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) inspired by what you see in his picture (below).
When I saw Al’s slightly belated photo (well?) this week, I remembered visiting him a few years back.
A terrific guy, and a terrific blogger.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and see what others have written.
Copyright Al Forbes
And if you click on this, you can hear me read the story below:
The Nuisance
I shoot him twice in the chest.
I am seated on a bench situated just off the path.
It is dusk, he probably never sees me.
I pocket my gun, rise to conceal his body.
And see the little man standing thirty feet away, mouth open, eyes wide.
I am furious with myself.
I thought I had carefully ensured no one else was near.
Did he come out of one of the darkened holiday apartments?
As I pull my gun again he runs.
I follow swiftly, he has no chance.
Then headlamps go on maybe fifty yards away.
It is an electrician’s van, I remember, from my earlier reconnaissance.
My target is shouting, screaming, waving his arms wildly.
When I reach him he is trying to get into the passenger seat.
I walk round, shoot the workman in the face.
Then I drag the little man out, throw him to the ground.
Look what you made me do, I tell him, pointing at the dead driver.
Because I am really annoyed with him.
I do not like killing unless I get paid for it.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Great story, C.E. I suppose professional killers are always that cool about their “work”. What he now has to worry about is someone else in a darkened flat who saw him. It seems there’s often someone else. At least in TV dramas, but maybe not in real life. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you for your kind words, Suzanne, glad you enjoyed.
I regret that I can speak only for Sound Bite Fiction, I have limited knowledge of real life!
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I did listen to your recording this time. I liked it a lot. At least it seems this character has some scruples. Well enough not to want to kill if he isn’t getting paid. Probably too much clean up after I guess, too many loose ends to the up. Great job CE 🙂
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Thank you, Amanda.
Mostly I am just happy that it did not send you screaming into a cupboard.
Scruples?
He is a Scot, he maybe just grudges wasting expensive bullets.
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Enjoyable read and great to hear you. That’s a great idea. I wish I’d thought of it!
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Thank you and thank you.
I came up with the idea for Medville Matters, my book of Sound Bite Fiction, which has a QR code linked directly to Current Story on this site.
If you go there you can hear another tale.
And my alter ego reads his weekly poetry piece:
https://anelephantcant.me/2016/05/28/to-love-anelephant-2/
Oh, just tell Graham it was your idea, he won’t know any better.
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No buy one get one free I guess. Your voice does add to the piece. How you do that BTW?
DJ
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Glad you thought the reading enhanced the writing.
I believe I cause my vocal chords to vibrate by expelling air from my lungs!
More mundanely, I talk into my phone, transfer to my laptop, convert mp4 to mp3, et voila!
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With the brilliant last time this was absolutely perfect 🙂
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Wow, thank you, Angie, that is just about the nicest comment I have ever received!
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Well, that’s chilling! Always interesting when a person who uses violence for a living actually has a moral code – albeit a twisted one. A real chiller. Ever fancied writing a thriller, C? I think you’d write a cracker if you decided to have a go 🙂
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Thanks, Lynn, glad you found something to provoke thought.
You have probably noticed my shameless plugging of Medville Matters, my recently published book of Sound Bite Fiction.
But, if you look towards the top of the right hand column here, you will also see The Second Request, an ebook available at minimum price on Amazon.
All I will say is that it is a short thriller, set in Scotland in the near future, and not at all what you might expect.
Go on, spoil yourself!
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Ah! Would you believe, I’m about the only person in the western world who doesn’t own a Kindle? Such a shame or I really would buy a copy. I knew you’d be good at thriller writing just from this little nugget!
This was a great story. 🙂
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Great story C.E. Love that last line.
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And cheers again, mon ami!
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Having to set if from my mobile, due to a broken laptop, it seems it didn’t schedule. It’s a pain in the backside.
Sent you an email and sorted it as soon as I saw your mail. May be able to get a new one in a couple of months.
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Yeah, yeah, whatever!
Start saving your pennies, and I will play watch dog for now.
Cheers, Al!
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Thanks,. Trying to work out if I can afford to get one in the next week or so.
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The best of plans…
Straight dark comedy.
“Hoohoo the wittle wascal has spiwit!”
(Life of Brian).
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Saw it.
Lived it.
Loved it.
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If he really doesn;t like his job he should find another line of work!
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Oh he likes his job, Joseph, it is the unpaid overtime he objects to!
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Working on salary is the pits!
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Dear C.E.
Talk about gratuitous violence…or non-gratuitous, as it were. The last line had me laughing out loud. And hearing your voice made it twice as much fun.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Did anyone ever tell you, m’lady, that you have a somewhat warped sense of humour?
Corpses littering the place, and you are chuckling to yourself!
Very happy that you enjoyed, and that the reading enhanced the experience for you.
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As a matter of fact I’ve often been told that. 😉
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