Flash Fiction: Deliver Me

This one was prompted by John Holton. I chose to use all of the prompts.

"

1. Write a post inspired by the word delivery.
2. Write a post in exactly twelve (12) sentences.
3. Write about a trip you have taken. If you have ever traveled outside your native country, write about that journey: What stuck with you?
4. Describe your morning routine using the most eccentric words and phrases that come to mind.
5. Describe a rainy evening in a busy city.
6. Write of a world in which wishes come true — if one is willing to pay the price.

"

Madeline rolled out of bed, cartwheeled into the bathroom, sang all of her favorite arias from grand opera in a long shower, brushed her tongue, shaved her arms, legs, and body, dressed, and sprinted out to the post office. There she picked up a special delivery package addressed to "Adeline Jones" at her address. Figuring that her cousin Adeline might have had the package sent there while she was in Bangalore, Madeline rushed home, dressed in motorcycle gear, applied temporary tattoos of seven life-sized spiders to her face to discourage people from sitting beside her, packed up a more comfortable pair of jeans and T-shirt and a book to read, roared into town, parked her motorcycle, bought a ticket just in time, and hopped on the Greyhound bus to the city, glad of an excuse to miss a few boring Business Administration classes. 

Unfortunately the bus did become crowded. Madeline looked over her reading glasses at the young man who sat down beside her and wished she'd met him at a time when she wasn't covered in spider tattoos. He seemed undisturbed, however, and told her that he was a biologist who studied freshwater mussels, but understood that spiders were more popular, and it was nice to meet someone whose sympathy for animals was not limited to cats, dogs,and pandas. As the bus rolled on through the rain that was begining to fall, the young man told her that his name was Harold Umbleton, and he had a sister who studied whales, and so on. 

When they walked out into the city, lights were coming on, reflecting in the streaming streets. Strange men surrounded them, all pleading, "Y'wanna cab?" but instead Harold grasped the hand of a woman who, upon introduction to Madeline, cried, "Adeline Jones is my housemate--would you like to ride up with us?" and loaded Madeline into her wet, battered Camry. Soon Madeline was freshly made up, wearing Adeline's second best dress, and sitting beside Harold at a concert. 

One year later they were married, Madeline having discovered a genuine interest in spiders with little encouragement, and now Professor Madeline Jones Umbleton  tells her students, with a smile, "Always be your own, eccentric, authentic selves."

Actually available from Amazon. More designs from other sites if you search.