‘The Great White was a man-eater, terrorising a small beach town. Three days at sea before I found her. Dragged my boat for fifty miles.’
‘Now the Orca. He was a tough old bastard. Almost took my boat. Did take half my leg,’ the old man tapped his wooden stump. ‘After him I decided to quit and open the restaurant.’
I took a bite of the wonderful seafood linguine.
‘And the skeleton?’ I pointed to the strange decoration, smiling.
‘Old Roger? He was my first customer when I opened. Easiest catch I ever made.’ He returned my smile.
I gulped.

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.
I’m excited to announce my second novel, ‘State Of Denial’, a sequel to last year’s ‘A Justified State’, will be published on the 27th September 2019.
The Amazon Kindle version is available to pre-order now through the following links:
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca Amazon.com.au Amazon.in
The paperback version will be published simultaneously on the 27th of September.
Thank you to all those who have already bought and read ‘A Justified State’ and for the many kind reviews and comments. I hope you will enjoy the sequel and how the story continues just as much.
For those who want to see how the story begins, ‘A Justified State’ is available now on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle:
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca Amazon.com.au Amazon.in
Eat or be eaten. That made me smile, Iain
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Neil
LikeLike
Haha clever, very clever!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Dear Iain,
I’d be gulping, too. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’d put you off getting dessert anyway! Thanks Rochelle
LikeLike
Good tale again Iain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Di 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonder what the future holds for him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Possibly not much beyond this meal!
LikeLike
So the skeleton wasn’t a jolly Roger 🙂 The owner here is pretty creepy. I think I’d leave the rest of my lunch and run!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Couldn’t resist calling him Roger 😉 Thanks Linda
LikeLiked by 2 people
I just remembered, I have an appointment. Oh my goodness, I am already a half an hour late! Here’s a fifty. keep the change. Bye! No gulping – that means more food, and whatever is in that food, into the system….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wait – don’t you want dessert?! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny stuff. I think the best policy is to never ask about stuff on the walls.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, you might be right! 🙂
LikeLike
EEK! Never eating at a restaurant again! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best to stick to the one’s in the tourist guide and avoid this one 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, that was ominous…I hope this customer makes a speedy exit before they become the next Roger!
Well written as always, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do with your stories, Iain! Glad to see you’re doing well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jade, great to see you back again 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could not help but smile at the wild stories 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Colline 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The last line was a cinch. Nicely done. Congrats and best wishes in advance for your second novel, Kelly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Neel. Hope you get the chance to check it out.
LikeLike
Loved this Iain. Really made me smile.
Best wishes,
Rowena
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rowena, always good to spread a smile 🙂
LikeLike
Wow! You’ve so much attention to detail. I’m guessing that’s a restaurant that specializes in last meals.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, indeed!v! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This made me laugh. I know not to get on his bad side.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best to compliment the chef and try to get out alive! Thank you Michele
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha… at least it’s a good thing to go for the fish and not for the meat… who know’s what he puts in the pies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now there’s a thought!
LikeLike
Well, would stay away from “catch of the day”
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂
LikeLike
No wonder he doesn’t have many customers. Nice story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jo
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would make me wonder exactly what I was eating. Well done and unexpected!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sascha – hopefully it still tastes nice… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s probably all in the seasoning. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I shall choose to believe his last comment was with tongue firmly planted in cheek…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re a very trusting soul! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or a fool.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems old Sweeney has a new profession!
LikeLiked by 1 person
His sea shanties are better than Sweeney’s songs though.
LikeLike
OMG that was the best. A#1!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, thank you so much 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are very welcome, and good eyes on seeing the skeleton!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uh-oh! Is he about to become ‘Catch of the day’?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very good, this one has inspired a lot of good puns 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, it was quite catchy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Meep! You have to wonder what/who he’s currently eating too… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
All sorts of things on the menu to choose from…!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny, cute story and it really made me laugh. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Nan, good to know it raised a smile 🙂
LikeLike
There is nothing like dry humour from an old survival like a fisherman to raise the hackles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks James
LikeLiked by 1 person
No way I’m contributing to his net profits!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very good! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
ROFL, what a yarn that guy spins. Great fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d gulp too.Does he get many return customers?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only if he lets them leave first 😉
LikeLike
Oh no! Don’t gulp – spit it out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 It would put you off your dinner for sure!
LikeLike
I can hear the twilight zone music playing in the backround. Hope theres nothing between him and the door!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eeeep I hadn’t spotted that in the image. Great take on the prompt. Now I’m wondering what else they serve there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
An interesting and varied menu, I assure you!
LikeLike
t was a totally unexpected ending… i mean, for the first customer. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Made me smile – like the flavour of your seafood story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I like to spread a smile 🙂
LikeLike
What happened to old Roger? Why is a drawing of his skeleton up on the wall?
LikeLiked by 1 person
A good, well-written story with a great ending twist, Iain. I wouldn’t eat in any restaurant with a skeleton as a decoration. Also, I think that story would cause me to have a loss of appetite for seafood served there. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Certainly make you suspicious of what’s in the bowl! Thanks Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
That made me laugh out VERY loud!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad, thank you Dawn! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny, you’re going to have to get yourself a bigger boat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have noticed where my inspiration came from! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, some one told me I looked like the boat bloke one day, I think because I was dressed accordingly, it’s sneaking it’s way into conversation ever since!!
LikeLiked by 1 person