The Last Hurrah

‘Relax will you. It’s just an abandoned warehouse.’

‘Well, it’s giving me the creeps.’

‘We’ll just glance it over and skedaddle. Tomorrow you’ll be a free man.’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘I can’t wait to retire. Lie in. Go fishing. Enjoy life.’

‘You hear that?’

‘What?’

‘Voices. Over there.’

‘Charlie, put the gun away.’

‘Come-on.’

‘Charlie. Take it easy.’

‘One last hurrah, okay.’

‘Look …’

The door flew open, a figure in its frame.

The body slam sent Charlie to the floor.

A shot discharged.

‘What the fuck!’

‘Surprise!’ Harry whispered in Charlie’s ear. ‘You just put a bullet through your retirement cake.’

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

Back from the dead

‘Hello, Tess.’

‘Jake?’

‘Sorry for not calling ahead.’

‘They told me you were dead.’

‘I was released four days ago. I wanted to be the one that told you.’

‘I’ve … I’ve …’

‘They explained.’

‘I … Are you a ghost?’

‘Sometimes it seems that way. Don’t worry, I won’t cause you any problems. We’ll find a way for a retrospective divorce.’

‘Oh god. I …’

‘Mummy! Come and see.’

‘I’ll let you get back to them.’

‘Jesus, Jake. I’m so sorry.’

‘Don’t be.’

‘But …’

‘It was good seeing you again, Tess.’

‘Mummy!’

‘I’m sorry, Jake.’

‘Go. It’s fine.’

 

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

This is life

‘Mum, we’re not doing the marriage and children discussion again.’

‘I just want you to be happy, dear.’

‘And I can’t be unless I have a husband and kids?’

‘Life is about family.’

‘Life is about living, mum. On your own terms. Not for your parents or for anyone else.’

‘Time is ticking on, Cassie. Once it’s too late …’

‘I’m sorry, Dad, but I can’t stay.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘I’m leaving, Mum. I want to enjoy my holiday break.’

‘You didn’t even wait five minutes to ...’

‘Desmond … don’t. We’re your family, Cassie.’

‘And this is life.’

 

 

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

Cindernever

‘Tess. Wow, I finally found you.’

‘I suppose I’m now meant to try on some glass slipper?’

‘Metaphorically speaking.’

‘This isn’t Cinderella, Marcus. You lied to me.’

‘I’m …’

‘And I’ve no interest in being a princess; receiving excessive privilege for no reason except marriage to a man who has done nothing to earn his position.’

‘I …’

‘It’s just a fairytale designed to reproduce the position of royalty in society. Why are there no Cindernever stories where the prince gives up everything for love, including dismantling the establishment to create a republic?’

‘Shall I try on a work boot?’

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

Time to call time

‘Chrissie, what’s with the email?’

‘Hi Ms James. You need a formal letter?’

‘No. I mean, what’s with the resignation? We’ve just promoted you to department head.’

‘And I just got my first Christmas break in five years. I was in the office until midnight before I left and I’ve been asked to work every day I’ve been home. It’s time to call time.’

‘I’m sorry, Chrissie. The client wanted …’

‘And I delivered, but you need to think about your employees, not just the client. I’m sure you’ll find another slave.’

‘Chrissie, that’s not …’

‘Merry Christmas, Ms James.’

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

Off-piste

‘Maggie.’

‘Sarah.’

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Holiday. You?’

‘Work. So, this is a coincident?’

‘It’s a ski resort, I’m here skiing.’

‘So, you didn’t follow me?’

‘Follow you?’

‘I don’t want any trouble, Maggie.’

‘I’m sorry?’

‘You know, about us.’

‘Us?’

‘Yes, about us. I don’t want … you know, the media.’

‘There is no us, Sarah. You ended it just as it started. Remember?’

‘It would still cause a … headache.’

‘Don’t worry, you’re secret’s safe.’

‘Maybe we could get a drink later? A private …’

‘Seriously?’

‘For old time’s sake.’

‘Even if it might create a migraine?’

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

One broken thing at a time

‘It would probably by cheaper to tear it down and rebuild. And it would be better built.’

‘Dad! The point is to restore it to its original condition.’

‘What, cold, damp and drafty? There’s a reason these old cottages were abandoned, Janie.’

‘And we’ll making sure this one survives. Except without the cold, damp and drafts.’  

‘So, not quite original condition.’

‘Original with mod-cons, like insulation and underfloor heating.’

‘Well, I’m sure your grandmother would approve.’

‘She’d be delighted I’m going to live here.’

‘She would. But horrified you’ll be living alone.’

‘Let’s fix one broken thing at a time.’

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

The family line

‘What’s that?’

‘Divorce papers.’

‘What?’

‘Irreconcilable differences. Or to put it another way, I can’t have children.’

‘Eric’s divorcing you because you can’t have kids?’

