23 Comments
User's avatar
C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

You made me hungry for something vanilla and sweet.

Leanne Shawler's avatar

Mission accomplished! A good vanilla slice can be hard to find.

Muirae D Kenney's avatar

Love this. There’s a moment when most women realize their pleasure is their own responsibility and their own right. You absolutely nailed it.

Leanne Shawler's avatar

Why thank you! I was initially going to have them pair off, but that would not have been true to the "ugh! Val's Day" vibe I was going for at the beginning.

Moll Moonlight's avatar

This was delectable. So, so very naughty and nice!

And speaking as someone who also has a mortal weakness for forearms of a certain kind, I thank you for my trembling knees.

Leanne Shawler's avatar

Heh heh, I told @Bridget Riley it was a thing. (She has a lovely psychic cozy mystery series, which might be paywalled but also might be an ebook by now. Such a slow burn.)

Bridget Riley's avatar

I was cackling! Also, I need to go find a pastry, stat.

Leanne Shawler's avatar

Level unlocked! Let me know what pastry you find that, uhhh… measures up!

Rosie B's avatar

So good! Forearms are absolutely a thing! I was giggling and kicking my feet.

Leanne Shawler's avatar

Vanilla slice is so good, isn’t it?

Richard Ritenbaugh's avatar

I never deconstructed a pastry as you just did, but when I was younger, I could eat an entire strawberry, raspberry, or blueberry trifle.

Leanne Shawler's avatar

Trifle? That has cream and custard! Oh my.

Richard Ritenbaugh's avatar

Why a trifle is so delicious (along with the pound cake and brandy)!

Leanne Shawler's avatar

It is! But they are (usually) huge!! I am in awe, sir.

Richard Ritenbaugh's avatar

A juvenile appetite. I couldn't do it now!

E. A. Morales's avatar

This was hilarious. Now I'm hungry for some Vanilla Slice. I've never had it before. If it doesn't measure up, you know what'll happen.

Leanne Shawler's avatar

Ha! I think I’ve already suitably disclaimed on this one because there are pretty ordinary vanilla slices out there … ans this one only gets made once a year. Good luck!

Wendy Russell's avatar

Oh my god, this was... indecent. In the best way. You had that woman make love to a custard slice the way it deserved, and I am here for it!

Leanne Shawler's avatar

Glad you enjoyed! (And thank goodness I have email notifications for comments because I would have missed this!)

Science Fiction Stories's avatar

What a gorgeous, sensory-rich piece! I love how you shifted the power dynamic—starting with the 'pity' of the hostess and ending with the protagonist being the most fulfilled person in the room.

Leanne Shawler's avatar

well, we don't know she was the most fulfilled person in the room, but she wasn't too worried about other people's opinions anyway.

Garen Marie's avatar

Oh my! I'm blushing over here! And suddenly hungry. Spicy and sweet perfection.

Leanne Shawler's avatar

Glad you enjoyed!