,

Buried

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.  

***

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.

***

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.

Available on Amazon

Paperback – £4.99

Kindle – £0.99

***

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48 responses to “Buried”

  1. James L avatar

    Damn! My mind was imagining a body being buried and then the twist happened!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Glad I got you, James. I like it when the surprise element works on my readers.

  2. Book Club Mom avatar

    I like this! Totally surprised!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Thanks, Barabra. Glad the element of surprise was there waiting for you.

  3. Terri Webster Schrandt avatar

    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!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      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.

  4. Erika avatar

    What a fantastic attempt, Hugh, and sooooo romantic 😍

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Thanks, Erika. Mud and romance? Who’d had ever thought they go together?

      1. Erika avatar

        Indeed! But you managed to connect them in a beautiful way.

  5. JT Twissel avatar

    Haha! You got me again.

  6. Aimer Boyz avatar
    Aimer Boyz

    Didn’t expect this to end with a cake :) But what did he bury?

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Adrian buried the ring in the mud cake. When Richard cut into the slice that contained the ring, Adrian purposed to him.

      1. Aimer Boyz avatar
        Aimer Boyz

        Of course!! Smacking myself in the head here :)

        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

          Until I’ve had my morning mug of strong tea, my head is always fuzzy.

          1. Aimer Boyz avatar
            Aimer Boyz

            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 :)

  7. Cathy avatar

    I certainly didn’t have a happy ending in mind! Glad it was though :)

  8. Teri Polen avatar

    The first thing I thought of was a murder weapon – this is much better!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      I’m glad you think so, Teri. I love it when my stories take people up the wrong path.

    2. pameladbeverly avatar

      First thing I thought of was a body! Glad that it wasn’t one.

      1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

        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.

  9. Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader) avatar

    I love this! A clever and creative spin on the word mud. Thanks for the morning smile Hugh!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      You’re welcome, Michelle. I love an element of surprise in my stories.
      Have a great day.

  10. Maggie avatar

    Unexpected twist! Nicely done.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Thanks, Maggie. Glad you never saw the twist coming.

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