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This Week's Writing Challenge: "And then, as if the very earth itself rose up in defiance: it happened." Due date is 04/14/2020.

Not your typical yard sale with old interesting rummage. Something is odd.

It was not your typical yard sale. Or garage sale for that matter, there was a lot of stuff on the lawn, but that was all stuff like kiddy slides and an aluminum canoe, skis, stuff that didn't mind getting wet. And there was nothing, nothing at all that interested the black cat. Two-too Twillinger, searched but saw nothing interesting. But since the day turned gray with a heavy mist falling and its associated fog, everyone else had left. That meant young Ms. Twillinger was alone with the sweet old tiger standing there, ready to sell anything she could.

"If you don't see anything, here, that you like, Dearie, I can let you into the garage to look around, ...". The tiger was a faded old furrson, her fur had paled to white in spots on her arms, a little stooped - bent with age, and her voice not so firm.

"Well, what do you have there?" Tilley smiled at her, curious at what others might not have pawed over, and bought up.

"Oh, I put all the stuff that can't take the wet. It's very dry in there," she said pointing to the odd building down the drive, nestled below huge and towering pines trees. "Are you searching for anything in particular, Dearie? Do you have special hobbies, or interests?"

"Well, I like old stuff, you know; antiques, purple or ruby glass, and tchotchkes, old clothing, ... I often use the cloth for making my own clothes to wear, sort of recycle or re-fitting them to my figure."

"Well you must feel very pretty wearing something you made yourself. I always did when I sewed something that flattered my figure! Ah, but that was long ago.... I can't see to thread the needle on the sewing machine, and my hands can't take the pressure of hand sewing, ..."

"Do you have anything, uh, mmm, like, service linens, tablecloths, napkins, yard goods, an old sewing machine for sale,...?" began Tilley.

The garage was an odd structure, with dormers and pipe stacks and industrial looking ventilation tubes coming out of the roof. "My husband was an architect, he designed it so that it would stay dry, even when the humidity was brutal. It's quite nice inside," the tiger said. "He built it as a garage - but also as playhouse of sorts, when we married. A place I could entertain my friends, so we wouldn't bother him if we laughed and giggled. You know how we girls can be when we are alone together, without the men watching us so closely! Ah that was fun, to be free to hold hands and give your close friends a little peck, without some man telling you you were wrong for your friendship. But things are different these days, I'm sure. Do you have a special young man who has caught your fancy, Dearie?"

"Oh, please, call me Tilley! Please! And no, I don't 'have a young man,' I don't care much for how -- coarse, men are. They're so ...um, predatory,... " she trailed off. "I'm much happier talking to a woman," Tilley finished, blushing.

"Well, that's awfully sweet, Tilley. And please call me, Gerie, and we can be friends! You and your friends must have a very good time together."

"Oh, yes, we often take a week together, a vacation -- those as haven't married yet, high up in the mountains, or going to the shore beaches, ... just us girls. It is so much fun, without boys there to, ... Tilley stopped speaking mid sentence, but finished bravely with, "condemn us."

Blushing, Tilley was silent then, fearing she said too much.

Reaching the garage, the old woman put her hand to the door and with a slight shove, slid it open. The bottom of the door had been a little off the ground but the floor inside was a good two hand's width above that. Tilley stepped up and in at the old woman's gesture, and walked into a warm dry home with curtained windows showing a little peep of sunlight, and plush furniture, and handwoven carpets and more on the walls and floor, and in back a set of stairs rose up, -- to the loft, maybe?

"My husband was so very clever, he spelt something in the dirt to make it warm in here, and even in summer the humidity is afraid to enter. Something he put into the wood, keeps it all outside. He could spell better than anyone we knew."

The comment confused Tilley, but you know-- old people, she smiled and ventured, "You must miss him very much."

"Oh, well. In some ways I do, he was awfully clever, but it was more a marriage convenient to both of us. We got along, and I was his dutiful bride, but we, ... didn't have the same tastes, the same plans-- or the same desires, so- no children. And after a while I stayed here with my girls, and he, there with his boys, ... and after awhile he hired a housekeeper, to clean and cook. Men were not so polite to women behind closed doors in those days. I think I loved him in my own way, and he me; in his, but we just weren't compatible, I suppose. Here's the sewing machine I have for sale. It's a wee little thing but it sews a storm at times."

