It was getting harder and harder to get my five a day.
Why had I even come here? It was the worst place I’d ever visited, yet they kept me here because I couldn’t find them anywhere else.
However, time was now running out, and I’d soon have to find another place for my fix.
Maybe I should leave now? Yes, that was probably a good idea.
Then, just as I was about to leave and head for the stars, I heard the cry of the human baby. One last meal, and then I’d leave this almost inhospitable planet.
Written as part of the 99-word Flash Fiction Challenge with the theme of Five a Day, hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
“Strawberry cheesecake ice cream? A family-sized fruit and nut chocolate bar? Iced-coconut sponge? What the heck is going on, Simon?”
“Comfort, you said, so I got you some of your favourite comfort foods. I thought the popcorn would bring back memories of our first date. These will all make you feel better. Oh, there’s one more thing.”
Julia rummaged around the shopping bag, hoping he’d got her what she wanted.
“Hot-cross buns? Are you kidding me? When I said comfort, I meant something I could put on my piles so I could sit down and be more comfortable!”
My recent post, The Trouble With Chocolate, where I dissected a commercial for a bar of Galaxy chocolate (Dove in the U.S.A), which features an Audrey Hepburn look-a-like, had me wondering what on earth happened to Audrey after she got in that strange man’s car.
Here is the commercial again, before I give you my version of what I think happened. Have a look at it, and then allow me to pick up the story for you.
The cool breeze passed Audrey’s face. The area around her mouth, now covered with chocolate, felt a little stiff but smelled heavenly.
She looked down as the stranger driving the car stared at her through the rear-view mirror. His eyes were a deep, dark brown, almost the same colour as the chocolate smothered across her face. She looked up again and wondered why he was driving a right-hand drive vehicle when they were in Italy? Then she remembered, but the answer disappeared as quickly as the chocolate had, once she had got the wrapper off. She still held the world record for eating a bar of Galaxy.
The stranger could not take his eyes off her, narrowly missing a group of chickens and a lady balancing a wheelbarrow on one eyebrow while standing on one leg. Even with her face and dress covered in melted chocolate, he still thought she was beautiful.
He remembered the day he had seen her buying that dress. Blowing kisses at him, she had flirted with him in front of other customers in the shop while he strolled around looking for somewhere to sit down. Then, unfortunately, he had mistakenly walked into a double D cup being worn by a mannequin at least a foot taller than him. The bra had made direct contact with his right eyeball, causing to him shout “ouch” and startle several other customers. By the time he had wiped away the tears, she had gone into the fitting room.
I’ll have to buy a new pair of gloves, she thought to herself, after using them to wipe away the chocolate off her face. Oh, how she wished somebody had invented stain remover. Then she thought she’d try to get away with giving them a quick rinse under the garden tap. “Damn!” she said to herself, having remembered she’d forgotten to bring her heartburn tablets off the old man sitting next to her on the bus.
The stranger blew her a kiss in the rear-view mirror, and she raised a hand to catch it, but a gust of wind caught one of the loose gloves in her hand, and she turned her head and watched it come to rest on the road. He did not stop the car, for he was full of excitement and wanted to get her to the other side of the hill as quickly as he could. He had big plans for the evening, so he put a little more pressure on the accelerator pedal.
No words had passed between them when the car finally came to a stop. He looked at her once more through the rear-view mirror while she picked up her handbag and fumbled inside it. She finally looked up at the building, now in front of her, her glance immediately going to the upstairs windows where she knew the excitement would begin. She felt so excited by the thought of what was about to happen; the heartburn tablets and the woman with the yellow bowl stuck on her head on the bus no longer mattered.
He finally got out of the driver’s seat and walked around, opening the door for her so she could step out. She was totally unaware that the wrapper from the chocolate bar was stuck to the back of her dress as she rose herself up from the back seat.
He put out his hand to help her out, and melted chocolate passed from her hand to his. The excitement for both was now nearing take off. It would not be long before they were inside the beautiful villa where all the waiting would finally come to an end. She looked up at him as he wiped his hand on the back of her dress.
“Why did you accelerate so quickly to get us here? I was enjoying the ride,” she romantically whispered to him.
Putting his solid and rugged arms around her and looking her straight in the eyes, the stranger finally spoke to her.
“The soft top of the car hood is stuck again, and the garage couldn’t fix it. Plus, I think there’s rain on the way because my knees have gone a little stiff. I’m off to watch the football. Stick the car in the garage will you before you have your bath. Your mother is dropping off the kids in ten minutes, and the dog needs walking.”
Audrey’s chocolate-scented bubble bath would have to wait.
“Happy 100th Birthday, George. There’s no point hiding. I know you’re in here. Two cards for you. One’s from the Queen; not that she or anyone else knows who you are.”
Closing the door to the cellar, Muriel wondered how long it took for the smell of a decomposing body to disappear.
Sacha Black challenges us to write something using the word ‘choke’ using just 52 words (no more, no less).
Choke – by Hugh W. Roberts
Olive Mackeson had died choking on a cheese and sweet pickle sandwich, shortly after pulling out the choke on the dashboard of her car, as her foot slipped off the clutch, forcing the car into the path of an oncoming truck.
Registration number of the car – K, one, one, L, M, E
Sacha Black challenges us to write a story, poem, prompt, or theme, using just 52 words (no more, no less). This week we have to include the following words –
Time, Juice, Stack, Pigeon
Look away now if you’re one of the faint-hearted. I bring you, Flutter.
Their time had come.
Poor things. The odds had been stacked against them. They had no chance, but revenge was sweet.
As the group of pigeons prepared to feast, the first sunset of this new world was spectacular.
Human juice would at last flow. The eyes were the first to be pecked.
Thank you to the great Alfred Hitchcock for getting me through this tough challenge. Yes, I know they are crows and not pigeons in the clip, but pigeons didn’t feature in the movie, The Bird.
Can you see that dark creature? It’s staring back at you. See its eyes?
Don’t look away from it. Stare at the creature for at least five seconds, and you’ll see exactly what it is.
Here, take another look. Remember, look at it for at least five seconds.
Did you stare at it for at least five seconds?
Did it reveal what it was to you?
Did you notice how it moved slightly?
No? Then take a final look. Remember, stare at it for at least five seconds. If you do, you’ll see it move slightly and reveal its secret.
Did it work? No? Then I’m going to have to tell you.
You see, that creature is the creak of the door. That faint sound you hear in the middle of the night wakes you up and makes you freeze, unable to move. That feeling terrifies you even though you’re not sure you heard a noise.
That creature is the creak of the trees as you walk past them. It’s the faint sound of those footsteps behind you. It’s the one ring of the telephone that stops and makes you wonder if anybody is really calling you. The chill passes through your body when somebody walks over your grave. That creature is the whisper you think you heard when you were all alone.
That creature only sleeps on the night of Halloween. That’s the one night you can rest, knowing you’ll be safe…unless…you stared at the photo for more than five seconds.
Did I not mention that the photo is cursed and that nobody should stare at it for more than five seconds or have read this post? Now you’re cursed. You see, that creature is me. I’m right behind you right now! Whatever you do, don’t look behind you. In fact, never ever look behind you ever again. Never! You see, if you do, then…
Everyone else had gone. The remaining four looked out the window and watched as it crossed the road.
“Stay very quiet,” whispered Roland. “It won’t find us here, provided we remain quiet.”
Maureen started to shake.
They watched silently as the sheep walked to the front of the house.
“Move to the back of the house. We’ll make our escape from there,” ordered Roland.
Upon opening the back door, the last four human survivors knew this was their final day. In the field now in front of them stood one hundred man-eating sheep.
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