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Toxicodendron

January 6, 2023 11 Comments

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We met in some downtown bar.

Ivy was heady and intoxicating, clinging onto my every word. I soon became addicted.

“Relationships never last,” she told me one melancholy night. I went a little crazy that summer. Missed work. Avoided people.

When I eventually, predictably, lost my job, I couldn’t find her anywhere.

I searched the bar, but the bartender sneered. “Schmuck!” he said.

“Excuse me?” I asked, confused.

“Another one stung by Poison Ivy,” he replied.

I heard her voice behind me and turned. She winked at me as she walked out, clinging to the arm of her next tree trunk.

By Andrea Walker

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wendy A Markel says

    January 6, 2023 at 6:26 am

    Very vivid. I loved the imagery, well done.

    Reply
  2. Yogita says

    January 6, 2023 at 7:00 am

    Well done! By the way, you find the world full of shmucks, lol

    Reply
  3. Paul Lewthwaite says

    January 6, 2023 at 7:08 am

    Great story and take on ‘Poison Ivy’…liked the analogy.

    Reply
  4. Melanie Mulrooney says

    January 6, 2023 at 9:55 am

    Great piece! Clever. Love how you integrated the poison ivy reference with the title and the last line.Melani

    Reply
  5. Jim Gunshinan says

    January 6, 2023 at 2:48 pm

    Great way to tell a sad story with humor.

    Reply
  6. Andrea Walker says

    January 6, 2023 at 4:05 pm

    Thank you for your kind comments ??

    Reply
  7. Bill Tope says

    January 11, 2023 at 7:14 am

    Good story, clever play on words. Bravo.

    Reply
  8. Robert Burns says

    January 11, 2023 at 1:54 pm

    Excellent story, Andrea. Well done!

    Reply
  9. DougJacquier says

    January 11, 2023 at 4:33 pm

    Brings a whole new meaning to tree-hugger. 🙂 Well done.

    Reply
  10. Andrea Walker says

    January 14, 2023 at 2:53 pm

    Thank you all so much x

    Reply
  11. Paulene Blazey says

    January 23, 2023 at 5:25 am

    Great read. Chilling.

    Reply

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