A Desiccated Follower Of Fashion #writephoto

Posted on Nov 13, 2022 by TanGental

This week’s #writephoto prompt is

A Desiccated Follower Of Fashion

Cosmo Politan, Little Tittweaking’s very own fashion guru had an eclectic taste in clothes as well as pigs, as witnessed by his prize-losing herd of cerise Gloucester Old Spots. Despite being preternaturally dehydrated with a skin tone similar in texture to a used Formula One tyre and a waist that defied all attempts to hang trousers from it, he still had a loyal following of one.

Hermit Crabbe had spent the first twenty-seven years of his life being dressed by other people: his mother, until she ran off with a peripatetic hydraulic entrepreneur who promised to lift her spirits; his grandmother, whose internationally famous collection of antique antimacassars offered her myriad opportunities to wrap the compliant Hermit in a Rutland lacewing or Preston double weave; his first (and so far only) girlfriend, whose nascent career as an experimental bandage designer led to his skin not seeing daylight for seventeen months and puberty being delayed by twice that; and Mrs Neapolitan Jerkoff, Cosmo’s double-jointed sexual partner who enjoyed the challenge of manipulating Hermit into ever smaller gimp suits. When Cosmo discovered Neapolitan in flagrante with his trusted financial adviser and pig inseminator and send her packing, Cosmo found himself bereft and Hermit undressed and with little clue what to do.

He appealed to Cosmo for guidance. ‘Check out my wardrobe and help yourself. Oh, and you’ll need these.’ He offered Hermit some scissors with which to extract himself from a size zero Zorro gimp. ‘Choose something loose fitting.’

Hermit squeaked away, first to find somewhere discreet to unwrap himself and then to open the hallowed portals of the wardrobes.

He stepped back, stunned. There was every kind of clothing. Chinos and Jeans, Oxford Bags and Drainpipes. Waistcoats and Frockcoats, Tailcoats and Donkey Jackets.

Cosmo called for him to hurry and choose; he wanted to comment on the choice.

Taking a deep breath, Hermit plunged inside, frantically pulling the myriad assortment aside until…

He smiled. That was exactly it. It was loose, it was colourful and it didn’t look like it was regularly used as it was clearly hidden towards the back. He slipped it on, gave himself a quick twirl of appreciation and headed downstairs.

It took Cosmo a moment to take in the lurid turquoise two piece and Hermit’s grinning and happy face. If that was to be his first attempt to chose an outfit for himself, thought Cosmo, then he really needed help. ‘Why that particular,’ the maestro swallowed a little piece of sick that he had unexpectedly gurgitated, ‘ensemble?’

Hermit was beyond noticing the disgusted expression, the sour odour and the less than perky body language. For he had his ideal rig; it met every criteria and even went with his name. His first Shell Suit!

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
This entry was posted in #writephoto, creative writing, flash fiction, humour, little Tittweaking, miscellany and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

23 Responses to A Desiccated Follower Of Fashion #writephoto

  1. willowdot21 says:
    Nov 13, 2022 at 10:18 am

    I am so impressed, to get from the photo to that extremely ever answer 💜💜

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Peter's pondering says:
    Nov 13, 2022 at 12:09 pm

    Bravo Sir, take a bow and wear it proudly!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. derrickjknight says:
    Nov 13, 2022 at 2:16 pm

    I bought one of those in a sports shop sale back in the ’80s – just for running training.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. JT Twissel says:
    Nov 13, 2022 at 8:22 pm

    I had no idea designing bandages was considered haute couture

    Liked by 1 person

  5. D. Wallace Peach says:
    Nov 13, 2022 at 10:36 pm

    I love your names for your characters, Geoff, and a shell suit is quite suitable for Hermit. I hope he enjoys his beachwear. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  6. tootlepedal says:
    Nov 13, 2022 at 11:00 pm

    A tour de farce.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Chel Owens says:
    Nov 14, 2022 at 6:43 am

    Oh, goodness, Geoff.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Mick Canning says:
    Nov 14, 2022 at 8:20 pm

    Shell suit…you have, indeed, plumbed the depths, Geoff.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Pingback: #Writephoto Round-Up – Upsizing – New2Writing

Comments are closed.