July 22, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a hometown. It can be your hometown or a fictional one. Who is there? When is it set? What is happening? Go where the prompt leads!
When Death Comes Quickly – by Hugh W. Roberts
Finding herself abandoned by her parents, Annabelle settled down for the night. This was the first time she’d be alone in her hometown, and it was dark, damp and smelly.
Squeezing into a tiny corner, she sobbed. Why had her parents decided now was the time to leave their hometown without her? She was too vulnerable to be left alone.
It was a bright light that woke her before she and her hometown were covered in a minty mouthwash that instantly killed them.
Not even a germ was safe when its hometown was the mouth of a human being.
***
Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch. Click here to join in.
Click on the ‘Diversity With A Twist’ image to read my post ‘How To Write Yourself Into A Piece Of Fiction Without Knowing It’ on my new column at the Carrot Ranch
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Hugh's Views & News 
Loved it, right down to the last drop a la Hugh Roberts. ❤
Thanks, Debby. This one has been hanging around in my archives for a long time. Now seemed the right time to let it lose on you all.
Yes, it was perfectly preserved 🙂
What a twist Hugh! Loved it. Great take on the prompt.
Thank you, Rebecca. Glad you enjoyed it. I wrote this piece last year but never published it. ‘Hometown’ seemed the perfect prompt for me to release it.
Haha! I love these twisty Hugh stories!
I’m glad to hear you say so, Liesbet.
Oh my – what an original perspective!
Thank you, Barbara. I like thinking ‘out of the box.’
Your imagination is amazing!
Thank you. When I allow it to run wild, it goes way beyond being wild.
OMG, this is awesome!! Amazing idea, Hugh 😄
Thanks, Erika. I’ve been waiting to use this piece of flash for ages. Finally, the time came.
Thus, you wrote it in wise foresight. That’s even cooler!
Thank you.
You are very welcome, Hugh 😊
Hahahahaha! I was waiting for the twist….I could feel it coming…thinking of a rat or bug in a cellar…nope! You did it again, Hugh, I will giggle when I brush my teeth 😉
Glad you didn’t guess the twist, Terri, but you were on the right path.
Another surprise ending!
Thanks, Cathy. Glad you enjoyed it.
Amazing! Now, I’m feeling bad for a germ!
Thank you. I bet they don’t feel bad for you. Had I not given this particular germ a name, I wonder how you would have felt?
It wasn’t so much the name as the poor thing being abandoned by her parents 🙂
Made me giggle!
Giggle? Not want to gargle?
So glad you picked up on that! silliness implied!
Well done Hugh where did that come from 💜
Would you believe me if I said while cleaning my teeth the other morning, Willow?
Of course I would Hugh, of course I would 💜
Love the twist, here, Hugh!
Thanks, Ritu. Another ‘out of towner’ twist from me.
I certainly didn’t expect death to come quickly in that way!
Good to know, Dave. I’m pleased you never saw the twist coming.