‘The IVF has never worked.’

‘So why not adopt? Or foster?’

‘He wants his own kids; continue the family line.’

‘And that’s more important than you?’

‘It seems that was my primary role; provide him with offspring.’

‘My god, what an ass!’

‘What am I going to do now, Sadie? Divorced, barren, not exactly good looking.’

‘Plenty of divorced men fit that bill.’

‘Sadie!’

‘He won’t be making kids once I’ve cut off his balls.’



A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

Losing Sarah

 Harry lowered the letter. ‘She’s never visiting us again.’

‘How can she do this to us? What’s everyone going to think?’

‘Our daughter is cutting us off, Lorna.’

‘Exactly! And I’d arranged for her to meet Brandon and …’

‘You’re missing the point.’

‘The point?’

‘Our daughter never wants to see us again.’

‘Nonsense. She’s just …’

‘It’s not nonsense, Lorna. Her letter is clear. I can never meet your expectations and I’m always going to disappoint you no matter what I do.’

‘That’s not …’

‘Isn’t it? Right now, you’re less worried about losing Sarah than what others think.’


A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

True colours

‘But why?’

‘Because I only see you as a friend.’

‘How about we try dating? You’ll see me differently then.’

‘I’m sorry, Cath, but I’m interested in someone else.’

‘But they’re not interested in you. Unlike me.’

‘How do you know what they think?’

‘Because I asked her and she told me.’

‘And she’d tell you the truth?’

‘Why wouldn’t she?’

‘Because she’s shy and kinda insecure. She’d have said what you wanted to hear.’

‘Or she could actually not like you.’

‘Or she could. We’ve been dating for two weeks.’

‘What? The sly cow.’

‘And there’s your true colours.’

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

They're in love

‘Are you coming down?’

‘I still can’t get used to this. She’s two years older than his grandchild.’

‘I thought we weren’t going to discuss this again?’

‘When the baby’s born, technically it’ll be my step-brother even though our son will be twenty-three years older.’

‘They’re in love, that’s all that matters. Come-on, she’s serving dinner.’

‘Which is another thing I can’t fathom. What does she see in the old bastard?’

‘Who knows? But she signed the pre-nup; she’ll inherit nothing when he passes.’

‘She’ll have the kid.’

‘Just remember to call her mom.’

‘Please, don’t. It’s not funny, Val.’

 

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

This is the line

‘Just loan me the money, Cassie.’

‘I might as well just hand it straight over to the bookies.’

‘Is this how you treat your father?’

‘I don’t earn money so you can just waste it.’

‘If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t be alive to earn money.’

‘If it wasn’t for you we wouldn’t have grown up fearing the bailiffs and moving from town to town.’

‘Just give me the money, Cassie.’

‘There isn’t any bloody money! Who do you think is paying the rent?’

‘Cass, come-on. These are serious guys.’

‘I’m serious, Dad. This is the line. The end.’ 

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

None of us were innocent

 Tom squeezed a smidgen of glue into the slot.

‘Do you remember that girl in our class that used to sniff glue? She was mad for it.’

‘She was mad full-stop,’ Fred said.

‘Cassie Monday,’ Jenny muttered.

‘I wonder whatever happened to her?’

‘Probably still living in a different world.’

‘She killed herself,’ Jenny said.

‘Really? Wow.’

‘She was transferred, but the bullying carried on in the new school.’

‘Bullying?’

‘You two were the worst. Teasing her.’

‘Us?’

‘Yes, you.’

‘We were bystanders.’

‘You were enablers.’

‘You’re saying that we killed her?’

‘I’m saying none of us were innocent.’

‘Fuck.’

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

False flags

I find it difficult to talk about it. Honestly. He spent the entire afternoon with his secretary. Laughing and joking. They spent over an hour in a small place off Henry Street and left giggling like school children. I thought he’d at least go somewhere with a bit of class, not a run-down place on its last legs. Then that evening he had the nerve to take me out to our favourite restaurant. He’s so dense he didn’t even realise I was seething mad. Then he proposed. After spending hours with her. Would you accept a ring that she’d chosen?

 

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

Bosses date too

Paula pushed Gavin away and tugged her top over her head.

‘Whoa, slow down.’

‘Come.’ Paula rose unsteadily to her feet. ‘To bed.’

‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea.’

‘It’s an excellent idea.’

‘Are you sure you won’t regret it in the morning?’

‘Will you?’

‘Probably.’

Paula dropped back onto the sofa.

‘Seriously? You get me all aroused then throw cold water?’

‘I didn’t expect you to …’

‘Throw myself at you?’

‘Well, yeah.’

‘I’d have been waiting forever for you to make a move.’

‘You’re my boss.’

‘And?’

‘It’s …’

‘Bosses date too, Gavin.’

She kissed him again.

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.