February 14, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about zippers. What are the zippers for? What challenges do they present to the story? Go where the prompt leads! Click here for full details.
Don’t Do This With New Clothes – by Hugh W. Roberts
She’d been lucky. Nobody had noticed the price tag still attached to the dress she wore at the Christmas party.
While packing up the dress into the returns envelope to get a full refund, she noticed a zip just above the hem inside the dress.
‘That wasn’t there before,’ she announced.
Unzipping the mysterious zip, she placed her hand inside the hole. A hand grabbed her and pulled her inside the dress, but nobody heard her scream.
Although her husband filed a missing person report, she was never found and lived in darkness for the rest of her years.
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Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
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Hugh's Views & News 
Let this be a lesson to all the others who do this! Good one Hugh!
Thanks, Gloria. The idea for this piece of flash came from people I know who did what was going on in this piece.
This is one person who won’t be trying to steal clothes anymore! I know someone who worked in a clothing store who had a similar experience taking a return on a ‘new’ dress that was obviously used because she found ticket stubs and a tissue in the pocket. This was a fun story!
I know a few people who have played the ‘wear and return’ trick, Michael. Not me, though. I’d hate to end up being pulled into a pocket that I could never get out of.
Thunderstruck! What a clever take on the prompt!
Thank you.
Mysterious! A great start to a lengthier piece.
Thank you.
Lol, karma will get you. The perfect Hugh Roberts story. 🙂 x
It will, indeed. Thanks, Debby.
This proves it, Hugh! I always knew dresses were dangerous! I love how your mind thinks and how well you write the unexpected.
Thanks, Charli. This was great fun to write.
Congratulations, this post is featured on Story Chat, Hugh. Thanks for taking the time to comment and for supporting Story Chat from the very beginning. https://alwayswrite.blog/2022/02/22/story-chat-y2-summary-handle-with-caution-by-kl-caley/
You’re welcome.
I’m sorry for the zipped woman, but I’m actually laughing my head off. What’s up with that, Hugh? Shame on her!
I can understand why you laughed at her, Marsha. When I wrote this piece of flash, I did the same.
I bet, and to think it came out of your head! Amazing! 🙂
Hah! That’s what you get for returning something you’ve worn! LOL 🙂
Yes. Let it be a warning to all those that do it.
I love this, Hugh! Riveting! I’ll be checking my dresses for mysterious zippers! xoxoxo
Thank you, Cher. I had a lot of fun writing this piece of flash fiction. Some of those who have read it may be a little worried.
*biggest grin*, dear Hugh! Cher xoxoxo
Whoa. This dress seems determined not to be taken advantage of. Lol. I love your wild creativity, Hugh.
Thank you. I think the dress has plenty of other ‘clothes’ friends, Diana.
That’s a very Hugh story. Mystery, macabre and humour twisted into one. Well done.
Thank you, Norah. Glad you thought so. I had a lot of fun writing this one.
As I did reading it. 🙂
So that’s the punishment for wearing and returning, Hugh? Hilarious!
I believe so, Terri. But I never intend to find out.
Ha ha – a little twist there to this story Hugh. 🙂
Thanks, Linda. Glad you enjoyed it.
Oh great. Now he’s making getting dressed a hammer house of horrors’ experience… is nothing safe. Just leave Bath time alone, ok
Providing you don’t leave the sales tag on, you’re safe.
I’ve heard of folks doing this.
In this story I’d be tempted to do a chapter 2 where she meets the other souls trapped in that zipped lining.
Is it just me or does this dress have a life of its own?
I expect there would be many souls in there, Gary. But I can’t think of a more terrible ending than being alone in the dark for the rest of your life.
I expect there are many more items of clothing that have a life of their own when they are worn once with the sales tag still attached.
This was also a great tale that reminds us that we don’t get to steal from someone, not even temporarily, without paying a cost. That dangling price tag can chill one’s spine.
Indeed, Gary. I hope it works as a warning to those tempted to do it or those who are doing it.
Jeez. I’ll be thinking about this the next time I try on a pair of jeans. Great piece Hugh.
Thank you. It was a fun piece to write, but not from my experience other than knowing certain people who send items back they have worn with the sales tags still attached.
I hope those who are usually ordering clothes with that intention will read this. 😂
Me too, Erika. I hear so many stories of people doing this and sending clothes back that they have worn that still have sales tags attached. If I ever see anyone with a sales tag hanging off a garment they are wearing, I’m very tempted to pull it off.
Oh, yes, that reflex could happen to me too.
Okay…
Haha! That’ll teach her, and others reading your tale. 🙂
I hope so, Liesbet. Otherwise, I need to make this tale a little more frightening.
A frightening dress/ zip! Great idea Hugh.
Thanks, Sadje. I know of a few people who send back items of clothes after wearing them with the labels still attached. They gave me the idea for this piece of flash.
I know a few of them too. In fact I saw a woman trying to return such a dress in Macy’s and getting so angry when the girl wouldn’t do it.
Good for the salesgirl.
If was tough situation