Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, and the standard.
And today our multi-talented leader also supplies the photo prompt.
And her somewhat gloomy image brightened my spirits considerably.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
Click here to hear me read my story:
The Shower
Murder.
That is what I am charged with.
In the USA they call it Justifiable Homicide.
I think it was justified.
In France it could be a Crime of Passion.
Well, I was certainly passionate when I grasped her throat and shook the life out of her.
In most ways she was a wonderful wife.
But she couldn’t resist it.
It wasn’t just occasionally.
It was every morning.
When I am not at my best anyway.
What did she do to upset me so much?
I will tell you.
She ran the kitchen tap when I was in the shower.






Everyone’s said it all – I can only agree. Hilarious, brilliant and justifiable.
I guess he reached breaking point – freezing point? Still – a bit harsh. In light of your disapproval of laughing and coffee-spluttering responses to your story, I’d like to say that I’m taking it very seriously.
Thank you, Pinocchio, sorry, Margaret, I will take your comment in the same way.
Haha! not a jury in the world would convict!
Thank you, sir.
Or may I call you Juror Number 1?
LOL … and … murder … I LOVE IT, CE.
She may have been sending him a message with the cold shower.
Oooppsss … did I say that? : 0
Fun macabre story …
Isadora 😎
Well, dear Isadora, I was going to say something interesting, intelligent and scintillatingly funny.
But your comment has me in all sorts of trouble here!
You??? Trouble??? Never!!!
I’m starting to understand your style of writing, CE.
A bit slow but I’m an American. LOL
Isadora 😎
p.s. I like the audio reading. Your accent sounds like a movie stars voice. 🌟
Oh stop it, you must know that flattery will get you anywhere.
In up to my ears now, and loving it.
😃 😎
It’s a wonder she lived as long as she did. :/
I am just too soft-hearted for my own good, Dawn
Humerous piece. I guess after many years, that little thing in the morning could grow to be such an issue. No wonder he was mad at her, justifiable homicide indeed.
So now that I am available, Amanda, are you any good at burning toast?
Yes, I often do. Not my choice.
Let me know when you have mastered it.
I don’t kill all my wives, y’know.
Haha your favourite way to have it burnt?
And you know that you were saved the bell, another time leaving the seat up in the toilet and she had a meat-cleaver prepared.
I wondered why I always have these splitting headaches…
You’re right it is justifiable. Connie used to do that to me all the time, but rather than put her out of my misery, I just paid her back by returning the favor. Naturally, I’d wait until she got lathered up and her head covered in shampoo before opening the hot water tap in the kitchen. It only took a few “lessons” to correct her behavior.
No, Russell, not at all justified in your case.
Connie is a lovely lady and you are a cad and a bounder.
I have sent her a link to a YouTube video ‘How to garotte your surplus husbands in 3 easy steps’.
You’ll get off with a warning – a warning never to shower when someone’s in the kitchen!
Visit Keith’s Ramblings
No, Keith, she is a sneaker, waits till I am all soaped up then decides to crawl out of bed.
It’s not my fault!
Yep, I laughed even after all the dark build up. Well done.
Thank you.
And no dogs were injured in the creation of this rubbish.
I am so glad to hear that. In was starting to think I need to start a boycott.
So you have us all laughing over murder. Quite the coup!
Who knew that throttling the missus in the kitchen was so funny?
Wish I had done it years ago!
Seriously. We are not supposed to laugh and yet…
Seriously?
That word is not permitted here, dear Dale.
Kindly wash out your typing finger with soap.
Sorry, my bad. Don’t know what I was thinking. Won’t do it again, I promise.
Running kitchen tap… the most heinous of crimes!
Randy
I rest my case, sir!
One has to be in his shoes to justify this much anger. Nicely written. Great writing style.
No shoes in the shower, my dear Indira!
Thank you again for your continued support and kind words.
:):)
Well. I can definitely empathise with this narrator.
I thank you.
Are you free for jury duty?
Very Intriguing! I think the darkness was a nice touch. Everyone is about fairy tales and happy endings.
Yeah, you won’t find a whole lot of them here.
Murder, betrayal, revenge, mayhem, that is more my style.
I like it!
Does it get any more thoughtless? She had nobody to blame but herself.
Exactly!
Practically suicide by shower, I’d say.
Some nice dark humour!
I hope you showed this to Graham, he looks the thoughtless type…
Ta-da-boom!!! Great last line!
Love the well timed black humour.
Génial.
Mais vraiment, c’est insupportable, Em.
In 100 words, timing is all!
I am SO showing my husband this as a warning…
You tell the cad that this is impermissible in polite society!
Some things are just inexcusable! No doubt she would have met with demise even sooner had she chosen to flush the toilet 😉
Thank you for your support, I agree that her behaviour was intolerable.
And as for a toilet flush, I shudder to imagine the ramifications.
We discussed when you went on a killing rampage of myself the other day…I’m relieved you didn’t revisit those moments.
Only because I have never been fortunate enough to have you make me breakfast, dear Anja
What would you like me to make for you?
Oh Anja…
Yes?
I’m not sure whether to laugh at the humor or gasp at the horror. How you managed to blend such two contrasting tones into one amusing yet terrible act is super impressive! I guess now he can shower in peace.
Loved your storytelling in this story!
Thank you, Jade, I am very happy that you enjoyed.
Might I suggest a short gasp and a long laugh, those little crinkles are so becoming!
Haha! I like the sound of that suggestion 😀
Always happy to assist a lovely lady.
I suspect folk have been killed over less …Nice build up and then a sucker punch at the end. Great story telling as always C 🙂
Thank you, Lynn, for your kind words.
And for not spluttering coffee all over my story like one or two others.
Haha! Well, one has to expect the unexpected with the king of Sound Bite Fiction 🙂 My pleasure
Ah, come on, I think you ladies are all pulling my leg this week!
Never. 🙂
That made me laugh out loud, too. It just shows that better plumbing can save lives. This is great.
You ladies are a ghoulish bunch, it seems.
Just one wee strangulation and you are all chortling like crazy!
Smiling all the way to the Burns Unit. By the way that’s not Robbie Burns. 🙂
Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie…
That’s what you get for ruining my morning!
I laughed too, And then I felt bad about laughing
Please don’t.
Feel bad, that is!
Dear CE,
Hell hath no fury as a man deprived of hot water. Love it. You made me laugh out loud.
Shalom,
Rochelle
You are not a well lady, m’lady!
You laugh at death and destruction here on a twice weekly basis.
What else can I say except thank you.
And big hugs
Wow, really compelling. Kept me intrigued until the very end. Creepy guy though :O
I guess nobody is perfect!
Glad it held you.