‘I told you not to step off the path.’ Agnes stormed away and left Archie standing in his socks on the wooden walkway.

Archie cursed and knelt down. He felt the warm, moist mud squelch around his hand, then his lower arm and passed his elbow. He moved his hand from side-to-side. Somewhere in there were his shoes.

He pulled his hand out and sat back up, taking a rest. Only then did he notice his wristwatch was now missing, the one Agnes had given him for their thirtieth wedding anniversary.

He plunged both hands in. He strained forward, just a little further. He felt his balance shift, he couldn’t stop it. He toppled slowly over and his head plopped into the mud, sucking him under.

Panic gripped him until he felt hands around his waist and he was pulled free.

Agnes sat next to him on the walkway, panting for breath. She looked at the shoeless Archie covered in wet dirt.

She would enjoy reminding him about this, and telling all their friends.

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story or poem in around 150 – 175 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.

Previous stories featuring Agnes and Archie can be found here: THE AGNES AND ARCHIE STORIES