This piece was written for the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge with the prompt ‘In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about life savers on any body of water. It can be a formal Coast Guard, historical or contemporary. It could be an individual who unexpectedly takes on the role. Go where the prompt leads!’
Around midnight, he would walk down to the bridge and wait, with one foot resting on the bottom rail, staring into the tidal shift below. He would wait for a stranger to appear at the other end of the bridge, mirroring his stance. ‘Time to go’ he would announce and hoist himself onto the second rail. The stranger would come running, yelling ’What are you doing?’ ‘Ending the pain’ he would say. And the stranger would pull him down and take him to the all-night coffee stand just off the bridge. He’d lost count of the lives he’d saved.
Very clever….
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Thanks, Janet
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An excellent piece, Doug. Happy Halloween.
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Thanks, Robbie. Without wanting to be too churlish, I loathe and despise the invasion of American Halloween into our ‘culture’, along with its cavalcade of marketing.
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Drolly put, great kicker. And I’m sure the barista gives him and his good samaritan a rich relieved and welcoming smile!?
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Thanks, Obb. Let’s just hope he’s not their best customer. 😉
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Gotta look after your repeat customers.
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Great story, Doug!
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Thanks, Charli
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Some great story-telling, Doug. Short, but very to the point.
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Thanks, Hugh. That’s the fiendishness of Charli; put up or shut up in 99 words. 🙂
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Whatever works!
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