Never had my nerves felt as weary as they felt in this moment, leaving home hadn’t felt this nerve racking.
How do I make this sound fashionable, maybe fashionable was asking too much. Walking towards my room I tried out different options.
“My mum suggested you … ” starting with ‘my mum’ makes me sound juvenile.
“How would you like a …. ” No, that just had monumental anti climax written all over it.
“Have you ever experienced …”
Urggghhh!
There was no way around it, I’ll just spit it out. Besides I had done things I didn’t necessarily want to just to be a supportive friend. It would be selfish of her not to oblige.
Urgggghhhh!
I wish this wasn’t part of my life.It’s not that I hate the custom, nor am I ashamed of it, … but explaining it to a guest, hoping they oblige you and having an audience judging your friendship was …. urggghhhh.
Here goes.
“Annie, my mum wants to know if you would like to go in the ofuro first?”
“Sure! What is the o- fuu -row?”
Don’t know if it came across but I was trying to depict her discomfort at explaining the Japanese bath ritual to a foreign friend. What are your thoughts?
In response to the writing challenge flash fiction for aspiring writers hosted by Priceless Joy click on the link to visit the blog. The photograph is from TJ Paris (interesting photo can’t wait to see all the stories it inspires) and the challenge is to write a 100 – 150 words (+/- 25 words) story inspired by it. Do click on the link for other stories.
lifehomeandaway 
How about “My mum said you need to take a bath, Thank you for your swift action” 😀
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Hehehe
Now that might work except it sounds like a military command.
🙂
🙂
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I know I know… hahahaha , I have had my fair share of awkward cultural things with friends.
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🙂
🙂
Does it ever get easier discussing them?
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Nope!
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Thanks Joy!!
🙂
🙂
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Lots of things to us being judged, and quite a lot that is awkward. I think you have covered this very well 🙂
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Thanks Angie!
🙂
🙂
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You certainly captured her awkward feelings of asking her friend if she wants to go into the Ofuro first. Great story! And, I learned something new!
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Thanks Joy!
🙂
🙂
That’s good to hear.
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I don’t know what it all entails either so I’d probably have the same reaction!
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🙂
🙂
Lol!!
That’s good to know. Well I think it’s a bath where everyone gets to share the tub not at once though.
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She was definately uneasy about asking, but the person didn’t even know what a ofuro was and that may have lifted some of the awkwardness. She could explain that the guest are always given the option of the use of it first.
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Very true Jessica but for twenty year old trying to explain customs to a new friend is often intimidating.
🙂
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I like the way your story plays out. I had to look up ofuro, too, and see that nowadays it’s not necessarily a communal thing. I imagine your main character would be uncomfortable about suggesting the ofuru in case her friend thought she was suggesting something a bit raunchy! Lol.
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Exactly my thoughts Millie.
Or something where germs got exchanged for free.
🙂
🙂
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Ooh yes … i hadn’t even thought of those little monsters! 🙂
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