I figured I’d try something different.
I’ve never done flash fiction. I thought I’d give it a try… at least as a distraction from my current WIP.
Now, I know that there really isn’t a market for Flash, so I figured I’d post it here. If you’re not into it, don’t worry, it will only be once a week until I get bored with it.
I was going to do Flash Fiction Friday, but I already have a Friday slot, and I don’t want to freak out the Friday people, and Tuesday is feeling so neglected. I don’t normally post on Tuesdays, so this is my way of giving Tuesday a little love.
I’m not sure where I will go with this… if I will actually create little stories, or just scenes, or simply stream of consciousness.
I am going to start with a random sentence, and see where it takes me in five minutes. Today, I will start with “I have to wonder sometimes”.
Okay… here we go.
I have to wonder sometimes, what true happiness is. Why do some people lead gold-plated lives, and others continually suffer? But are those gold-plated lives really as great as they seem? Are those people really happy?
I watch the rich man walking out of a department store, overflowing bags in his hands. He fumbles with the keys of his Mercedes, while fighting with his wife. They walk right by the homeless man, leaning against the building, resting his head on his knees. The wife, eyes glaring, pushes past her husband and gets into their car.
The homeless man lifts his head, and smiles as a young child runs into his arms.
“Hey Buddy. How was school,” the man asks.
“Great! I got an A on my math quiz.”
“That’s fantastic.”
The boy fumbles with his bag, and pulls out a loosely wrapped napkin. “Here, Dad. I bought you half my lunch.”
The man opens what looks like half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and splits it in two. “Tell you what. Let’s share this for dinner.”
They sit together, leaning against the building, giggling as they begin the child’s homework.
I wonder sometimes, what true happiness is.
The computers shut down, and the lights in the building go off for the night. The little pink monkey smiles. He unhooks his Velcro hand from the cubicle wall, and jumps to the desk. He scuttles around the keyboard, and swings over to the chair, using the legs to slide to the floor. A mouse runs across the carpet, and the little pink monkey hides behind a chair leg. He’d find a way to catch that varmint for Eric’s Mom. He knew it was driving her nuts. First, though, he needed to figure out how to get back on the desk, because the lights were coming back on. Did it really take that long just to get this far?
Jennifer M Eaton 