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Question: Need to change a phrase in my short story!?
So heres the story!.!.!.

The Creased Jeans

They say when a Granma enters the door, discipline flies out the window but that is merely saying the least in my daughter’s household!. When Gran comes to stay, tummies are filled with delicious home made cookies, beds are made and all stress vanishes, in fact so does the huge stacks of dishes along with the endless piles of laundry! You would think 20 years of parenting and my job is complete!. Children- just one more thing ticked of on life’s shopping list!. 20 years filled with smelly nappies, trips to the principals office and wild screaming matches with argumentative teenagers and my not-so-darling daughter is still putting her hands out for eternal favours!. Theres no question about it, it is time for revenge!. Why do grandparents get on so well with their grandkids!? Simple, they share a common enemy!. Today that enemy is going to face her biggest showdown yet!.

Tick-tock!. Tick-tock!. The iron hissed like an angry snake as it slithered across the overly expensive pair of Levi boot leg jeans!. My grand kids, shoulder to shoulder, kneeling on back of the couch, giggled eagerly as I folded the jeans!. Carefully, I positioned them in a perfectly symmetrical square on top of of my daughter’s huge pile of ironed clothes!.Tick-tock!. Tick-tock!. I joined my grand kids on the back of the couch, all eyes in the room fixed on the wall clock!.
“When mom gets home,” I instructed them, “Look normal and try not to laugh”!. Of course I knew that was impossible, but where’s the fun in being a kid with out false expectations!? Tick-tock!. Tick-tock!.

Car wheels clattered over the pebbly driveway!. My precious daughter had arrived home from her all-day shopping trip!. The door handle creaked open!. I twitched my hand upwards, and as we’d planned the children followed the signal and made to be busy!.
“Hi Mum” they chorused as she entered the room!. I clung on to my walking stick, looking as frail as ever as the ice cold stare she gave to the pile of washing reflected around the room!. She ran her long painted finger nail along the crease in the middle of the jeans!. She then gave one of "those" looks that too fully appreciate you have to see with your own eyes!. It was of bitter annoyance blanketed in complete helplessness!. I knew when the corner of her lips twitched upwards and she gave me the classic put on smile, followed by the mumbled words “Thanks for the ironing Jan”, my role as grandma would never be abused again!. It was official; plan “Creases in Jeans” was a success!.

I showed the story to my teacher and she said the 'tick tock' parts detracted from the rest of the story as they sounded too cliche (i'm pretty sure thats cliche like something she'd read many times before!. She said a catchy sentence or something else would be much better but i'm stuck for ideas!. So yeah any ideas!?!?!? also any other constructive critisism would be greatly appreciated!?!?

Thanks so much!Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The story is good!. Maybe instead of the first tick tock you put

The ticking of the clock on the wall was audible over the sound of the iron hissing like an angry snake as it slithered across the overly expensive pair of Levi boot leg jeans!.

The second tick tock is covered by mentioning that the kids are all looking at the clock

The third one should be something lik

An expectant hush fell over the room as the children watched the clock, silently counting down

Only a few suggestions!. Hope you like!. Good storyWww@QuestionHome@Com

I think its good so far but not great just yet!. There are a few spelling mistakes, not too many though!. I loved the 'tick tock' part actually!. I thought it brought a race of time to the story (i don't know if that is what you intended)
Maybe you could explain the characters a bit more as it isn't that clear on what they are like!.
good job so far though!.!.keep writing!
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