.
"What the heck are you talking about?" Lionel stammered, squinted, then opened and closed his mouth rapidly. "I've no reason to be jealous of you. Online. I'm not a member and don't participate on the wide community world, if that's what you mean? rubbing his chin.
"Don't try to cover your tracks," Preston blistered. "Has to be someone local who knows the landscape. And don't sidetrack me. I'm here because of a complaint and accusation against you destroying neighborhood flora", he hissed.
With a pinched face, frigid features, and mouth twisted into a sneer, Preston stared back at Lionel, then shoved a document in his hand. His chiseled forearms glistened in the sun as he gripped the shovel and waited.
Lionel stood dumbfounded, then lowered his head to read the five-page complaint.
It would take him two days to read it. His head jerked up.
"You have been forewarned. The official complaint will be delivered to you as early as next Wednesday."
With that, Preston Milworth hammered the shovel close to Lionel's feet, turned, and walked down the driveway. He glanced back, shot a venomous glance toward Lionel and Stanley before entering his vehicle. Backing up into Lionel's driveway, he came dangerously close to hitting the two men.
Visibly shaking, Lionel slowly looked at Stanley. Blood drained from his face. He made a quiet sound of helplessness.
"Stay frosty, my brother," Stanley hissed, his eyes darting around the mostly-manicured cul-de-sac. For years, that HOA militia outfit has wanted to break you. But they didn't count on me. A soldier never abandons his unit. We fight this together!" Stanley assured, before, maneuvering behind Lionel.
He slapped Lionel’s shoulder, sending a cloud of lawn clippings into the air.
Inside, Beverly listened as she watched through the blinds, sipping her coffee and shaking her head with bitter satisfaction.
[to be continued]
My story is based on 29 May 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3118: throw him under the bus
Source
! [Resumen parte 2]
La vida de Lionel y Beverly Buckley, un matrimonio, está a punto de dar un giro desastroso a medida que se acerca el verano y su hogar se ha quedado vacío tras la marcha de los hijos. Beverly busca ahora nuevas responsabilidades para no dejar que el aburrimiento se apodere de ella. Es una mujer enérgica con un sentido del humor irónico, y está a punto de aportar algo de emoción a sus vidas.
Su adorable, aunque un tanto despistado, marido ha sido elegido como chivo expiatorio por destrozar las preciadas petunias del barrio. La comunidad de propietarios está furiosa y decidida a encontrar al culpable.
Beverly envía una pista anónima a la Asociación señalando a Lionel como el culpable. Lo que no se da cuenta es que ha desencadenado una serie de acontecimientos inesperados, ya que el presidente de la Asociación de Propietarios se dirige a su casa para interrogar a su marido.
El presidente de la comunidad de propietarios, Preston Milworth, estaba empeñado en descubrir quién había matado a las petunias que podrían haber ganado el premio. Como subcampeones a nivel estatal, había prometido a la comunidad urbanística el codiciado premio de la próxima temporada.
Recibió un duro golpe al descubrir que sus planes de reelección se habían ido al traste, y con ellos su reputación, si no revelaba al culpable antes de la próxima reunión anual de la comunidad de propietarios.
Su plazo: treinta días. Sin embargo, tuvo un golpe de suerte. Había recibido una pista.
Ahora solo tenía que investigar y presentar un caso convincente contra el culpable ante la junta de la Asociación de Propietarios, de una forma u otra. Y esa junta se mantenía firme en la promesa de grandeza.
Casi tan famoso como las flores de bluebonnet de Texas, el barrio se enorgullecía de las petunias que habían florecido el año anterior. El deseo era que fueran celebradas en la capital de nuestra nación. En otras palabras, esas petunias tenían un estatus especial; debían protegerse a toda costa con la esperanza de competir algún día por el codiciado título de primer puesto.
Mientras permanecía de pie en la entrada de la casa de Lionel Buckley con una pala en la mano, no se marcharía hasta que el culpable admitiera su culpa.
Razonó que la mayor fortaleza de Preston era esta capacidad de lanzar una avalancha de ataques verbales contra sus víctimas. Aquella mañana se presentó la oportunidad perfecta. Se acercó a Lionel y se colocó entre él y Stanley, dándole la espalda como si lo ignorara por completo.
Extendió la pala en dirección a Lionel, pero el mensaje se perdió en las insinuaciones.
«Siguiendo un buen consejo, Lionel Buckley, te acuso de envenenar las petunias de la comunidad. ¡Y te atreves a llamarte a ti mismo un residente respetuoso con la ley de nuestra gloriosa zona! Me gustaría saber exactamente cuál fue tu motivo y cómo piensas reparar tu acto cobarde. ¿No te da vergüenza? ¿Tienes algo que decir en tu defensa?»
De pie sobre el hormigón agrietado de su dilema, Lionel se quedó paralizado. Al acercarse a la fase inicial de los problemas de cimentación, en ese momento deseó que el suelo se abriera y se lo tragara por completo.
No tuvo tanta suerte. Lentamente, regresó a la entrada de su casa y se rascó la cabeza como si quisiera sacar a la luz la respuesta oculta. Inmediatamente, recordó el consejo de Stanley: entrecerrar los ojos, parecer confundido y, sin querer, parecer culpable. Lo que Stanley no sabía era que, décadas antes, ya había dominado esas técnicas con Beverly. Sin embargo, no podía mantenerlas durante mucho tiempo.
