Super Short Story by L. A. Keller

-
The blurb below is from my critique group writing prompt. I'll see what I can come up with in 250 words or less.

 Note Found at a Construction Site: You're a construction worker and, while in the middle of a dig to build a new building, you stumble upon a box with contents in it. There are five very specific items in it along with a note: "When you find this, call me. This is only phase one." There is a phone number so you call it. What happens next?

I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and dialed the number. I didn't expect anyone to answer but after only two rings a voice that brought Marilyn Monroe to my mind answered.

 "I've been waiting for your call."

 "Look, my crew dug up a box with a note to call this number. I'm not sure who you are expecting but I don't think it was me."

 "On the contrary, I knew it would be you."

 I sputtered out a simple minded, "Huh?"

 "Do you notice anything familiar about the objects in the box?"

 I dug around through the contents. A book of matches from Johnny's Pub, a local dive bar with only one match left; broken fingernail clippers which were so tiny as to be used on a baby's nails; a plastic half empty bottle of 81 mg aspirin; a lipstick with what appeared to be bite marks and a flash drive. None of it made any sense to me.

 "Look lady, you have the wrong guy. I don't know what game you're playing but I've got a full crew here and no time for this."

 Before I hit disconnect I heard her sobbing.  Damn, I hated it when a woman cried.

===================================

What do you think happens next? This is the part of storytelling I love the most because as the writer I don't know either!

Happy Trails,

Leslie

Leslie's Website     Twitter     Instagram     Facebook     Menu for Murder     Cocktails at Sunset

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Does the Wine Glass Matter by L. A. Keller

-
Image
As part of my restaurant series, this post is about the vessel you use to consume your juice - the fermented grape juice variety. Personally, I love a beautiful glass from which to drink wine. The more shapely and delicate the more I enjoy the wine - not because it always makes the wine dramatically  better but it adds to the pleasure of the act.  I also tend to break them routinely so I go through lots of different glassware. The first question you may ask is whether to have stemware or stemless (also known as a tumbler).  There was a trend a few years ago to move away from glasses with stems.  I agree that the stemless version is sturdier all around. You are less likely to knock the glass over and unable to snap off the stem when washing. These are easy to load in the dishwasher, but not always advisable for any wine glass depending on the quality of the glass. However, the biggest issue with stemless glasses is that you are holding the glass, and thus the ...
Read more

What Makes a Cowboy by L. A. Keller

-
Image
I love many things - the purple hues of an Arizona sunset, the purr of my rescue kitties, an elegant meal with a fabulous glass of wine, time with family and friends and, of course - cowboys. TI wondered what makes a person a cowboy. If you've read my posts, you know that I use the term Cowboy to represent either the male or female version. Cowgirls work just as hard as their male counterparts.  For the purposes of this discussion I'm going to focus on the male version. There are movie and television cowboys, rodeo cowboys and cowboys who've never ridden a horse or wrangled a cow (which may be the same as movie and t.v. cowboys). I suppose it's not so much if the man is a real cowboy or if he simply represents the idea. For my women readers, what does your ideal man look like? Does he have a hint of a beard on his face, dark penetrating eyes, unruly hair? Is he strong enough to lift a baby calf and carry it in his arms back to its mother? Would he take o...
Read more

I Don't Believe in Happily Ever After by L. A. Keller

-
I've been so busy writing Reunion in the Desert and trying to finish the third book in the Jayne Stanford series that I left this short story hanging. I'm including part Nine with the new installment as a brief review.  You can read the entire series in my blog posts or email me for one complete copy.  Part 9 “I gave up on happily ever after. Maybe I'm not cut out for a relationship. Maybe, I just don't like being committed to one person for longer than two weeks.” Clare kicked off her running shoes at the back door of her grandmother, Mae’s house. She winced when she thought about how much she spent on them but the fabric absorbed manure like a sponge and there was no way they would ever come clean. She figured she may as well throw them out, along with all her plans for this weekend. Hours of chores around the farm had worn her down more than all day client meetings. Mae hummed a tune as she prepared their lunch. Clare knew she had been guilt tripped in...
Read more