It Will Be Clear Tomorrow

Tammy mused, “It will all be clear tomorrow.” What was that supposed to mean? What especially frustrated her was the ambiguity of the statement. Harriot was like that, always speaking in cliches or half-truths. She was her best friend though and decided it would – well – have to wait till tomorrow.

What Tammy didn’t realise was, that if she knew what tomorrow’s revelation would hold, she wouldn’t want to have a thing to do with it.

About 9 AM, Harriot arrived outside of Tammy’s parent’s house and tooted the car’s horn. “Hurry up,” she shouted as Tammy made her way out the door with a half-eaten slice of toast clenched between her teeth.

As Tammy settled into her seat, Harriot said, “Glad you chose to join me.”

“Choose? You still haven’t told me what this is all about.”

“Soon,” Harriot said waiving a dismissive hand.

About ten minutes later they arrived outside a pawn shop. “Take this and put it on,” Harriot instructed as she handed Tammy a long red wig and a pair of sunglasses. She then donned a similar get-up and got out of the car. “Come on, Mildred” she said in a loud voice so that bystanders could hear the name.

Tammy followed her into the shop as Harriot bee-lined to the counter and drew a pistol. “Show me that ring display box,” she demanded. As the clerk slowly placed it on the counter she grabbed a rather tiny diamond solitaire from the box and handed it to Tammy. “Now Mildred, let’s go.”

The two backed out the door and jumped into the car and sped off.

“What the . . . ” Tammy began.

“I needed to get my engagement ring back,” Harriot said.

“But what was it doing there in the first place?”

“Donny hocked it to pay a poker debt,” Harriot explained, taking a hard left at the next intersection.

“Why didn’t you just buy it back?” Tammy said in a panicked tone.

“And where am I going to get 150 from?” Harriot said bitterly.

Tammy stuck a her hand into her purse and brought out four 50s. “Dah.”

“Oh um, Do you think they will overlook our Thelma and Louise thing?”

“Our? Your!” Tammy challenged. She hated it when Harriot spoke imprecisely.

---

Padre

FOWC with Fandango — Ambiguity

Wonderful Morning

---

Kieran was greeted by a cheery, “Isn’t it a wonderful morning?”

“I suppose so,” he muttered. “I’m Kieran Wilde. I’m here for a Nine O’Clock.”

“Please have a seat and fill in your details,” the receptionist chirped, handing him a clipboard.

This over-the-top positivity was starting to do his head in. This was the dentist’s office, surely it was against some code somewhere to be so bubbly with the drill only meters away.

A few moments passed and a gowned and masked figure appeared at the door. A voice reminiscent of a rusty hinge being forced open said, “Mr Wilde, you’re next.”

That’s more like it, Kieran thought to himself as he arose and approached his impending doom.

---

Padre

FOWC with Fandango — Cheery

The Incident

---

The kids were having a great time at the playground until an escaped gorilla from the local zoo rushed into the park and up the climbing frame. A general panic ensued with parents and nannies frantically whisking away their charges. James Taylor was left alone in the sandbox, and with no one coming to his rescue, he ducked under the sliding board. The park was empty except for the aforementioned gorilla and little James, who was now trapped under the slide. He began desperately digging a hole with his sandbox spade through which he planned to make his escape. Unbeknownst to Jimmy the ape was at that very moment making its way up the ladder of the slide. The beast’s great weight caused the board to tip into the boy’s excavation dumping the gorilla into the hole with the slide dropping down on it.  When the authorities arrived they discovered the trapped animal and the child still with his sand bucket and spade in hand. He was from that day onward known as Jungle Jim.

---

Padre

Fandango’s Story Starter #134

FOWC with Fandango — Panic

Bargain City

---

“That completes our free tour.  We hope you enjoyed our city.”

“Excuse me, but where exactly are we?” a tourist queried.

“You are in Capital City,” the guide responded.

“How do we get back to our hotel?”

“For an additional $40 we’ll get you there.”

---

Padre

Weekend Writing Prompt #345 – Guide

Best Laid Plans

Boris scratched his head and wondered how things could have possibly gone so wrong.  The trap had been planned meticulously with every detail checked and double checked by Pottsylvania’s cleverest minds.  Fearless Leader himself had reviewed and approved the scheme.  Yet, once again the Bullwinkle and Rocky walked away unscathed.

