THE HUSBAND AND HIS BROTHER

TWO MORE STORIES for Friday Fictioneers - after reading yesterday's post, a friend asked for the other two sides of the triangle, so here goes -

THE  HUSBAND

All promises should be kept, but one made to your mother is sacred.

When Tony started school, Mum told me I should always look after him, so I raised my hand in the Scout salute and promised.

I knew he had a crush on Maggie, but when we married I assumed he’d find his own wife. Instead he hung around like a bad smell, even after the children were born.

Last week I finally told him to sling his hook, but today he came pleading to make up, with a bottle in each pocket.

I should never have drunk it.

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THIRD SIDE OF THE TRIANGLE

Maggie was mine ever since school, where I sharpened her pencils and protected her from bullies.

After we grew up I taught her to dance and she fitted my arms perfectly – until my brother seduced her with his money and flash cars. I still took her flowers, though, when I went round to share my home-brew with Richard. Then he got jealous of how close Maggie and I were getting and threw me out, but he couldn’t resist my beer.

After the funeral I tried to comfort Maggie, but she’s turned against me.

I wonder if she’d like parsnip wine? 

BEST FRIENDS - flash fiction

BEST  FRIENDS

Richard and Tony were brothers who, with their neighbour Maggie, were a solid threesome all through school.

In their teens they went dancing together, drank cappuccinos and pooled their money to share bowls of spaghetti. Best friends – until Maggie married Richard. 

Tony was devastated. 

“I loved you ever since school.”

“Don’t be childish,” Maggie scolded, but he never gave up trying.

Over the years Maggie fended off Tony's many attempts to seduce her, hiding his brother’s disloyalty from her husband.

Then Richard died and she was finally able to eject Tony from the house, saying frostily, “Don’t come back till Hell freezes over.”

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Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers from her blog  https://rochellewisoff.com/  You can follow the link from there to read other writers' stories.

A second thank you to Rochelle for using one of my photos for this week's prompt. A few months ago I awoke to a beautiful frosty, misty morning and went out with my camera, ending up in our churchyard. The teasels were particularly eyecatching with every detail outlined in white crystals.

TWO MORE STORIES!  A friend suggested I write two more stories from the points of view of the men in this one. If you would like to read them, click on my home page to find my post for Friday 28th.

STILL LIFE - a story in 100 words

STILL  LIFE

The books, vase and shoes had adorned Helen’s desk for so long that they became known as ‘the still life’.

Even after her husband William died, as unobtrusively as he had lived, she met any suggestion to move them with an obstinacy that intrigued her children while also exasperating them, so after Helen’s own funeral they demolished the pile with almost indecent haste.

Pressed inside every indented section of the book Lily discovered a faded rose, Henry tipped a champagne cork from each shoe, and hidden inside the vase Georgina found a bundle of love-letters, all signed, ‘Eternally yours, George.’

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All that weight had to be crushing a secret, didn't it? Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers on her blog  https://rochellewisoff.com/ and to Magaly Guerrero for her photograph of the lovely flamenco shoes.

If you enjoyed that story, check out a slightly longer one, also written to a visual prompt, and published on Friday on this site -  http://visualverse.org/submissions/minotaur/

FRIDAY MORNING - flash fiction for Good Friday

FRIDAY  MORNING

Last night had been enjoyable despite the threat of discovery – thirteen men breaking bread together and sharing wine. This morning, though, the bread was a hard lump in his stomach, and he could still taste the wine on his tongue, as sour as betrayal.

He stared into the mirror as if seeing a stranger. Was it really necessary to endure today’s horror? 

He got up, feeling far older than his thirty-odd years – what he needed was fresh air. Outside, his friends were waiting, with one notable exception.

“Walk with me,” he commanded, “It will be cool in the Gethsemane garden.”

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Pizza and wine - bread and wine - today's story had to be about Good Friday, the morning after the Passover meal. I think it's safe to assume that Jesus, who was human too, was also scared.

Thanks to Dale Rogerson for the photo prompt, and to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers on her blog https://rochellewisoff.com/ .  

Happy Easter to you all, whatever you believe.

THE WATCHER - flash fiction in 100 words

THE  WATCHER

“He was there again today, Mum!”

Davey’s voice preceded him down the hall, followed by the slam of the front door, the thud as his schoolbag hit the floor, and finally his appearance in the livingroom.

Sandra turned the television down a fraction. “Who was, Davey?”

“That man who watches me, I told you. Can’t you fetch me in the car?”

“You’re big enough to cycle home, Davey, and anyway, I’m too busy.”

The next day there were no homecoming sounds, but by the time Sandra realised, it was too late.

They found Davey’s bike still chained to the lamp-post.

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Each week Rochelle posts a photo prompt on her blog  https://rochellewisoff.com/  which dozens of Friday Fictioneers use to inspire 100 word stories. Thaks to Jellico's Stationhouse for this week's image. Follow the blue froggy link on Rochelle's blog to read the others after leaving a comment here :)