Arthur was exhausted. It was February 13th, and men had been flocking into his jewelry store all day, dropping large sums of money on diamonds and watches and jeweled broaches in order to keep their wives and their lovers happy and in the dark, each one about the other, and by the time Arthur closed up and readied the deposit for the bank, he realized he would have to take the money home and make the deposit the next morning.
Tucking the bank bag inside his shirt and pulling his jacket tightly around it, he walked the four blocks from the store to his home. As soon as he stepped inside the kitchen door, he saw that the oven light was on and his dinner was on a plate inside, warm and waiting for him, and before he even took off his coat and removed the bank bag from his shirt, Arthur bent down to remove the plate, overjoyed by finding it was heaped with pot roast, replete with gravy, potatoes, and carrots, and an involuntary moan escaped his lips at the sight. His bounty in hand, he carried his plate to the kitchen table; the chair legs scraped across the linoleum as he seated himself, and his mouth opened wide for the first forkful of roast, gravy dripping back onto the plate. With a sigh, he slid the fork into his mouth, and as he drew it out, he felt the hair on the back of his neck ruffle slightly as the lead pipe swooshed through the air and smashed into his skull while the empty fork clattered to the floor.
Somehow, i didn't think the night was going to end well for him. This is an excellently descriptive story.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mimi! It's been forever since I participated in this hop!
DeleteThe denouement hit me, well, hard. Fantastic buildup with all the elements of an anticipated end that comes in an entirely unexpected way.
ReplyDeleteNice play on words, Dora! And thank you!
DeleteWe got swooshed alright, Dyanne!
ReplyDeleteFrom activating our glands with the warm, delicious food to an (almost) Valentine's day hit.
Got me!
Thank you so much!
DeleteWow, I was enjoying the roast and wasn't expecting that! Great piece of writing.
ReplyDeleteIt really makes me want some pot roast and potatoes, but also makes me a little jumpy to eat it! Thank you!
DeleteMy goodness, the poor man didn't even get to enjoy his last meal! Tsk tsk.
ReplyDelete--Shay/coalblack
Right?! That beautiful plate of food!
DeleteHey! Dyanne! Welcome back.
ReplyDelete(The problem with writing an excellent Six like this is ever one will be all 'be sure to come back next eek.)
lol
I will go on record as saying I miss your 'Did you see something?!?! No? Well, must of been nothing... now hold this sign.'
'Fun' Six
Thanks, Clark! I'm baaaaaaack!
DeleteGreat piece. I'm having to think on that last sentence though. Maybe it's my poor English or my poor grasp of non-literal language but I for one at this point fail to see what the lead pipe has to do with it all.
ReplyDeleteHi, Astrid! I think maybe someone followed him home, knowing he had all that money in his shirt. Or maybe were waiting for him inside his house. Or was it the person who made the dinner for him and left it in the oven? Hmmm!
DeleteShe's back!
ReplyDeleteEntertaining as ever, Dyanne! with your signature style - twist/didn't see that coming endings. All of which usually involves at least one dead body, lol
Thank you, sis! Good to be back! I guess I had the need to off someone :)
DeleteYou can't reference Friday the 13th and not have us waiting for the shoe to drop. I thought the food might've been poisoned, so the lead pipe was still a surprise.
ReplyDeleteWell, there's a twist I didn't even think of! :)
DeleteVery rich description, brought me deep into the scene (mouth watering at the description of dinner). Startling end made me want to know more. Like, did the wife do it? What kind of man was he to deserve this? And especially, what happens next?!
ReplyDeleteAnd was it a wife? Lover? Who made the food? Who hit him? Beats me, that's all I know!
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