“I am sure we did everything correctly,” Boris muttered.

“Well, not everything,” Natasha corrected.

“What do you mean?”

“You were supposed to wait for Moose and Squirrel fall over before opening the pit.”

 “How was I to know the moose would step over the banana peel?” Boris asked defensively.

---

Padre

#99WordStories

Whirring

“Toby, stop sticking those cards into the fan.”

“But it makes a really cool sound,” he replied sticking the 8 of Hearts into the floor fan. “It makes a whirring noise just like a helicopter.”

“I don’t care what noise it makes, stop it now before something bad happens.”

Fifteen minutes later Toby was rewarded for his efforts by not only helicopter noises, but a ride in one to boot.

---

Padre

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #252

Publishers

I am bummed, seriously dejected.

Because my submission was rejected.

“Trite and derivative” was their assessment,

“with a construction that is quite adolescent.”

I really think this is so unfair.

What’s wrong with pillow fights while wearing just underwear?

It is easy for them in their ivory tower,

to judge us mortals, who lack their power.

They make decisions affecting other’s chances,

By rejecting fine art or offering stingy advances.

---

Padre

Weekend Writing Prompt #320 – Dejected

Mutual

As she approached him, he dropped gun on the sofa and told her he didn’t do it.

“I know,” she said. “Teddy, you’re not the kind of person that would shoot somebody.”

“Really, I came into the room and he was already lying there face down on the rug and the gun was resting on the middle of his back. I picked it up so I could turn him over to give him first aid, then you walked in.”

“I understand. It must have been traumatic for you. But, it is obvious that he is dead. Come here, let me give you a hug, you are shaking.”

As he fell into her embrace, sobbing, she plunged a kitchen knife into his side. As he slid to the floor she began to wipe the knife and placed it into the hand of the dead man on the rug. She then wiped down the gun and put it into Teddy’s hand. She then pointed his hand towards the sofa and used his finger to squeeze of another round into the cushion.

“Well, well,” she said. “Looks like the two of you killed each other. Must have been some sort of a disagreement.”

She left by the back door making sure to leave no prints. She changed clothes behind the garden shed and put the bloody ones into a bin bag she had brought for the purpose. That was easier than I thought it would be, she thought, as she donned a red wig and sunglasses.

---

Padre

Fandango’s Story Starter #101

In the Hall

Henry had been staying with relatives while he was waiting for the halls of residence to open. It really didn’t know his aunt, and her husband just struck him as a bit odd. Anyway, on his first night, he got up to relieve himself, and nearly jumped out of his skin when he came across a shadowy figure in the hallway. Closer examination proved that it was a suit of armour.

Funny, he thought to himself, I don’t remember that being there when I came in. He tapped on the helmet with his knuckle, and them moved on to the loo.

“Watch it,” the muffled voice of Uncle Charles said. “I don’t interrupt your evenings do I?”

---

Padre

Profession

King Alfor III had died two years before. His son had been off exploring far off lands, and had just recently returned to find out about his father’s demise. In his absence, the land had been watched over by an uneasy coalition of nobles, but rivalries had put Pandia at the brink of civil war. Now, perhaps, that could be averted and the country returned to its former greatness.

“Alfor will now make his profession, and be anointed our leader,” Halifin the Mage announced.

Eight thousand eager eyes locked onto the tall, slender man who now took to the platform.

“I, Alfor son of Alfor, do profess and declare that I am of true blood of the Pandian people, and rightful heir to Alfor, the son of Alfor, the son of Alfor.”

With that Halifin poured oil on the head of the man, and placed a bronze crown upon his head. “All hail Alfor the Fourth, Lord of Pandia.”

There was a mighty cheer from the crowd.

Alfor, or should I say Anfwin son of Orry, leaned over to the mage and whispered, “Can I have that sandwich you promised me, now?”

“Soon, Lord,” the new chief advisor said with a grin. “Soon.”

---

Padre

https://fivedotoh.com/2023/02/28/fowc-with-fandango-profession/