The Unicorn Challenge.
A magical new weekly writing opportunity from her – Jenne Gray – and me.
Visit her blog every Friday to see the photo prompt, and post your amazing story in her comments section.
Or on your own blog, and stick the link down in her comments.
The rules are:
Maximum of 250 words.
Based on photo prompt.
That’s it.
To hear me read my story, just click here:
Haircut
‘You been on holiday yet?’ she asks in French, with no pause in her snipping.
Grunt.
‘Did you go back to Scotland again?’
Grunt.
‘I’d love to go there, it’s supposed to be beautiful. I’ve seen programs on TV, it looks very green.’
Grunt.
I watch her in the mirror, making sure she’s not offended, but she’s quite oblivious to my lack of response.
‘Are there really monsters there, in the lakes?’
I bite my tongue, grunt.
One of my favourite pastimes is to enhance the myths and mysteries of my homeland with gullible foreigners.
I often regale them with tales of the three types of wild Haggis that inhabit the Highlands.
But not here, not chez le coiffeur.
Because I’m listening.
‘And all those men in kilts. Ça, j’adore!’
Grunt.
‘How does that look? Short enough?’
She lifts the hand mirror so I can see the back of my head.
I smile and nod.
As I pay her I hear a man’s voice, now very clearly.
‘He doesn’t understand anything?’
‘Not a word,’ the patron replies. ‘Just as well, eh?’
And they laugh.
I do too, but silently, straight-faced.
‘Thank you,’ I say, leaving a generous tip. ‘Merci.’
I hear the laughter again.
‘Really picking up the language, isn’t he!’
I open the door, still smiling and nodding.
‘Goodbye.’ I say. ‘Au revoir.’
Outside I make a call, repeating their entire conversation to someone who rewards me handsomely.
Sometimes it pays to act the dumb foreigner.
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You can get paid for acting dumb? Sign me up!!
Sorry, Liz, the position’s filled. I’ve got much more experience at it than you!
Maybe an understudy? Cuz skills honed over a long time in the business of foolishness?
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A perfect spy!
Wouldn’t say I’m perfect, Dawn…
Ah. He has such skill and self-control. Little hints along the way – you had me intrigued by ‘Because I’m listening.’ The chatty patrons are the foolish ones.
Very satisfying ending. I’ll always cheer when a Scotsman gets the upper hand. I loved the ‘three types of wild Haggis’.
I do like when a reader picks up the clues, Margaret.
Maybe I’ll write about the different types of Haggis someday!
Really love the twist ending!
Glad you enjoyed, Bridgette!
I’m enjoying the story until I reach the end and read the comments. I realize I am the dumb foreigner who never seems to get what everyone else got. 🙁
I’ll try again next week. 🙂
MC understands everything being said, just plays dumb.
That’s all.
And whatever you are, dear Lady, dumb you ain’t!
I ain’t blond either.
Nicely done!
Thanks, Chris!
For a minute I thought you’d gone soft.
Turns out that was just premature speculation.
Y’know me, Nancy, soft as nails!
‘I bite my tongue, grunt.’
‘But why?’ I ask myself.
And still nothing revealed till the very end – current and undercurrent.
Excellent revenge for the ‘dumb foreigner’.
Glad it worked for you, Jenne!
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Dumb as a fox. Thanks for the laugh.
Cheers, Doug!