Así que empezó.
Con las manos temblorosas y una voz ronca e inestable, Lionel divagó sobre la «manicura obligatoria». Terminó con el «crecimiento sin restricciones de la mala hierba», algo que se le había ocurrido de repente a partir de un reportaje de un presentador de noticias que había visto la noche anterior. Se olvidó por completo de la parte del reportaje que hacía referencia a los diversos productos pesticidas para el césped disponibles para ayudar a los propietarios.
Milworth aprovechó la oportunidad.
Sacó su bloc de notas del bolsillo trasero y garabateó furiosamente: «Manifiesto calculado y antisistema».
Al terminar de escribir, Milworth se volvió hacia Lionel, con los ojos inyectados en sangre que atravesaban su determinación.
—¿Así que admites ser el cerebro detrás del asesinato de nuestras queridas petunias? Por no hablar de la campaña negativa en Internet para desacreditar a la comunidad de propietarios. ¡Has estado celoso de mí y del excelente trabajo que he realizado estos cinco años! —El pecho abombado de Preston casi empujó a Lionel hacia atrás.
—¿De qué demonios estás hablando? —tartamudeó Lionel, entrecerrando los ojos y abriendo y cerrando la boca rápidamente—. No tengo motivos para tenerte envidia. En Internet… No soy miembro ni participo en ese amplio mundo de la comunidad, si es eso a lo que te refieres —dijo frotándose la barbilla.
«No intentes borrar tus huellas», espetó Preston. «Tiene que ser alguien de la zona que conozca el terreno. Y no me desvíes del tema. Estoy aquí por una queja y una acusación contra ti por destruir la flora del barrio», siseó.
Con el rostro tenso, los rasgos gélidos y la boca torcida en una mueca de desprecio, Preston miró fijamente a Lionel y luego le metió un documento en la mano. Sus antebrazos cincelados brillaban al sol mientras empuñaba la pala y esperaba.
Lionel se quedó atónito y luego bajó la cabeza para leer la denuncia de cinco páginas.
Le llevaría dos días leerla. Levantó la cabeza de golpe.
«Ya estás avisado. La denuncia oficial te será entregada el próximo miércoles a más tardar».
Dicho esto, Preston Milworth clavó la pala junto a los pies de Lionel, se dio la vuelta y se alejó por el camino de entrada. Miró hacia atrás y lanzó una mirada venenosa a Lionel y Stanley antes de subir a su coche. Al dar marcha atrás para entrar en el camino de entrada de Lionel, estuvo a punto de atropellar a los dos hombres.
Temblando visiblemente, Lionel miró lentamente a Stanley. Se le quedó la cara pálida. Emitió un sonido ahogado de impotencia.
—Mantén la calma, hermano —siseó Stanley, mientras sus ojos recorrían rápidamente la calle sin salida, en su mayor parte bien cuidada—. Durante años, esa milicia de la comunidad de propietarios ha querido doblegarte. Pero no contaban conmigo. Un soldado nunca abandona a su unidad. ¡Lucharemos juntos! —aseguró Stanley, antes de colocarse detrás de Lionel.
Le dio una palmada en el hombro a Lionel, levantando una nube de recortes de césped.
Dentro, Beverly escuchaba mientras observaba a través de las persianas, sorbiendo su café y sacudiendo la cabeza con amarga satisfacción.
[continuará]
SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/
If translation included, I use DeepL to assist my readers.
Thanks for your patience an understanding.
Si se incluye traducción, utilizo DeepL para ayudar a mis lectores.
Gracias por su paciencia y comprensión.
From poisoned petunias to an anti-establishment manifesto, online campaign against HOA and jealousy! Wow, seems Preston's accusation keeps expanding. The absurd seriousness with which he handles the petunia investigation is interesting. And that five-page complaint! He's clearly bent on taking Lionel down, no thanks to Beverly's report. It's obvious Lionel and Stanley have no idea what he's talking about. I hope someone comes along soon to save these men or Preston might actually take them down. Let's hope not with his shovel!
I look forward to the continuing chapter. Do take care and have a wonderful day 🌹
@topcomment
That's one wacky subdivision where the residents all have their own agenda. There has to be someone living there who can step in and sort out that debacle. Or else, I fear Beverly and Lionel may be in over their heads. She wanted a quiet summer. Let's see whether she'll accomplish that despite her mischievous machinations.
Thanks so much for your visit and analyses of my quirky residents. Take care and have a good rest of your week.
Sin lugar a dudas una historia muy creativa y repleta de imaginación, que nos deja a la espera de una nueva entrega...Un ejercicio creativo en el que @justclickindiva muestra todo su talento. Muchas gracias. Lo he disfrutado mucho.
Without a doubt, this is a highly creative story bursting with imagination, and it leaves us eagerly awaiting the next installment. A true creative exercise where @justclickindiva showcases their full talent. Thank you very much—I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Hello @psicologopoeta. What a lovely compliment for my story. I appreciate it and your visit. I was hoping to infuse some fun in this story series, and am pleased you found it interesting. Take care and have a nice rest of your week.
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STOPAn awesome achievement, I feel. Thanks for the alert. Much appreciated.
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