Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by Susan Spaulding, who has taken over this great weekly prompt from my old friend Al Forbes.
And the lady herself provides this week’s photo
The idea here is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in the picture (below).
Click on this link to enter your tale, and see what others have written.
© Susan Spaulding
Click here to hear the author read the tale:
The Visit
We don’t like your type around these parts.
Still eating, I look up at the speaker.
He is a big man, but running to fat.
His best days are some years in the past.
He looks like he was the school bully twenty-five years ago, and he is living on the memories.
A few others, around the same age, are behind him, in a semi-circle.
They are smirking, egging him on.
I’ll be on my way as soon as I finish here, I tell him mildly, indicating my pancakes.
He grins widely, but there is a flicker in his eyes.
Disappointment or doubt, I can’t tell.
Eat fast, he sneers, I ain’t a patient man.
He looks to his cronies for approval, and they react predictably with laughter and words of support.
Ten minutes, I say, focussing on my food.
Make it five and we’ll have no hassle, he retorts, putting his hand on my shoulder.
I pause, fork halfway to my mouth.
My eyes go to his hand, then move to his face.
He blanches, his hand drops abruptly.
He has just realised how lucky he is.
Five it is, I say.
This visit is just reconnaissance.
I think that they all should move on before he returns,
This is probably a pretty sensible suggestion, Mike, next time there may be no restraints
Get him with the fork CE!!!
I will take your advice under consideration, Violet.
For such a charming lady you really are quite aggressive!
Some bully this man. Why he doesn’t like your presence there?
Some people don’t need a reason, sir …
True.
Reminds me of a typical Jack Reacher scene, though the ending does indicate that our guy is most probably an assassin, and not a hero in the conventional sense 🙂
A very Merry Christmas to you and your family sir. Cheers.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, sir, and for your kind wishes
This is great and I like what it doesn’t say. For instance, are you a stranger in the area, and is that why you’re unwelcome? Is this a question of race, religion, something like that? It makes it a menacing and somewhat universal “You’re not one of us” scenarios. Nice.
Some morons don’t need a reason to bully, Harry.
And you are right, it is sadly universal
A good lesson for the bully it seems
Just letting him know for now
That told him!
Enough for the moment
Always nice to see the school bully put in their proper place.
Thanks, Iain
Menace is oozing out of this piece like syrup out of a pancake. I wouldn’t be around when the first ‘official’ visit is paid.
‘Menace is oozing … like syrup out of a pancake.’
Even your comments are a class act, Sandra!