"Gerie, how much do you want for this? It's in brand new condition!"

"Well, it's very old, it was new in 1941. Here, try it out and see if you might give me,... what? Maybe 50 small in silver for it." Reaching into the seat of the console, Mrs. Leopally pulled out a swatch of cream colored linen, handing it to Tilley, "Try it, it might not work after such a long time."

Tilley threaded it up, and tried the foot pedal. But like everything in the 'garage' it worked perfectly, and Tilley was enthralled.

"Oh, this is worth so much more than I can give you, it must be worth 15 or 20 large, in silver, surely!" Tilley snipped the threads and looked at the stitches, both sides, seeing them even and balanced. Standing up to show Gerie the stitches, Tilley noticed that the sewing machine wasn't plugged in.

"Well, Tilley if you like it I'm sure we can come to an arrangement. Maybe you could sew something for me? And I could gift you the sewing machine, I haven't had anything new to wear in just ages! Look at this," and stepping to open a wardrobe, Gerie pulled out a large bolt of gingham and a small bolt of lace. "Here," Gerie said putting the cloth on a table, she fished out a measuring tape from the machine console, "You can take my measurements." And turning away from Tilley, she held up an old pencil and a yellowed pad of paper over her shoulder, then asked, "Just undo my zipper, will you, Dear? You can take my measurements."

Tilley was very surprised! Yes she wanted the sewing machine, and yes she'd be happy to sew something up as exchange, but she just didn't know how to refuse, and she wasn't ready at the moment to measure Gerie, it was so sudden. Recalling their conversations just made it more awkward, Tilley was sure that they were both Lesbians, but she wasn't attracted to the old woman,... However, she could measure her now and sew something up. Taking up the pad and pencil then setting them in the table, she unhooked the eyelet at the neck of the dress and carefully slid the zipper down to Gerie's waist. "Thank you, Dear. You know I wouldn't do this with someone I didn't trust, but I can trust you, can't I." She said it as a confirmed statement, stepping out of the dress.

Instead of lots of ancient underclothes; bra, camisole, bloomers, and many pettycoats, the old crone standing up straighter suddenly seemed taller than Tilley and without the dress - stood there - sky-clad. And not so faded in the fur, the sable was rich and vibrant black; with hues of yellow, orange, and gold between, almost glowing in the light of the room.

Taking up the tape measure Tilley began to take the dress measurements. Tilley constantly blushed and didn't know how she felt about this. She felt so odd. She wasn't attracted to the old woman, but the old woman seemed so young and lively. Tilley found herself confused and baffled. Gerie was old and bent, and tall and straight, and there were the enormous pines casting the whole property in shade on a rainy day - and yet sunshine streamed in the garage windows, and the sewing machine that ran like a top only without being plugged in....

Tilley finished most of the measurements awkwardly and putting the pad down, stepped back away to the middle of the room. Gerie, still nude, stepped over to her and taking both of Tilley's hands in hers she leaned back away from Tilley still holding on, and said, "Shall we be good friends, Tilley, shall we? As close as teeth on a comb, as close as spoons? Shall we? Oh, will you dine with me tonight? I feel we have so much in common!"

"N-n-n-n-no, I, I d-don't think so, not tonight," Tilley stepped back another pace.

"Please?"

"N-n-ooo, I don't think so," and Tilley stepped around her moving toward the door.

And as Tilley crossed the middle of the carpet, Gerie made a moue with her face and commanded, "Kashi, "Now!" Two corners of the carpet curled up a fingers length. And then, as if the very earth itself rose up in defiance: it happened. The rest of the carpet curled up behind, towering over Tilley, and came crashing down on her like a wave, knocking her to her knees, and almost instantly rolling her up inside.

"Go ahead, Kashi," began Mrs. Leopally, "You can bring her along upstairs. I think she'll be here for dinner, after all..."