RATS & COBBLESTONES - Flash Fiction in 100 words X2

RATS

Twenty years we’ve lived here, but I’ve never felt comfortable.

I imagined the kids drowning, but of course they were soon swimming like ducks, and when Derek bought a narrow-boat they were ecstatic.

Admittedly the gently sloping gardens are lovely, but every passing boat brings gawping strangers and, since a photo of me in a bikini appeared on Facebook, I’ve stayed indoors.

Then last week it rained, in biblical proportions.

“We’re safe,” Derek declared, sitting Canute-like beside the canal bank, but had to admit defeat when a rat swam past him, heading for our terrace.

When the water recedes we’re selling up.

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For some reason I thought yesterday was Wednesday, so when I saw the next photo on Rochelle's blog I thought it was the Friday Fictioneers' prompt. So here's the story I wrote yesterday - two for the price of one!

Please feel free to comment on both before you follow the links from    https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/   to read other stories.

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COBBLESTONES

The villagers protested but the mayor carried the vote – the cobblestones that rattled his Rover’s suspension would be covered with pulverised gravel from his quarry, which the village could have at cost.

Within days every carpet was grey with dust, and the men covered their drinks whenever someone drove past the bar. Complaints poured into the Mayor’s office, but he shrugged, “What can I do?”

Then the rains came – a true tropical storm that raced down the steep village street and washed every grain of grey onto the beach, leaving only ancient cobblestones to gleam under the next day’s sun.

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And yes - the theme of rain seems prevalent this week - must be due to  the weather in Sussex :)