The prompt for day 8: It’s said that flash fiction is any story between five and 1,500 words. So, let’s be brief. Today, write a one-sentence story.
The sun sets, the darkness creeps, and the virgins huddle in fear that tonight, they will be chosen.
Day 9 prompt is to write about a surprise gone wrong.
The Chicago airport was like a huge snow globe. When the plane took off an hour later than scheduled, Judy was seriously worried about her choice of transportation. But now she could relax, she was home. “Florida sunshine, I missed you!”
She quickly grabbed her bags and headed towards the exit. Her son was here somewhere to pick her up.
“Hi Mom. Welcome home!”
“Mark, it’s so good to see you. How is everything? Have my plants survived?”
“Only one!”
Judy’s face turned, a horrified gasp left her lips.
“Just kidding Mom, your plants are fine.”
“Thank God. I don’t know what I’d do without my babies to take care of.”
The ride home took about two hours. They chatted about all kinds of things. Mark finally got around to talking about her birthday.
“So, Mom, your sixtieth is coming up and Sue and I wanted to do something special.”
“No! No, we are not going to do anything. My fiftieth was enough. No more surprises, especially if they involve nude men.”
Mark laughed, “That was all Sue’s idea, but he was kind of cute, you’ll have to admit.”
“Yeah, yeah… but seriously, no!”
Mark pulled the car into the driveway of the small, brick bungalow that Judy called home. He put it in park, turned and looked at his mom.
“What?”
“I don’t want you to get mad at us, but we kind of already did something! Sue couldn’t be here today but she sends her love.”
“What did you do?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Oh my, will I need to call the police any time soon?”
“Mom, you’re a riot, no.”
“Will it make me fat?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Will it…”
Mark interrupted her. “Mom, let’s go see what it is, okay?”
Mark got out and ran around to help Judy out of the car door. Judy bristled. “I’m not an invalid, you know.”
“I know, I just want to be near you when you see it.”
He walked with Mom to the door and said, “Now, close your eyes.”
“Last time you asked me to close my eyes you put jalapenos in my cereal.”
“Trust me Mom, no jalapenos.”
“Okay.”
Judy closed her eyes.
Mark used the keys to open the door. He gently led Judy into the house and then shut the door behind them.
“Can I open them yet?”
“No, not yet.”
Mark guided her to the back porch. He quietly opened the porch door and turned to watch Judy’s face. “Okay, you can open them now.”
Judy opened her eyes. Her beautiful pots were all toppled over. Dirt spilled out onto the floor. A few pots were broken. Stuffing from the chair cushions reminded her of the snow in Chicago. A roll of paper towels was ripped to shreds. She put her hand over her mouth to stifle a cry.
Mark, so interested in his mom’s reaction, didn’t even notice the mess. “I know, isn’t she great?”
Judy was about to start crying when she heard a tap, tap tap. From around the back of the biggest pot on her porch came a little white dog. Her fur was full of mud and there was a pink bow on her head.
“Ruff!”
Mark finally looked into the room. “Damn. Sue said to leave her on the porch, that nothing would happen if it was just a couple of hours. Oh Mom, I am so sorry. I’ll fix everything and buy you new plants!”
“Ruff!” The little Bichon Frise ran up to Judy.
Judy scooped her up and started laughing as the puppy licked her face. “Does she have a name?”
Without hesitation Mark said, “Trouble.”
They both laughed.
https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/2021-february-flash-fiction-challenge-day-9
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