EAVESDROPPING
Joe’s passion was people-watching.
Each night he’d regale Monica with stories of businessmen meeting hookers en
route to a motel, writers seeking material, runaways looking for lifts. After a
decade he considered himself an expert.
These three women, he guessed, were
young mums on a break from housework, though their conversation looked rather intense
for that. Joe took the coffee to refill their cups and heard one say, ‘I’ll
drive – my car’s bigger.”
How nice, Joe thought, an outing, and
left them to their plans.
He was almost out of range when the
blonde said, ‘Remember to bring your guns.”
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This story was written for Friday Fictioneers, ably run by Rochelle, where writers from across the world use a mere 100 words to tell a story inspired by a photograph. This week's picture was taken by Roger Bultot and posted on https://rochellewisoff.com/
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This story was written for Friday Fictioneers, ably run by Rochelle, where writers from across the world use a mere 100 words to tell a story inspired by a photograph. This week's picture was taken by Roger Bultot and posted on https://rochellewisoff.com/
The bigger car better to dispose of a body in perhaps? Jo needs to work on his people watching skills!
ReplyDeleteDispose of a body, carry a lot of loot?
DeleteDid I scare you, Helen?
ReplyDeleteOh, I knew there had to be a twist!!!! Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alicia!
DeleteIt's nice to know that even after all this time people can still surprise "expert people-watcher" Joe :-)
ReplyDeletePerhaps he won't be quite so self-assured in future :)
DeleteA story that ends with a bang! Excellent.
ReplyDeleteClick to read my Friday Fiction
Heehee! Thanks for commenting, Keith.
DeleteAhh that was unexpected!
ReplyDeleteGood! Thanks for commenting, Dahlia.
ReplyDeleteI think Joe's going to have to reevaluate his expert status. Nice job. I like the surprise of it. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sascha. Perhaps he won't be so pompous now?
DeleteNot what they seem! Nice story.
ReplyDeleteAppearances can be so deceptive.
DeleteI used to commute when I was younger and loved making up stories about my fellow travellers. I'll never know how accurate I was! Nice take on the prompt.
ReplyDeleteI think it's probably the curse of writers - that and a broad bottom from sitting at the computer!
DeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteA perfect example of you can't always judge a book by its cover. Well written as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Joe did read their body language as not quite right for his initial assumption, but he still got it badly wrong.
DeleteI guess there is always a first time to be surprised... I guess it's a robbery being executed soon.
ReplyDeleteAh - but was it Joe's first misreading of the clues? And will he ever trust his instincts again?
DeleteEnjoyed that. Poor innocent Joe...
ReplyDeleteHe he - very good - loved the twist ending, Liz.
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
One must never assume... even "bring the guns" could mean something else...
ReplyDeleteFun one, Liz!
It could mean they were 'only' going to shoot some defenceless animals, I suppose :)
DeleteUh, oh. He was "almost" out of range" which means he heard their plans. I wonder if he'll notify the police. Good writing, Liz. :) ---Suzanne
ReplyDeleteBut he only heard one sentence - will he jump to the same conclusion as I have?
Delete