Overdue

Tom placed a pile of books on the counter.

‘I’m returning these.  We found them when we were clearing out my uncle’s house.’

‘Great!’ The librarian smiled and slid the books towards herself.

Tom folded his bag and headed to the door.

‘I’m sorry, but these are all overdue.’

‘Pardon?’

‘You owe a fine.’

‘A fine? I’m returning them for my uncle.’

‘You’ll need to pay on his behalf.’

‘He’s dead. If we hadn’t cleared the house, you wouldn’t have them at all.’

‘Nonetheless …’

Tom laughed. ‘You’ll have to take it up with him. And good luck with that!’



A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.