NEW BOOTS

Seeing him sitting by the road she felt she had to do something.

His boots were gaffer-taped around the toes. A few doors along was a shoe shop.

He smiled and followed her.

The staff in the store were her only hope now, the only witnesses to have seen them.

Would he like a hot meal and then she could drive him to the local shelter?

The rope bit into her wrists, the gaffer tape over her mouth made her gag.

In the dark shadows she saw the gleaming new boots approach, clacking on the dusty wooden floor.


dadsshoes
Copyright Anonymous

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

123 responses to “NEW BOOTS”

  1. Yikes! That took a real hard turn to the left pretty quick. Nicely done, Iain

    Liked by 2 people

  2. The new boots were a lovely touch, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. One must try and look ones best, no matter what the occasion.

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Goosebumps! This was so scary! Well done once again. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  4. violaetcetera Avatar
    violaetcetera

    Turns out to be a very surprising story. Like it.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. What a fantastic and sinister turn. She was only trying to do a good deed

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Some times good deeds are misplaced…

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Wow – that was chilling and powerful. Totally unexpected! Thank you for surprising me.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Like

    1. You’re welcome Susan

      Like

  7. Didn’t see that turn coming! Well done

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Oh, no! We knew she was in trouble when the last people to have seen them were in the shoe store. Evil man, evil plan.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Planned or opportunist, I haven’t decided…

      Liked by 2 people

  9. Dear Iain,

    Disturbing turn of events those. Nicely done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Rochelle

      Like

  10. Wow! Good stuff Iain. Makes you think twice about doing a good deed.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Excellent, IaIn.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Disturbing and scary. Remind me not to help anyone 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, be careful out there!

      Like

  13. Ouuu, disturbing and a bit scary, too.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. So, the tape meant for that.
    Scary tale. Hope she escapes…
    Well narrated, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Well, she is still alive, so there is hope.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. A clever and pitiless story. I admired the way you used the gaffer tape twice. Well told, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Wow! Hadn’t seen that coming, good job! Will there be more? 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Joy, I hadn’t planned more – I’ll think on it 🙂

      Like

  17. A perfect flash. It is sinister. scary and leaves you wanting more.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Hi Iain,
    Philosophically, your flash and mine go quite well together, because I’ve footnoted mine with a missile you could say about the need for community and to be there for each other and yours just shoots the guts out of that and I’m left asking: “Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to talk to strangers, let alone not give strangers a lift in your car??!!”
    That is a real dilemma for many of us. How much do we help strangers, while also being mindful of our own safety? Perhaps, the airlines have it right when they say to save ourselves first but not to ignore the needs of others.
    There was great suspense in that last line with the echo of his footsteps on the floorboards and their power and fear. The very boots she had bought him out of kindness. Well done.
    Best wishes,
    Rowena

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Rowena, you are right. It is tempting to help those we see in need, but in the world today, for whatever reason, we tend to be cautious about approaching strangers and offering help – perhaps because of the way the media reports the odd case that ends badly, rather than the many that end innocently.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Iain, I remember when my grandparents told me back in the 1990s I think about people pretending to be broken down and then robbing people what an outrage it was to all of us and that sense of common decency to pull over and help. They stopped doing it. I have driven across the Nullarbor Plain and lived in Geraldton 6 hours North of Perth and in these places people always stop because being broken down could ultimately kill you in such isolated areas. That was about 20 years ago now and I hope it hasn’t changed.
        Best wishes,
        Rowena

        Liked by 1 person

  19. A chilling tale Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Apologies, Lyn was the next comment down!

        Like

      2. I don’t mind Iain. (I’m Di btw). 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

  20. That’s a dark end for your Good Samaritan. Chilling at the end – Those boots

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Nicely written with a surprising, chilling twist. I like it! A warning to always be cautious. =)

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Now the tape on the boots makes sense, great story Iain

    Liked by 1 person

  23. that turned dark really fast. great story!

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Well she didn’t see that coming, huh?? I love the twist at the end! Well done! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Well, that took a dark and creepy turn…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know, I was so close to writing a happy story…

      Like

  26. Sometimes being kind turns around and bites you in the butt. Deliciously dark turn at the end. Kudos.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Not that I advocate minding your own business and ignoring those that are suffering, but sometimes…!

      Liked by 1 person

  27. And here I thought she was going to kill him.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. She may still if she gets the chance…

      Like

  28. That really hit, and hit fast and hard. A total turnaround – well done.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Wow, that waa rapid change of direction! Great tale Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. And not a pleasant one. Thanks Nan.

      Like

  30. Yeeks, no good deed goes unpunished…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’ll teach her…

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Yeech! 😱
    Good turn deserves another. Not a bad one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I guess no one told him that!

      Like

  32. Evil! What a great twist. I absolutely didn’t see that coming. The clacking of the new boots is extra creepy.

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Oh no… all for helping him. What a creep. Hope she escapes

    Liked by 1 person

    1. And takes the shoes back off him!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hope she takes more than that…

        Liked by 1 person

  34. Chilling. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Yep, you can never expect a good turn in return from someone with gaffer tape. I wanted to both laugh and cry. A complete story ready for a crime novel.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks James, much appreciated

      Liked by 1 person

  36. This is deeply scary. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

  37. This took me off my nerves.

    Liked by 1 person

  38. No good deed goes unpunished… horrid turn at the end there!

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Yikes! This story seems a lot longer than it is and I can almost hear crescendo music in the background! Cool!

    Liked by 1 person

  40. That took a terrible turn! A very well executed twist!

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Another deliciously dark tale!

    Liked by 1 person

  42. Great twist! Never expected that.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad it caught you by surprise 🙂

      Like

  43. I loved the swerve in your story line- one minute she’s helping him – next she’s the victim. Well constructed story Iain- good one.

    Liked by 1 person

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