The official advice was not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Ordinarily he wasn’t one to listen to official advice, he wouldn’t have much of a career if he followed the rules.
But heading out to work today, when no one else had left their houses, when there were no other cars on the road, when the land was so quiet and serene, would have been suspicious behaviour.
So he stayed home. He watched some trashy daytime TV, listened to the latest weather warnings on the radio, read a book. He ventured outside to clear the driveway and built a snowman for the fun of it.
The call came that evening.
‘What happened?’ the anonymous voice asked.
‘I took a snow day.’
He was met with silence, then, ‘It needed to happen today. Tomorrow is too late.’
‘I can’t control the weather.’
‘There will be repercussions for your breach of contract.’ The line went dead.
Oh well, he thought. After staring at the snow for the last week, he’d been contemplating retirement somewhere warm, sunny and far away.
By the time the snowman had melted the house was empty with a ‘For Sale’ sign in the garden.
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.
Iain Kelly 
definitely a first for me – assassin taking a snow day. cheers.
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Thank you
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I laughed when I read the title. Everyone love a snow day…well except maybe The Man.
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Thanks – the weather is a great leveller, no matter what your job 🙂
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If only the bureaucrats understood this. I’ve had to go to school in a typhoon! Lol. Oh, Korea.
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The treacherous conditions actually saved a life, maybe more!
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A good way to look at it 🙂
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With the chilling voice of his employer I think he’s right to be retiring. With no one else venturing out he’d have been noticed and his liberty would have been at risk. The snow put him in a no-win situation.
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Definitely a good time to get out and get some sun and relaxation – which is what I would do if I could give it all up and get away from this snow!
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So that’s how you get out of the business!
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As long as you have some savings tucked away.
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Snow place like home on a day like that -preferably thousands of miles south!
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Or Dubai 😉 Thanks Keith
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I enjoyed your story Iain. I wonder if he will need to watch his back in that warm, sunny place he is hiding?
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I think he will have to wherever he stays – best to keep moving around I think!
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A really clever take on the prompt… you’re writing is always so smooth and enjoyable… really like it!
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Thank you so much Anna, very flattered 🙂
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I understand you’re getting some pretty snowy weather your way. Makes sense you’d write such a tale.
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Yes, the line about wanting to move somewhere for some warm sunshine is just my basic thought at the moment!
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Well captured the sense of ennui of the killer. Good writing, as usual Kelly.
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Thank you Neel
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Snow days alter schedules for the most unlikely occupations! Enjoyed !!
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That was my thinking, thanks Roger.
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Caribbean next?
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Sounds good to me!
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Well done. Great story. I really like the tone. Not frantic ups and down. Just calm and cold, like the weather, like the character of the narrator.
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Thank you so much.
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