Fiction

My Gestures with Dishwashing Liquid and Handwash

The Vignette Gazette Writer’s Prompt #170 | Reprimand, Punishment

Pic: Image created by the author on ChatGPT

When I come home from outside or before every meal, I go to our widely spaced kitchen, run the cold tap water, apply drops of dishwashing liquid to my hands, put my hands under the running water, and form a lather by scrubbing them. I let the tap water wash away all the lather until my hands are free from the liquid.

Then I pour the handwash onto my hands, scrub them again, and rinse them away with the tap water.

I live with my Mom. She always gets exasperated when she watches me use the dishwashing liquid and handwash extravagantly. Nowadays, she is too tired to reprimand me. And I get to wash my hands clean the way I like.

Sometimes, she chooses not to refill the handwash or dishwashing liquid bottles out of frustration with me, specifically using this as a means of punishment for me.

I always order handwash and dishwashing liquid refills online and know exactly where they reside in the kitchen. So, when I say, “No worries. I can refill the bottles myself,” I really mean it — I do the gestures once again in my way. LOL! I win anyway.

This piece is in response to Stephen Dalton’s writing prompt at Fiction Shorts:

Your task is to write a vignette between 150 and 300 words. The subject and genre are up to you. Just use the magic words: Reprimand and punishment.

You can find the details of the prompt below.

© Copyright 2026 by Rosina Surovi Khan/ All Rights Reserved

[embed]The Vignette Gazette Edition #170 Your writing prompt for Friday, May 29, 2026 — Reprimand & Punishmentmedium.com

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Brenda Arledge, John Hansen PAL, Stephen Dalton, Lu Skerdoo, Sophia Chanu