Rochelle’s challenge this week is to craft a story of 100 words, prompted by Dale’s Rogerson’s photo. Those clusters of people, what are saying, where have they come from ? Here’s what I imagined.
photo prompt courtesy of Dale Rogerson
Brief Encounter
‘Hi Aimee’
‘Hi Ali, quick mooch ? Sorry about your break up. Shopping will help.’
‘Aimee, there’s a man following us..’
‘Nah, keep walking’.
‘Quick, move Ali, sharp left into ToyzRUs, hide in the teddy bear section’.
‘Oh God, he’s walking towards us !’
‘You’re ex ? Was he angry with you ?’
‘Or that on-line bloke, he looked dodgy ?’
‘Maybe that weird Spanish teacher ?’
‘Let’s hide in the toilet, lock the door. Must’ve gone by now.’
‘Oh no, here he is ! What do want Mister ?’
‘You dropped your wallet back there. I want to return it.’
April 20, 2018 at 7:20 pm
Proves paranoia doesn’t always mean they are out to get you. Great take.
April 7, 2018 at 3:38 pm
Great twist 🙂
April 7, 2018 at 4:44 pm
Thank you Granonine.
April 7, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Fun read of worried women, good turn at the end. Enjoyed the laugh.
April 7, 2018 at 4:45 pm
Thanks James.
April 7, 2018 at 12:20 am
Wise and very funny.
April 7, 2018 at 10:57 am
Thank you – glad you liked it.
April 5, 2018 at 6:40 pm
Sometimes it’s so hard to be nice! Especially if you’re a man. You really brought that out in your story.
April 7, 2018 at 10:59 am
Thank you Alicia – I agree it can be hard to start from a position of trusting other people.
April 5, 2018 at 3:02 pm
Nice humorous tale. But, as you hint in your reply to Karen’s comment, our fear is often exaggerated. In fact, in one of my jobs all female members of staff were required to read material on personal safety. It was real alarmist stuff, and I felt strongly that trying to minimise what is actually a tiny risk by making us all terrified was a bad mistake.
April 5, 2018 at 6:31 pm
Thanks Penny. Your experience with female staff being terrified without need is so recognisable, sadly. I’m concerned we ‘ll all end up wary of every-one else. Hope not.
April 5, 2018 at 10:40 am
All that worry for nothing!
April 5, 2018 at 6:32 pm
Absolutely.
April 5, 2018 at 4:32 am
Appearances, as they say, cab be deceptive, but I think they did the right thing, one can never be too careful nowadays.
April 5, 2018 at 8:01 am
Yes, guess we tend to fear the worst – what a pity isn’t it.
April 4, 2018 at 9:37 pm
Dear Francine,
This made me chuckle. I could see something like this happening to me. Easy to let the imagination run away, Love this. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
April 5, 2018 at 8:03 am
Glad it made you chuckle Rochelle. The Mall photo is a perfect setting , I think, for this.
April 4, 2018 at 8:54 pm
This is like something that could happen me with my half cynical mind! Great story and wonderful ending.
April 5, 2018 at 8:04 am
Thank you Lisa, glad you found it imaginable.
April 4, 2018 at 7:54 pm
They were lucky to get it back!
April 5, 2018 at 8:07 am
You’re right Liz, the man could have got cheesed off, couldn’t he ?
April 4, 2018 at 6:35 pm
Ha, it’s difficult for a man to be a good samaritan these days without looking suspicious! 🙂
April 5, 2018 at 8:06 am
I agree. Tough on men who are good guys. I hope his kindness to them is remembered.
April 4, 2018 at 6:34 pm
Ah, how wrong can you be? Good story.
April 5, 2018 at 8:08 am
Thank you Jilly – pleased you liked the story.
April 4, 2018 at 6:34 pm
Ha ha! Talk about letting one’s imagination get the best of one!
(I think you wanted to write “your” ex instead of “you’re”… )
April 5, 2018 at 8:09 am
Thanks Dale.
April 4, 2018 at 6:17 pm
Haha – one good deed deserves a run for your lives other moment. What baggage they carry!
April 5, 2018 at 8:10 am
I agree Kelvin, they have learnt to be suspicious. At least it ended well.
April 4, 2018 at 5:36 pm
Oh funny! I guess their suspicion carried them far, far away.
April 5, 2018 at 8:12 am
Thanks Kay, glad you liked the story. Think fear feeds on itself don’t you ?