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Buried

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Hugh W. Roberts

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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. Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – October 2021 – Hugh's Views & News   avatar
    Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – October 2021 – Hugh's Views & News  

    […] Buried […]

    Reply
  2. Michael B. Fishman avatar
    Michael B. Fishman

    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.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

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

      Reply
  3. Embrace the Mud « Carrot Ranch Literary Community avatar
    Embrace the Mud « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

    […] Buried by Hugh W. Roberts […]

    Reply
  4. Charli Mills avatar
    Charli Mills

    You got me! I thought you were heading to a grim place, and then — cake! And a proposal. Sweet.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Glad my words led you up the wrong path to that twist, Charli.

      Reply
  5. Norah avatar
    Norah

    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.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      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.

      Reply
      1. Norah avatar
        Norah

        I believe that could happen. It reminds of the coins that used to be hidden in Christmas puddings.

        Reply
        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
          Hugh W. Roberts

          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.

          Reply
          1. Norah avatar
            Norah

            I wonder what expressions were on the faces.

            Reply
            1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
              Hugh W. Roberts

              From what I recall – one of concern.

            2. Norah avatar
              Norah

              Interesting. Did they think you would swallow it?

            3. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
              Hugh W. Roberts

              I think so, yes, mainly because my love of Christmas pudding means I eat it very fast.

            4. Norah avatar
              Norah

              I eat slow to savour. :)

  6. Liesbet @ Roaming About avatar
    Liesbet @ Roaming About

    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. :-)

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      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!

      Reply
  7. Liz H avatar
    Liz H

    Sweet story!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks!

      Reply
  8. Story Chat Summary: “Puddles” by Hugh Roberts – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write avatar
    Story Chat Summary: “Puddles” by Hugh Roberts – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write

    […] 232 recent views, 55 likes, and 119 comments, Hugh Roberts has launched Story Chat Year Two into a fantastic start. One of the things that makes Story Chat so […]

    Reply
  9. D. Avery @shiftnshake avatar
    D. Avery @shiftnshake

    Yes that went from dark to light and chocolate too! Nicely done.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thank you, D.

      Reply
  10. James L avatar
    James L

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

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

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

      Reply
  11. Book Club Mom avatar
    Book Club Mom

    I like this! Totally surprised!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

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

      Reply
  12. Terri Webster Schrandt avatar
    Terri Webster Schrandt

    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!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      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.

      Reply
  13. Erika avatar
    Erika

    What a fantastic attempt, Hugh, and sooooo romantic 😍

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

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

      Reply
      1. Erika avatar
        Erika

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

        Reply
  14. JT Twissel avatar
    JT Twissel

    Haha! You got me again.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Good to hear.

      Reply
  15. Aimer Boyz avatar
    Aimer Boyz

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

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

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

      Reply
      1. Aimer Boyz avatar
        Aimer Boyz

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

        Reply
        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
          Hugh W. Roberts

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

          Reply
          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 :)

            Reply
  16. Cathy avatar
    Cathy

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

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks, Cathy.

      Reply
  17. Teri Polen avatar
    Teri Polen

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

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

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

      Reply
    2. pameladbeverly avatar
      pameladbeverly

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

      Reply
      1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
        Hugh W. Roberts

        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.

        Reply
  18. Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader) avatar
    Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader)

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

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

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

      Reply
  19. Maggie avatar
    Maggie

    Unexpected twist! Nicely done.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

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

      Reply

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