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30.7.15

BOTTLING UP - Flash Fiction in 100 words

As a break from packing boxes and photographing furniture to put on a local For Sale site, I wrote this little piece of flash fiction for Friday Fictioneers. Thanks to Rochelle for the photo that prompted me and dozens of others to write a weekly story.
Follow the Blue Frog link on her blog to read the others.
https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/

... and here is mine.

BOTTLING UP

Vinnie began collecting glass marbles when she was small, loving the way they changed the sunlight into magic.
When she started earning pocket money she progressed to old medicine bottles, and by the time she met Dean she had hundreds.
‘Stupid’ he called them when he was sober – when he was drunk he simply broke them, often on Vinnie’s head.
She began seeking out the murky ones in flea-markets, washing them out meticulously when she got them home.

When Dean died in agony, forensics couldn’t isolate what had killed him from the cocktail of ancient poisons in his system.
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Why am I packing and selling? We have sold our apartment in Tenerife and will be moving back to Sussex in September. All our famile bar one live in the UK and as we get older we want to be closer than two thousand miles.


20 comments:

  1. Yes, I imagine the "tox screen" would have been daunting in his case! Great story!

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    1. Thanks for commenting, Lorna. Perhaps with an inconclusive result they couldn't prosecute anyone?

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  2. That would have been quite a concoction, I imagine. Good luck with the packing and in your new environment.

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    1. One assumes Vinnie disguised the taste with something!

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  3. Ooh - chilling little tale, Lizy! (Happy packing!)

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    1. Thanks Susan - I think I was feeling murderous that day!

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  4. Ooh - chilling little tale, Lizy! (Happy packing!)

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    1. You pressed the button twice, Susan. :)

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  5. How can it be her fault when she stores the liquid from washing for safe disposal, and he thinks it's a drink. Great story with a nice twist.

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    1. Sounds like you know a bit about how to get away with murder!

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  6. Boy, is that morbid! I guess he deserved it though.

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  7. She must have been very patient to collect all the little bits of murk left in the bottles. I hope she didn't get too many bruises while she waited to have enough. Dean sounds nasty. Good story.

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  8. Dear Liz,

    Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

    Shalom, Rochelle

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  9. Good story and I guess he got what he deserved. I bet you are glad you are finally packing to 'come home'. Good luck with the move.

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