Today I am combining my Advent Calendar with my weekly Friday Fctioneers' flash fiction.
The Advent challenge was to write a story, changing it as it progresses so that the ending is a surprise even to oneself. I suspect the lovely people who set these challenges have twisted minds!
SO - as the FF photo was first published five years ago, I have resurrected the story I wrote then, and changed it. Several times. I was thinking of making it a murder but it didn't turn out that way!
ONLY WORN
ONCE
He removed the wrapping paper. "They're great - the right size, too," but he couldn't hide his disappointment.
She smiled with relief - she couldn't afford the Berghaus boots he'd wanted. "You can wear them on holiday.”
As he expected, the boots rubbed, and halfway through their first hike he removed them, claiming his feet needed to breathe.
"Look at the view," she said.
"Never mind the view - I need a leak,” he said and vaulted over the wall. Not surprisingly, the hundred-foot drop killed him.
She coped well with the shock, finishing her holiday by the pool.
When she arrived home she sold the boots on Ebay – ‘Only worn once’.
..........................................................................................
Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers on her blog https://rochellewisoff.com/ and to Adam Ickes for the photo of the boots. Looking back through my archives, I think the original of my story may even have been my very first stab at FF.
As our next photo prompt isn't due until December 26th, I will take this opportunity to wish all my readers a very Happy Christmas, and to remind you that a book makes a wonderful gift, to give to someone or to keep. My latest book WOLF PACK is now out on Amazon in print and ebook - you can find it by clicking on the book cover at the top of my page. WOLF PACK is the second in my Living Rock series, the first of which was A Volcanic Race.
Haha! Very good.
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen x
Deleteshe did take that well
ReplyDeleteWith a touch of relief, one fears!
DeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteSomething tells me she had that planned all along.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Whether she could have planned that particular outcome is doubtful, but she had something in mind...as did I, but it didn't turn out that way!
DeleteExcellent!
ReplyDeleteWife has a lot of commonsense.
Thanks susan.
DeleteSo, he won the Darwin Award. She can do better.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Yes, she can!
DeleteShe realised that generosity wouldn't get her what she wanted. Good story.
ReplyDeleteThank you, YT.
DeleteSomething sinister here, "She finished her holiday by the pool."
ReplyDeleteGlad you spotted that, Brenda.
DeleteShe took that all too well, methinks. Rather cold broad, I'd say...
ReplyDeletePragmatic, I'd say 😊
DeleteShe did well out of that - her freedom and a few quid in her pocket ;-)
ReplyDeleteShe did, though how much do second hand boots go for these days?
DeleteLeaving his shoes behind before jumping to death. He must have had feeling left for his friend. At least she made some money out of the shoes.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't know there was such a drop! His death was an accident.
DeleteA lovely and gentler spoof on the original "baby shoes - never worn" flash.
ReplyDeleteThat hadn't occurred to me till you mentioned it!
DeleteIs it wrong that I smiled at the image of him vaulting over a wall and finding empty space on the other side? :-)
ReplyDeleteNot at all - I'm glad you share my twisted sense of humour!
DeleteOh, that's cold! It's almost as if she set him up, because she sure didn't seem to miss him!
ReplyDeleteI guess she'd have dumped him if he hadn't saved her the bother. 😁
DeleteThis really happens in San Francisco more often than you'd think!! Excellent comedic take on a debilitatingly bad choice.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens? People jumping to their deaths inadvertently?
DeleteLOL. Pays the ungrateful wretch right. The pool sounds much more inviting. Enjoyed your story Liz
ReplyDeleteThanks irene. I'd prefer the pool too.
DeleteShe took that well! Am I smelling something fishy here? Bad quality boots killed him in the end.
ReplyDeleteSheer lucky coincidence!
DeleteInteresting!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteWell I guess that was the last leak he ever took.
ReplyDeleteA leap instead of a leak, perhaps?
DeleteThat packed a punch. I didn't see that coming, nor did he! What fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen.
DeleteVery fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa.
DeleteSomething tells me that no love was lost.
ReplyDelete