The Mistake – Sunday Photo Fiction

I used to know AnElephant
Who wrote in silly verse
So I thought I’d just eliminate him
Before things get any worse

Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by my old friend Al Forbes.
The idea is to write a short story (200 word max) – what I call Sound Bite Fiction – inspired by what you see in Al’s great picture (below).
Click on this link to enter your tale, and see what others have written.

Copyright Al Forbes

Copyright Al Forbes

The Mistake

I sit outside the little café in the square, barefoot, in shorts and t-shirt.
I am comfortable in my own world.
As the sun drops behind the parasol pines, two limos draw up.
From the first, two large suits in sunglasses get out.
Quickly, methodically, they scan the area, then move to the second car, standing on either side of the rear door.
The chauffeur opens it, and a corpulent figure in gaudy beach shirt and too much jewellery gets out.
He stretches, ignoring the woman whose shapely limbs precede her from the vehicle.
Before her face is visible, I know it is her.
He sees me, points, laughing.
Look, honey, the beach bum, your youthful mistake!
A shadow flickers across her eyes; pity, or fear, perhaps.
Still laughing, arms wide, he moves towards me.
I rise, pushing my notebook into my rucksack.
I have waited several years for this moment.
With my hand still hidden, I put a bullet in the middle of his smug fat face.

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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42 Responses to The Mistake – Sunday Photo Fiction

  1. Dear C.E.

    With that moment of satisfaction behind him, I’d say he’ll have another long wait behind bars.
    Well done. You have such a flowery romantic way of bumping people off.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

  2. That is a killer last line! It conrasts wonderfully with the softness of the rest of the story. I enjoyed!

  3. DELL CLOVER's avatar DELL CLOVER says:

    Ooooh, this was dramatic!

    • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

      Drama is my middle name.
      Well, clearly it isn’t, as it doesn’t start with an ‘E’.
      I am pleased you enjoyed my short tale.
      I just don’t like to be interrupted when I am chilling!

      • DELL CLOVER's avatar DELL CLOVER says:

        You look rather forbidding, yes.

        • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

          Surely not!
          Perhaps you would prefer a large pink pachyderm?

          • DELL CLOVER's avatar DELL CLOVER says:

            No fondness for large pink pachyderms. I just combined your comment with your small photo and drew my conclusion, wrong or right. Most men are quite intimidating, in my estimation.

            • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

              Oh Dell, surely not.
              I like to think I am intimidating only in my writing.
              And never to a lady.
              Although I have to agree that I am not very photogenic.

              • DELL CLOVER's avatar DELL CLOVER says:

                Bless your heart, Sir–there’s no issue about whether you’re photogenic or not; having had too many bad experiences, I’m easily intimidated by males–I try to not paint them all with the same broad/black brush, and I rarely confess my bias–so something must have made me feel I could speak forthrightly to you. Your comment actually made my day–I feel like curtsying! (And shielding my blush with a fan…)

  4. Danny James's avatar Danny James says:

    I can’t think of AnElephantCant comment.
    But your story is a fine accomplishment.

    DJ

  5. baliinfoblog's avatar baliinfoblog says:

    love this! Such a great twist at the end

    • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

      I am happy to hear that, dear lady.
      Thank you for your comment.
      You can find another tale, which I read, under Current Story.

  6. Although not the discreetest of methods, that is one way to get rid of them.

    • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

      As they say in the movies, a man’s gotta do…
      If you have 90 seconds, please check out my reading under Current Story.

  7. Donna's avatar Donna says:

    Did not expect that great ending

    • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

      Delighted to hear that, Donna.
      Hopefully another surprise waiting to be read and heard under Current Story.

  8. Karin's avatar Karin says:

    AnElephantCant be disposed of
    No ink assassin has such might
    M. Ayr should be warned
    Elephant shouldn’t be scorned
    His trumpet’s bigger than a sound bite

    I HAD to do it! You limerick and my limerick synapse just does that thing 🙂

    • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

      AnElephantCant write forever
      The old pachyderm has run out of breath
      But even C.E. Ayr
      Would never dare
      To condemn the pink plodder to death

  9. Good way to get rid of a hoodlum. Loved the story.

    • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

      Thank you, dear Joy, always so supportive.
      Please don’t miss my reading under Current Story.

  10. rogershipp's avatar rogershipp says:

    Wasn’t expecting that!

  11. luckyjc007's avatar luckyjc007 says:

    Oh! Such sweet revenge!

    • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

      A dish to be enjoyed regardless of temperature.
      Please take a moment to hear my reading under Current Story, just 90 seconds.

  12. babso2you's avatar babso2you says:

    A lovely story with a conclusion that only A.E.C or C.E.A. could come up with! Be well… ^..^

  13. Steve Lakey's avatar Steve Lakey says:

    It certainly has bite! Great read. 🙂

  14. emmylgant's avatar emmylgant says:

    How I love this little café in the square!
    Every day an adventure; you know what you see when you get there but you never know what you’re gonna get: ceayr or AnElephant?
    The surprise is certain…
    In the end, either one will make your day!

    • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

      The little café in the square is a source of inspiration and adventure.
      And cool refreshing drinks too!

  15. Reblogged this on anelephantcant and commented:
    AnElephantCant be eliminated
    He is not easily scared
    But he has an addiction
    To Sound Bite Fiction
    As created by C.E. Ayr

    • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

      AnElephantCant be unkind, I guess
      Even when he is being left behind, I jest
      Perhaps we
      Can agree
      That our efforts can be combined, no less?

  16. niasunset's avatar niasunset says:

    WOW! What an inspiration. Thank you dear Ceayr, have a nice day, love, nia

    • ceayr's avatar ceayr says:

      My dear Nia, you, and your so supportive comments, are the true inspiration for any writer.
      Thank you.

      • niasunset's avatar niasunset says:

        Dear Ceayr, I love this language and I love beautiful people in this language… sometimes it can not be easy to understand for me, but I try to understand. And then I love to share my feelings and thoughts… Thats all. You are so nice. Welcome, and Thanks, love, nia

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