‘When did it become fashionable for the French not to serve coffee in a china teacup and saucer?’ Madame Beaumont said, loud enough to ensure the maitre d’ would hear.

‘Mother,’ Alice chided. ‘You shall have to get used to it once I have married Jacques.’

‘Alice, once you have married Jacques we shall no longer have to stay in common resorts like this.’ She gestured to the crowded beach below. ‘I am allowing this marriage precisely because of your fiance’s inheritance. I do not intend to see out my days as a penniless widow.’

‘Well, you shall have to wait. Jacques parents are in extremely good health.’ Alice stood and stormed off.

Madame Beaumont lifted her mug of coffee and took a small sip. ‘We shall see about that, my dear,’ she muttered.

At the table behind her an impeccably dressed short man with brilliantined hair and a waxed moustache perched his egg-shaped head to one side. His green eyes sparkled like a cat’s as he adjusted his cutlery so that it sat symmetrically.

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Copyright @Shivamt25

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story in around 150 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.

To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

49 thoughts on “POIROT’S COFFEE AT DEAUVILLE”

  7. Good story Iain. I mustn’t have taken in the title at first, as I thought the man on the nearby table was a hit man who’d overheard a business opportunity. Then my brain slowly registered the pointers.

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    1. Thanks, at first I didn’t have his name in the title, but then thought not everyone will recognise the description, so to make it clearer I put it in. He does have a very distinctive description though!

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  10. I love this his. The evil scheming mother and the man behind her, presumably a detective of some kind that she’s not even aware of. I would love to read the rest of the story. You’ve created fascinating characters very well.

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    2. Erm, Thanks for commenting. I’m guessing you have never read a Poirot novel by Agatha Christie, but this is a little homage to the most famous literary detective in the world and the final paragraph is a description of Poirot, so without it the whole thing – especially the title – would make no sense at all. Just a thought.

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      2. Exactly that, I think you’re the first to suggest that. Most Poirot novels have an obvious suspect, or three or four, to keep you guessing.

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  21. The true nature of her mother comes out! Looking forward to the next chapter….the man in the background certainly adds to this story and leaves the reader seeking more. Enjoyed. Well written. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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