October 14, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that embraces the mud. What is the mud, real or metaphor? How does it transform a character or place? What happens? Go where the prompt leads!
Buried – by Hugh W. Roberts
Time was running out.
It wouldn’t be long before he got found out.
Burying it, he quickly removed any signs of disturbance.
The heavy rain and thunder didn’t help.
With mud stuck to his hair, his clothes, and over his hands, even his fingernails would give the game away.
Although the mud had swallowed up the object, he couldn’t relax.
“Adrian!” exclaimed Richard. “I’m home.”
Just in time, thought Adrian, as he lay a fork next to a tea plate.
When Richard cut into a slice of chocolate mud cake with the fork and discovered the ring, he’d propose.
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Richard and Adrian first appeared in Edge Of Summer – another piece of flash fiction written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge.
Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch. Click here to join in.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love Glimpses
Glimpses
28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.
Paperback – £4.99
Kindle – £0.99
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Hugh's Views & News 
You had me leaning so far I was just about to fall! Nice surprise and nice ending and a nice smile (on my part) for a sweet proposal.
Thanks, Michael. Glad you never saw the twist coming.
You got me! I thought you were heading to a grim place, and then — cake! And a proposal. Sweet.
Glad my words led you up the wrong path to that twist, Charli.
Love it, Hugh. I hope Richard does too. It isn’t the ending I was expecting. You’ve written too many horror stories for me to expect romance.
Thanks, Norah. I’m sure Richard did, although if I were Adrian, I’d be tempted to keep a watch on Richard so that he doesn’t end up swallowing the buried engagement ring.
I believe that could happen. It reminds of the coins that used to be hidden in Christmas puddings.
Yes, I remember the hidden coins in Christmas puddings. The excitement of finding one was lovely, but I always remember the faces of adults in the room as we chewed bits of pudding.
I wonder what expressions were on the faces.
From what I recall – one of concern.
Interesting. Did they think you would swallow it?
I think so, yes, mainly because my love of Christmas pudding means I eat it very fast.
I eat slow to savour. 🙂
Good one, High! I’m glad you are having so much fun with these prompts. We have some “caked mud” attached to our truck and camper these days as well, after driving through the clay and sand after a rain storm and finishing off with a tricky drive through the snow. 🙂
I’m having loads of fun with including these two characters in my pieces of flash fiction, Liesbet. My next post on my column at the Carrot Ranch will be about them.
Snow? Already? Wow!
Sweet story!
Thanks!
Yes that went from dark to light and chocolate too! Nicely done.
Thank you, D.
Damn! My mind was imagining a body being buried and then the twist happened!
Glad I got you, James. I like it when the surprise element works on my readers.
I like this! Totally surprised!
Thanks, Barabra. Glad the element of surprise was there waiting for you.
As always, you leave us rethinking and rereading, Hugh! Wonderful! I thought of bodies or maybe himself being buried, too…but then I thought he used outside mud in his mud cake, so glad that didn’t happen! A good twisty story that ends in dessert!
Thanks, Terri. I added the link to Chococlaote mud cake just in case some readers didn’t believe it existed. I see more and more chocolate mud turning up in recipes. Sometimes, it’s chocolate dirt, other times chocolate mud. I can only think it’s very rich to eat.
What a fantastic attempt, Hugh, and sooooo romantic 😍
Thanks, Erika. Mud and romance? Who’d had ever thought they go together?
Indeed! But you managed to connect them in a beautiful way.
Haha! You got me again.
Good to hear.
Didn’t expect this to end with a cake 🙂 But what did he bury?
Adrian buried the ring in the mud cake. When Richard cut into the slice that contained the ring, Adrian purposed to him.
Of course!! Smacking myself in the head here 🙂
Until I’ve had my morning mug of strong tea, my head is always fuzzy.
I still thought he was outside digging in the mud. Even after you wrote mud cake, I didn’t get that he was playing with the Icing. Takes more than strong tea to fix dumb 🙂
I certainly didn’t have a happy ending in mind! Glad it was though 🙂
Thanks, Cathy.
The first thing I thought of was a murder weapon – this is much better!
I’m glad you think so, Teri. I love it when my stories take people up the wrong path.
First thing I thought of was a body! Glad that it wasn’t one.
That’s what I was hoping you’d say about thinking it was a body (what with all the mud). Thanks so much for reading.
I love this! A clever and creative spin on the word mud. Thanks for the morning smile Hugh!
You’re welcome, Michelle. I love an element of surprise in my stories.
Have a great day.
Unexpected twist! Nicely done.
Thanks, Maggie. Glad you never saw the twist coming.