The first one was for the mother-in-law. Ten years of interference and nagging. I felt the anger start to build. I was never good enough for her daughter. Well, now she had what she wanted. Harley was gone. I took a deep breath. I squeezed the trigger. 200 yards away the china tea cup exploded into pieces.
I moved onto the next cup. The best friend. Every time there was an argument Harley would run to her. Then I would get Samantha screaming down the phone at me, or hammering at the door, threatening to show me what a weak man I was. The cup disappeared in a puff of small particles.
The last cup was for Harley herself. She was coming over now to collect the last of her things. She wouldn’t get her precious tea set. Ten years worth of shared existence. Now, nothing. Dammit, I could feel the tears welling up again. I squeezed the trigger. The bullet flew wide. The cup remained untouched. I heard the windscreen shatter, the screech of tyres and then the crunch of metal hitting the wooden fence.
Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). Hosted by Al Forbes. For more details visit HERE.
To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Brilliant! The resentment is so palpable.
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Thanks Reena
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Great story. I could really feel the anger – and the one mention of welling tears gives another dimension to the narrator as well.
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Glad you picked up on that, I wanted to leave a little sign that he was more than just a horrible husband, that he was a victim too.
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Woah! Packs a punch! Great twist at the end
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Thank you Sarah, glad you liked it.
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Superb. Totally relatable.
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Thanks Chris – hope you haven’t got a rifle lying about! 🙂
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Tend to favour the bow personally
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Whoops. I think he had better get rid of the gun before questions are asked. Good story Iain.
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Thanks, maybe he’ll have time to get away before anyone finds the bullet amongst the wreckage!
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Too much interference in life made him to pick up the gun.Good story.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/08/sunday-photo-fiction-august-27th-thanks.html
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Thank tou
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Divorce proceedings should require automatic anger management counseling. Nicely done.
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Really good!
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Thank you Jennie!
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Good shot!
And good story, nicely crafted
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Thank you CE
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Holy crap. That was scary…
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Some people just reach breaking point!
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I liked your comment–too true–but having been at the receiving end, it’s more like yeah, some people don’t deal well with “No.”
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Too true indeed.
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Yikes!
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Thanks Maggie
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Oops. He really did get Harley. Welcome to prison.
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Unless a good lawyer can argue it was accidental…
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Wow. Great twist at the end.
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Thank you
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Wow. Hope they can prove “accidental” death. Great ending.
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I can see the lawyer planning his defence already.
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Iain, not only is this a great read, it’s simply brilliant! I’m in awe.
Click to visit Keith’s Ramblings
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Thank you Keith, too kind.
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O dear, them tears got in the way.
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Yes, just something in his eye!
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Simply brilliant. Liked the ‘tears’ component too. Good writing, Kelly.
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Thanks Neel
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Brilliant ending.
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Thank you
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Third time lucky! His resentment and angst was palpable – very well done 🙂
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Thank you, glad you liked it.
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Proving once again: timing is everything!
I loved this. The narrator’s emotions are palpable and realistic. The little revenge of her not getting her tea set on the mark. And the the unexpected, but clever ending. I presume the former owner of the tea set was driving.
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I think it’s safe to say it was her! Thanks Sascha
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I love what you did with this prompt!
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Thanks Dawn 🙂
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Poor guy, but then we are only ‘seeing’ his side. I thought he might be the bad guy until the tears, showing the depth of his pain. Well done. Let’s hope he didn’t shoot her by mistake!
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Thanks, I included that line to hint at a bit of sympathy for him, glad that came across.
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Good job!
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