Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, the standard, and the prompt photo.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below, which this week is supplied by Roger Bultot.
© Roger Bultot
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
Death
‘Death,’ I say.
Sometimes I add ‘I’m here for your soul’.
Well, you might be surprised how many daft old dears and silly old codgers ask the same things.
‘Who are you?’
‘What are you doing here?’
Both reasonable questions, I suppose, when I am loitering inside their homes in the middle of the night.
And my answers are less dull than the truth:
‘Hi, I’m Darren.’
‘Just looking round for loose cash, or anything that’s easy to flog.’
Although a few of the old folks take my replies seriously.
And drop dead at my feet.
That makes me laugh.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Somehow I think that the Movie “the seventh seal” would have been different if Death had answered
“I am Darren, and I walked beside you for a long time now”
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Darren is fearless in his own quirky way. Maybe because he has been a thief for so long.
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It’s nice to know he gets some job satisfaction! Grime bit a great read and told with your usual dark humour – made me smile, C
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Then I am smiling too, Lynn
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Always a pleasure, C
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I was like oh lorddddd……
lovely read
Strange
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Thank you, I’m happy with that reaction
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Ooh, but would they have died there and then if Death hadn’t been such a fibber… 🙂 I guess He has a list.
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It is Darren who tells fibs, sir!
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A fun seeker, not a grim reaper! Bring him on – but not just yet!
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It’s a little man from the village…
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Lord of death out to recruit new souls! Does he really need to introduce his self?
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He doesn’t, Darren does!
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Sounds like a scene out of “Clockwork Orange.” Those mugs were as close to death they could be hired help.
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Darren is never violent, he is a bit of a sweetheart!
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Just like Lucifer used to be at the right hand of God and was the most beautiful angel…
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It’s so good to see that Darren has a sense of humor. That’s always so very helpful when he has to meet someone who’s so very reluctant to make the big move
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He tries to enjoy his work
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I like the quirky Death. Death’s usually such a downer.
This reminds me of something I wrote for another challenge if you’re interested in another take. As many ways as there are to die and as many people who die, there can’t just be one guy who does it all:
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Death may be a downer, but Darren tries to be fun!
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Oy! I’m staying on the OTHER side of the street …
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Sorry, but I just found this in my Spam folder, Na’ama.
Thanks for commenting
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Sure thing! Sometimes Spam folders become little pantries for ‘see-you-later’ comments … 😉 I’m yet to figure out the rhyme or reason behind why some comments get stashed there by the WordPress gods … 😉
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Ah, the not-so-grim reaper. Is it true that your girlfriend ran off with Jack Kevorkian?
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Just a lad trying to earn a living.
And I’d never heard of Jack Kevorkian, so that was rather wasted on me.
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I never saw Death as having a somewhat twisted sense of humor before, but then I never thought of him as being nothing more than a burglar, either 🙂
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It is Darren who has the humour, Linda!
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I like how you have given Darren the panache of the pantomime anti-hero, and light-hearted approach to his chosen pastime or is it his full time career?
it was a dark wet, cold night when I returned home. Darren had smashed his way in through a rear window, and had I been home he may have had his first wish. “””Death”, I say””.
Nothing was stolen, no cash nothing easy to carry and flog. I heard later that Daren reported back to the Devils Den of Thieves, that my house was a waste of time; nothing- no life – not a single soul worth taking.
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Laughing.
Your comment is longer than my story, James!
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Do you know, that’s horribly believable? You’ve made up my mind for me. If somebody intrudes on this daft old dear in the middle of the night, she’ll hit first and ask stupid questions later…I’m afraid I grinned broadly at your story, CE!
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Always a good idea to get your retaliation in first, Penny!
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I like Darren, he’s managing to make his work fun.
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It’s a long shift otherwise!
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Dear C.E.
He’s a charmer who gives new meaning to “knock ’em dead.” Happy birthday, sir.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Laughing.
Thank you, m’lady
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Death knows no barriers or boundaries – can walk in our homes in the middle of the night.
When death comes calling, we have to go…
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Actually it was Darren who came calling!
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The man is all heart. Delivered with your usual panache, CE.
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Well, Sandra, you gotta laugh a little…
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I like Darren!
I want to know more about death.
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I don’t think you do, Tannille, just stick with Darren!
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I liked the contrast between the banality of the conversation and the results
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Thanks, Neil
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