Tag: flash fiction

The effect

Kevin squinted. Darkness engulfed him, encroaching his personal space. Gulping whiffs of wintery air, he peered within. Breathless, he expected something to stir — or for any indication of life beyond the damp and desolate doorframe.

“Hello?” he called out to no response.

Feeling a prickle of cold sweat run down his spine, Kevin realised his blunder. His arm hairs stood up in the breeze and he thought he should’ve stayed on the warm couch, instead. He’d gotten too involved, and it scared him. If she knew, his sister would forever tease him for wetting his pants reading a thriller novel.

It’s not what you say

As he walked onto stage, the gathering erupted in applause. He was the hero who’d save them from the hellish fate their previous leader had cast upon them.

He took it all in, aware of the exuberance he emitted and the effect his mere presence had on these fools.

Fools who believed his words, and swallowed his well-construced speeches without thought. He once again spoke about his plans to “expand the economy, and enrich the ecosystem.”

The crowed cheered him as their leader, unknowing he’d lead them to their destruction.

It wasn’t his ideas that swayed them, but his delivery.

Discipline

Mason Martin went from room to room calling his mother. He checked her bedroom, the kitchen, and even his grandfather’s library of dusty volumes.

He couldn’t find his school tie, and now he couldn’t find the person who could find it for him. He’d be late again. “Mom?” He went to the garden annoyed and yelling.

In the distance, he recognised his mother and the school headmistress deep in discussion. He watched them walk towards the house, his mother looking impassive, and the headmistress triumphant.

Two days later, Mason left for boarding school. The garden amble was to discipline him.

All parties agreed

Having realised that the partnership no longer brought happiness to either, both parties had terminated their once-mutual agreement. All was said and done on paper already. They were aware of the consequences and the implications well before they had signed on. Neither was surprised.

The same couldn’t be said about Neha, however. She had no idea what she had gotten into. It wasn’t her choice from the start. No one had consulted her or informed her. Until one day, her mother announced at dinner, her separation from her husband of eight years. Their daughter, Neha, would remain with her mother.

A good deed

“According to the survey, most of our nation’s population lives in substandard conditions. The home minister suggests outsourcing development efforts.” The reporter drew a breath, and Meera exhaled.

“Oh, these poor people,” she sighed, turning to her husband. Flipping through documents, he nodded without looking up. “Yeah…” he drifted off—construction business was taxing.

“Let’s do something about this.” Meera faced him, hands on her hips.
Prem looked at her, bemused. “Huh?”

“Try to get that government contract. This is our chance to do good to the country.”

Or, he calculated, to experiment the cheap material his friend had suggested.