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2.3.18

STRANGER IN TOWN - a story in a hundred words


STRANGER IN TOWN

The saloon sign creaked in the chilly wind and Brad succumbed to its invitation. A dozen men fell silent as he entered and ordered a beer.
“Friends in town?” the barman asked.
“No, just passing through.”
“You expected somewhere?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Storm coming – we’ve got beds. You can get a bath at the barber next door.”
“Guess I could use one,” Brad laughed, drained his glass and went to get cleaned up.
As the door shut behind him, the barman said, “Right – who’s first?”
“I’ll have six, Todd,” said the Sheriff, “Best pies in the county.”
.......................................................................
Friday Fictioneers' prompt this week was so bleak that it made me think of an empty town in the middle of nowhere, and as I know nothing about boxing, I let my mind wander. Hope you like what I came up with.
Thanks as ever to Rochelle for hosting FF on her blog  https://rochellewisoff.com/  and to J Hardy Carroll for the pictorial prompt that inspired us this week.

My alternative thought was to write about the snow we have around our village in the south of England, but that would have involved me posting a picture of the massive bruise I acquired when walking 'off-piste' in search of my own photo opportunity - not a pretty sight! - so here's the photo I took when I'd picked myself up.


AND - for any of my readers who weren't brought up in England, or who have never encountered the wonders of theatrical melodrama, here's a clue to the story behind my story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweeney_Todd


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38 comments:

  1. krawson02/03/2018, 17:38

    I like how you took this as a bar--it's easy to imagine this space as a tavern & barber shop too. Shelter from the storm!

    Sorry to hear about your incident in the snow! You may need a pair of crampons if this sort of weather keeps showing up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young02/03/2018, 17:52

      Thanks Karen. I wouldn't have fallen - probably - if I'd stayed off that rough track!

      Delete
  2. Susan A Eames02/03/2018, 19:33

    Eek! Brilliantly done, Lizy. I loved your take on the prompt.:)

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young02/03/2018, 20:54

      Thanks Susan - I did wonder if I'd be told off for cheating!

      Delete
  3. Helen Baggott02/03/2018, 20:53

    Oh! That's plain creepy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dale02/03/2018, 21:17

    You guys are really getting pelted. We Canadians want to laugh at you but seriously, it's not fair, you're not equipped to deal with it like we are! (And nice shot despite your newly acquired colour.)

    As for your story... Love the beginning, am a tad confused as to what exactly they want to do to poor Brad who is unfortunately not expected anywhere...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young02/03/2018, 22:21

      Perhaps you've never heard of Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber?

      Delete
    2. Dale10/03/2018, 00:24

      D'oh! Wake up Dale!

      Delete
  5. Anonymous02/03/2018, 21:38

    a chiller for a chilly season. Nicely done

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  6. plaridel03/03/2018, 06:12

    hmmm... i wonder what would happen next. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young03/03/2018, 08:12

      Obviously my story reference is too obscure unless you know the melodrama Sweeney Todd the Barber. He murdered his clients and cooked their flesh in pies.

      Delete
  7. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields03/03/2018, 12:14

    Dear Liz,

    Your weather has made international headlines. We've been seeing reports from all over England, Ireland and Scotland. Actually, I'd rather hear that kind of news than the alternatives. Good story with a pleasant feel.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young03/03/2018, 13:22

      Thanks Rochelle - I have just added a postscript to explain my reference to the non-English. If you read that you might not think my story quite so pleasant!

      Delete
  8. Ryan van Leeuwen03/03/2018, 13:06

    I didn't get the references but immediately understood the what would happen to poor Brad; disturbing. Reminded me of the movie Cannibal set in Granada, Spain. A prestigious tailor has a peculiar taste for human flesh.

    Ryan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young03/03/2018, 13:24

      Thanks for reading, Ryan - I have added a postscript to explain - or you could ask Dan. It would possibly encourage him to read some of my writing! He certainly hasn't said anything about reading my book :(

      Delete
  9. draliman03/03/2018, 15:51

    No, Sheriff, don't eat the pies!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sandra Crook03/03/2018, 15:52

    That takes some imagination, to get from that picture to Sweeney Todd. But you nailed it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Linda03/03/2018, 16:22

    Uhhh---please don't tell me they're ordering Brad pie? Yikes. A dozen men falling silent--that was really creepy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young03/03/2018, 20:15

      Hope you like creepy, Linda? That's exactly what they were ordering.

      Delete
  12. Penny Gadd03/03/2018, 20:57

    A dozen men falling silent - yes, I've experienced that. I walked into the bar, and everything stopped, everybody looked.
    "Strangers!" was written loud and clear on every countenance.
    We left, rapidly.
    So you nailed that with your story!
    Brad should never have answered those leading questions! As it is, sounds like he's on tonight's menu.
    Entertaining take on the Demon Barber!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young03/03/2018, 21:42

      Thanks Penny. I think we've all been in bars like that.

      Delete
  13. Iain Kelly03/03/2018, 23:34

    Needs must! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young04/03/2018, 08:12

      You'd put your name on the list, would you?

      Delete
  14. Subroto04/03/2018, 04:49

    Unwashed? Wonder if the next batch of pies is going to be a bit gamey.

    The post script did help, maybe it would have been more explicit if you had put it as "You can get a bath at Sweeney Todd's Barber Shop next door". Flavoursome story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young04/03/2018, 08:14

      In retrospect, I shouldn't have been so subtle. I forgot about the transatlantic members of FF.

      Delete
  15. brudberg04/03/2018, 17:39

    Ha.. I do not know why I smile, but sometimes even horror is fun.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dawn05/03/2018, 12:26

    Just when I was about to have breakfast! lol

    ReplyDelete
  17. Helen Laycock06/03/2018, 12:24

    Aha! Brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young06/03/2018, 14:06

      Thanks Helen - I guess you didn't need the PS?

      Delete
  18. Patsy07/03/2018, 08:06

    Yikes! I guessed something was going to happen to him, but not what.

    ReplyDelete
  19. liz young07/03/2018, 15:35

    I have a weird imagination, Patsy!

    ReplyDelete

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