Fire at Will – Friday Fictioneers

AnElephantCant play with matches
This is something he long ago learnt
He thinks it uncomical
That his ears are so flammable
And he does not want to get his trunk burnt

Once again it is Friday Fictioneer time.
Our Guiding Light Rochelle provides the spark that ignites the kndling of cool chronicles from red hot writers.
And AnElephant stirs the ashes.
The idea is to write a very short story, circa 100 words, based on this picture prompt (below).
That’s it.

© Roger Bultot

© Roger Bultot

Fire at Will

Hurry, I scream, my parents are trapped!
Even from downstairs I can hear them shrieking and pounding on their bedroom door.
That is where the fire started.
I wonder if the old fool was smoking in bed again.
No matter, I know he didn’t cause it.
My little electrical trick did that.
And this old rotted-wood house is burning like paper.
I think back to that childhood game where we tied the front door handle to the garden fence.
And rang the bell.
There will be no trace of the twine fastening their door to the bath.
I am rich.

Unknown's avatar

About ceayr

A Scot who has discovered peace in a small town he calls Medville on the Côte Vermeille, C.E. Ayr has spent a large part of his life in the West of Scotland and a large part elsewhere. His first job was selling programmes at his local football club and he has since tried 73 other career paths, the longest being in IT, with varying degrees of success. He is somewhat nomadic, fairly irresponsible and, according to his darling daughter, a bit random. So, nobody’s perfect.
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62 Responses to Fire at Will – Friday Fictioneers

  1. afairymind's avatar afairymind says:

    Creepy! He’s definitely a twisted one. Its sad the things that people (and elephants) will do for money. Good story. 🙂

  2. This is very chilling. I hope the brat gets caught for arson (and murder).

  3. Dale's avatar Dale says:

    Oh..
    Who’d have thunk so much evil
    Could be hiding in an Elephant’s Trunk?

    • AnElephantCant have evil in his trunk
      He is too sweet not at all like a skunk
      He does a fast bunk
      If he thinks he has stunk
      But Dale must know he is a bit of a hunk

  4. emmylgant's avatar emmylgant says:

    Bad seed…
    You changed the mood with ‘old fool’ and proceeded with a loaded tale of hatred and greed.
    So well done.

  5. The bad seed!

  6. adamjasonp's avatar adamjasonp says:

    That evil little bugger!

  7. If he can live with the guilt. Money can’t buy you peace of mind or a door into heaven.

  8. oooh, patricide and matricide! A dark post indeed.

  9. JED's avatar JED says:

    Wickedly fun ending.

  10. As other commentators have said, I was drawn in to a rescue and then the punchline! Scary thought.

  11. Dave's avatar Dave says:

    $Kaching$. Love the abrupt ending.

  12. You write creepy very well, Elephant. Good job, as always. As for not being able to play with matches, what’s wrong? AnElephantCant fill its trunk up with water first? 🙂
    -David

  13. Why the little bastard…

  14. I’m loving your dark take on the prompt, but it has left me uneasy. I may have to change my will lol Fantastic as always Elephant 🙂

  15. storydivamg's avatar storydivamg says:

    Wow! An Elephant went dark today. Good romp, m’dear. You pulled it off in fine fashion.

    All my best,
    MG

  16. It’s been a while since we’ve seen the evil ways.. but you set the bar high. I hope he’s caught.

  17. ansumani's avatar ansumani says:

    I’m telling my children that they are dis-inherited …just in case 🙂 Nice chilling twist at the end.

  18. Wow, that’s evil!

  19. wildbilbo's avatar wildbilbo says:

    Brilliant. Nice little red herring at the start of the story with the smoking in bed, and the final line… gold.
    KT

  20. Oooh what a horrible child!! I thought she was going to rescue them, but instead she watched them burn. I enjoyed this one 🙂

  21. mitraarchita's avatar mitraarchita says:

    The last line was the most powerful line in the story. I loved it.

  22. Sandra's avatar Sandra says:

    There’s just no accounting for familial devotion is there? That offspring is indeed a piece of work.

  23. Is it getting cold here? I am freezing…an excellent story.

  24. dmmacilroy's avatar dmmacilroy says:

    Dear AEC,

    What a heartwarming story…not. Chilling is more like it. Sad that there are people like that in the world. Reminds me of those twin brothers who murdered their parents with a shotgun and then threw themselves on the mercy of the court because they were orphans. Good work.

    Aloha,

    Doug

  25. Dear Elephant.

    There’s a lot of evil contained in your trunk of tricks…dare I say an arson-al? You may groan at will. There’s more story between the lines. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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