The Booth

Ed entered the booth, drawing the curtain closed behind him. He rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath as he tried to collect his thoughts. 

Ed wiped the sweat from his forehead as he contemplated the seriousness of what he was about to do. His mind wandered back over the past several months. He softly whispered the words as he recollected recent events and confrontations:  Dishonesty. Deceit. Braggadocio. Narcissism.

Was he being too harsh?

Finally, Ed finished his business and paused for a moment.

“Say five rosaries and ten Hail Marys,” the priest instructed from behind the screen.

*****

This 99-word story is my contribution to the November 9 Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge to "write a story that pivots around an unexpected ending."

Name Game

Ed looked back and forth between Edna and the huge brown Pointer she brought home from the shelter.

“What’s his name?” Ed asked, still trying to figure out why Edna can’t leave well enough alone.

“Help me name him,” she replied.

Ed scratched his head as Edna spouted off some distinct possibilities. “Brownie, Expresso, Mud, Hershey, Nut Meg, Fudge . . . “

Ed covered his ears in protest, clearly having heard enough. Edna frowned as she stopped in mid sentence.

“The name is obvious,” Ed declared while raising his finger to make sure he had Edna’s full attention. 

“Huh?”

“Big Brown Dog.”

*****

This 99-word story is my contribution to the October 5 Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge to "write a story about a Big Brown Dog."

New Glasses

Ed sat at the small table. The youthful technician smiled from the other side. “Great choice,” she said while fitting the frame over Ed’s nose and around his ears. She made a few tweaks before removing it.

“Would you like glass, polycarbonate or high-index plastic lenses?”

Ed thought for a second, but the technician continued before he could speak. 

“Of course, we strongly recommend anti-scratch, anti-reflective, and anti-UV coatings.”

Ed could hear a cash register ringing in his ears with each option.

The technician smiled again. “What are your preferences?”

Ed didn’t hesitate this time. “Let’s go with anti-expensive.”

*****

This 99-word story is my contribution to the September 21 Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge to "write a story using a lens."

Card Trick

“Pick a card,” Ed said confidently. “Any card.”

Edna complied, looking at her card without showing Ed. As instructed, she slid it face down toward him.

Ed reinserted Edna’s card into the deck and reshuffled several times while spouting some nonsensical words. He spread the deck on the table, closed his eyes, selected one card and showed it.

“Edna, my dear,” Ed proclaimed with flair. “This is NOT your card.”

“Wow,” Edna feigned. “That’s amazing. Can you do it every time?”

Ed looked around, leaning in as he whispered: “Almost. It seems to work about 98% of the time.”

*****

This 99-word story is my contribution to the September 14 Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge to "write a story about an amazing feat."

Recess

Ed smiled as he surveyed the play area of his old school grounds. "Boy, that's what I call an upgrade!”

Edna tested the spongy artificial turf. "Where's the dirt?"

"What’s this contraption?” Ed asked as he examined the massive jungle gym with multiple levels of netting, ladders, ropes and slides.

Edna nodded approvingly. “It’s called progress.”

Suddenly a bell rang, and hordes of screaming kids poured onto the grounds, whooping and hollering as they raced toward the equipment.

Edna grabbed Ed's hand and quickly led him out of harm's way. "Some things haven't changed!" she yelled as they ran. 

*****

This 99-word story is my contribution to the August 24 Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge to "write a story about an empty playground."

Fossil

“It’s not what it IS,” Ed said excitedly. “It’s what it WAS.”

Edna held up the object she dug out while tilling the garden. “Huh?”

“It’s a fossil, Edna. Probably remains from some dinosaur that roamed our yard a gazillion years ago.”

“Huh?”

Ed carefully removed the 6-inch, claw-like object from Edna’s trembling hand. He nodded as he inspected it, gently laid it on the ground, then walked around the flowerbed looking for more evidence.

Edna picked it up, turned it over, and chipped away large clumps of baked dirt. She could barely make out markings underneath:

SEARS CRAFTSMAN

*****

This 99-word story is my contribution to the August 17 Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge to "write a story that features a fossil."

Leaderboard

The miracle putt made it over the crest, turned at the bottom of the hill and curled into the cup. Ed pumped his fists, looking up at the leaderboard. There he  was — leader of the County Senior Golf Tournament after the first hole.

Ed caught Edna’s eye in the crowd as they spotted menacing clouds above. They both knew a rain delay would, ironically, extend Ed’s moment in the sun.

Alas, it was not to be.

The sun suddenly broke through as if the golf gods had awakened and refused to let this farce continue.

Ed finished dead last.

*****

This 99-word story is my contribution to the August 10 Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge to "write a story about something or someone that is transient."