&quot;Eva Gruder.&quot; There was a spark between them, in that shared hand clench. Eva pulled back as though she'd been scalded. Her stained glass eyes flashed violet and gold. Then she smiled shyly and shut the door. Arnst walked home, carrying the woman's flower-like, wool-heavy scent inside his heart. He carried, too, her name on his tongue, like a lozenge, sucking slowly to prolong the taste. When Arnst arrived home, his mother dropped the book she'd been reading (which, by the way, was the Bible) and clapped her hands. &quot;I knew it! I told our no-good neighbors this was to be your year, the year that you'd meet and marry your wife! Tell me, my little _wunderkid_, what is her name!&quot; &quot;Eva Gruder.&quot; Arnst hung his coat and sat down next to his mother at the kitchen table. He was still inside his head, so he didn't notice the nervous flutter of his mother's hands. &quot;Eva Gruder? The widow? Are you sure?&quot; Arnst looked up, his doe-brown eyes no longer stuttering but sure as stone. &quot;I smell a winner, mama. I'm sure.&quot; 2008-07-21T01:43:20Z http://ficlets.com/feed/story/37584 <p>Beautiful. Who knew smells could lead to such&#8230;. wonders. I think it&#8217;s something we who use our eyes take for granted.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/37584?basename=81681 2008-07-21T01:43:20Z g2 (la pianista irlandesa) http://ficlets.com/authors/spanishpiano701 <p>Brilliant, Ana! I liked the way the Arnst associates smells with emotions.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/37584?basename=81376 2008-07-19T18:41:27Z PyroPunk 51 (PPP LoA) http://ficlets.com/authors/pyropunk <p>That was a very ingenious ending! ^^ I really did enjoy it. A very colorful entry. : )</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/37584?basename=80776 2008-07-17T12:59:39Z NightMaiden http://ficlets.com/authors/user_7538 <p>Thanks for posting the challenge. It was one of my favorites. :)</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/37584?basename=80740 2008-07-17T02:29:25Z Ana Cristina http://ficlets.com/authors/asimon78 <p> LOL Great series! I loved each one, they made a wonderfully insightful tale. I love how all of the senses are picked up by his nose, and I just knew the widow would be &#8220;the one&#8221;. :) Thanks for entering!</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/37584?basename=80730 2008-07-17T02:15:11Z Mistress Elsha Hawk http://ficlets.com/authors/mistress_elsha_hawk