friday snippet

These micro tales are written for the following prompts:

Wordle 591

Lucky Dip – Saturday Mix, 4 February 2023

Weekend Writing Prompt #297 – Key

Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge #205

“I don’t know why we have to go through all of this.”

“It’s the key Juntia,” Swortl stated as he looked at his brother.

“It’s a book about trees, not a compass to another world.”

“It’s a scale, weighing humanities sins, like chess.”

“What?”

“Like a clock lighting the sins of the past.”

“Do you hear yourself?  No wonder we got funny looks in the library.”

“What?”

“They treated us like aliens.”

“But we are.”

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It was a monumental decision.  The firm had finally decided to put on a show, but he wasn’t surprised.

Their reason for discretion had disappeared, and though they had chosen to hold their ground, this had all switched when it was committed to paper and released.

In a way it was a visionary decision, reminded him of Eminem in the final rap of 9 miles.  Stripped of his ammunition, his status would diminish in a minute, but he doubted it would clear the air.

Adjusting his glasses he sighed, the hierarchy might wither beneath the bright lights of the media.

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Later I’d recall his fascination, but at the time I was more concerned with being late to work, so I just snarled at him to get moving, and it was then too late.  He was hooked.

It was probably three months later though, before I noticed the change.  First it was the book … he carried it everywhere with him.  I asked why, but he said it was just to make notes.  In our line of work that was unusual but not unknown.

Then he started coming to work wearing glasses.  I made some snide joke about his eyesight, but that just earnt me a look of disdain.

The days passed, and his clothing continued to change.  The big shoes, the suspenders, the silly hat.  We talked less and less … then he was gone.

I asked around, but no one knew where, but today I saw him … on a poster … wearing those stupid glasses.

The sign was announcing BOZO – Clown Extraordinaire.

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