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 the picture (below).
This week’s excellent photo by John Robinson reminds me of a long ago incident on a bridge on Glasgow’s Great Western Road over the River Kelvin.
And due to a lack of time, I am badly over the word count this week.
My apologies.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and to see what others have written.
© John Robinson
Click here to hear the story read aloud by the author, in an increasingly Scottish accent!:
The Bridge
Nice suit, I say.
The guy with the nice suit stops.
He doesn’t have much choice, Wee Tam is right in front of him.
Thanks, he says, trying to manoeuvre his way around Wee Tam.
This is harder than it sounds, because Wee Tam is not called Wee Tam because he is in any way diminutive.
No, he is called Wee Tam because his dad was Big Tam.
Wee Tam is a few inches taller than my six feet, and built along the lines of a bomb shelter.
You a lawyer, I say to the guy.
Um, no, accountant, he says, looking longingly over my shoulder, perhaps towards the now impossibly distant wine bar.
Even better, I say.
Why, asks the guy, with perhaps understandable suspicion.
Numbers, I say, how far down is the river, d’you reckon?
Taking a step further away from the parapet, he peers out.
Maybe fifty feet, he stammers.
So if I drop something off, how long till it hits the water, I ask, pleasantly.
He gulps, tries again to escape, but Wee Tam is tight on him.
Couple of seconds, he squeaks.
Got your stop watch, Tam, I ask.
Aye, says Wee Tam.
Is that your briefcase, I ask the guy.
Take it, he yelps, thrusting it at me and taking off at a run.
I shrug, look at Wee Tam.
I only wanted to borrow a pencil, I say.
Sound Bite Fiction 
I had big, silent, guffaws at that one. That twist at the end shows why you are the master of twists. Excellent mon ami.
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I must admit to expecting the man to go over, but you’ve surprised me again.
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I live to surprise you, Sascha!
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Thank goodness someone does! hehe 🙂
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Not quite sure I understand this!
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…live to surprise me? ahhhh…maybe you were kidding. Can’t imagine that. 🙂
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Sounds like they are both imposing figures and the lawyer had the right idea running!
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Sometimes running is good!
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Thanks for the link back to my blog. I really liked the surprise ending of your story!
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My pleasure, John, credit where due, I believe.
Glad you liked the story.
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Hahaha “I only wanted to borrow a pencil.” I really liked this description, ” built along the lines of a bomb shelter.” And this one made me chuckle too “Got your stop watch.” Fantastic story!
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Thanks, Mandie, I am always happy when a reader gets such pleasure from a story. Your kind words are much appreciated.
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Hmmm…never judge a bridge by it’s lack of cover? Or something like that 😉
Guess that accountant shan’t be working for the ‘Bookie?’
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Hi Jules, lovely to see you here. That comment went way over my head!
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Never judge a book by it’s cover…some bridges don’t have covers. But essentially never judge a person by how they look. Though intuition to run in any given situation might be a good thing indeed. 😉
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Poor accountant. He’s never taking this route again.
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You can count on it!
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Love the way you’ve added a light touch to a sinister tale! Brilliant.
Click to read my PhoFic!
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Thanks, Keith.
Do you know why I have to approve your comment every week?
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Hahaha! Love it. Much ado to borrow a pencil! I don’t blame the guy for running off 🙂
Great story 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed it, Vivian.
Thanks for the smiley faces!
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Here are more 🙂 🙂 🙂
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You are a sweetheart!
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Funny! Well done.
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Thank you, happy to amuse!
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It feels as if you’re switching perspectives back and forth from the first to third person. Was that deliberate or am I missing something?
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I don’t understand this comment, James.
It is a story in the first person which recounts what happened, and what was said, from the narrator’s viewpoint.
Perhaps I am missing something, or perhaps it is just badly written?
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I figured I’d probably just misread it. No worries.
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Menacing characters you’ve created there, picking on that poor accountant. Remind me to avoid running into any of your characters on a dark bridge!
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There are places in the best of cities – which Glasgow is – where you can find trouble.
Thanks for your time and comment, Joy.
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I was expecting the worst! Surprise! 🙂
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Laughing. I do like to surprise a beautiful mermaid!
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The menace in this story is palpable. Unless I’m misjudging the narrator and Tam, I hope their antics were soon brought to a rude and permanent halt. The writing’s got to be good to stir up such strong feelings. We’ll done CE.
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You are misjudging nothing, sir, the menace, interlaced with some humour, hopefully, was entirely intentional.
Thank you.
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