AnElephantCant be a mechanic
With technical stuff – and grammar – he gets totally losted
He is seldom inspired
More often just tyred
In fact today you might say he’s exhausted
Once again it is Friday Fictioneer time.
The Henry Ford of writers, our own Rochelle, manages a production line of wondrous wordsmiths to weld together some smooth-running stories.
And AnElephant fails to create a Model-T tale.
The idea is to write a very short story, circa 100 words, based on this picture prompt (below).
That’s it.
Copyright – Claire Fuller
Car Repair
The Service Manager is all smiles.
I am not.
How much, I ask in disbelief.
I paid almost that just two months ago, how can this be?
Still smiling he explains about computer diagnostics, software upgrades, major safety considerations.
I tell him I just want my car to go faster when I press the accelerator, surely not a lot to ask.
He prattles about fuel injection coefficients but I stop him.
How can I cut my losses on this wretched machine, I ask.
He laughs.
Your best chance is the insurance if this place collapses on top of it tonight!
He does not know who I am.
The next morning he is not smiling.
Unbelievable, he says, as we survey the wreckage.
I am all smiles.
Isn’t it?
Sound Bite Fiction 
Dear Elephant – I love this – how clever the car’s owner is! Too bad for the service station. Oh well, guess that is what happens when they continually rob their customers with too expensive repairs. Good job! Nan 🙂
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Like Bugs Bunny said to Elmer Fudd who, while trying to sell his car, ended up crashing it into a junk truck, “Unlax, Doc. It sold itself.” 😀
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Very funny. The mechanic’s prattling off of jargon and the customer’s impatience with it are cleverly shown. I love the ending.
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That’s awesome. Apparently the moral of the story is never joke about the destruction of your own property when screwing a customer over. The garage owner might learn it, if he’s lucky.
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Loved it! Such a turn of events well written.
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Clever 😉
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He should have gone to my mechanic. There would be no need for the roof to collapse, no need for frustration. But then, if that were to happen, you wouldn’t have a brilliant story 😀
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An Elephant can’t….miss, with a tale like that. Well done. 😀
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Fantastic story. My favourite this week so far. I love how completely realistic the first half is, and then you just drop in that line: ‘he does not know who I am’ – perfect.
Claire
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I think that somehow the insurance company can have an inkling who this guy is.. might not have been the first time.
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Sounds like justice has been served…
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Dear AEC,
Brilliant work and something all of wish we could (or would) do. i love your protagonist’s verve and initiative. A wonderful tale for the prompt.
Aloha,
Doug
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Whoops! Methinks the mechanic shouldn’t have said that. Great twist of “fate” in the end. I’d love to see all crooked mechanics and used-car salesmen meet such frustrated customers.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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An auto-matic winner, Elephant!
janet
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This is beyond brilliant, what a voice!
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With skills like that how did he end up with a piece of junk in the first place?
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This was great! Thanks for a laugh to start my day!
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Fantastic, but who are they? I feel that I need to know?
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Good one! That line “He does not know who I am”. Stunning in its simplicity.
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Dear Elephant,
This is wonderful from intro to end. As you know, my car woes have been manifold this year. I’m on a first name basis with my mechanics and body shop owner.
Deee-lightful.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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HAHAHAHA Absolutely brilliant
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