kitchen (Photo credit: palindrome6996)
Aha, a new story to share today! Are you ready for a flash?
Seeing Things
Jeremy tried to tell her again what he had seen.
“It was hairy, large and ugly.” He paused to let the words sink in. He knew he wasn’t a Brad Pitt for looks but hell he had a lot in his favor compared to that beast in the kitchen.
“Whatever,” Renee said and sat on the couch. She turned on the TV, and Jeremy tried to ignore the corny music of a woman’s shampoo commercial.
“I’m telling you, it’s in there,” he said and pointed to the kitchen door to the left. Surely he hadn’t been seeing things again. He hadn’t smoked weed in over 20 years.
“Look Dad,” Renee said, sounding tired, “I’ll go in there if that makes you feel better. You’re full of it, but I’ll do it. I’m thirsty anyways. Do we still have cans of Diet Coke in the fridge?”
Jeremy began to breathe at a regular pace again. His heart valves that had seen modification 2 years ago were thankful. They hadn’t appreciated the morning stress either.
“Thank-you,” he said, and he reached out for Renee’s hand.
“Okay, okay,” she said, grasping his hand back. Impatience coated her voice. “I’ll check it out if that makes you feel better.”
Renee walked over to the door and then paused with her hand on the white oak. “Hairy creature,” she whispered, and laughed. “Whatever.”
As she pushed the swinging door, Jeremy watched her disappear behind it. He knew he hadn’t been seeing things. He anticipated her reaction, her disbelief.
Suddenly, he heard the words that he thought would be coming. The sounds were muffled a little on the other side of the door, but he still heard them.
“Surprise! Happy Birthday!”
Oh good, Jeremy thought. She hadn’t suspected a thing. He decided to give her a few minutes with her boyfriend Mike in the kitchen before lighting the candles on the cake.
Part of him hoped the candles would singe Mike’s scraggly beard.
©2013 Christy Birmingham
This is christyb, sending you into the kitchen for a can of Diet Coke.
Poetic Parfait 
haha, Beautiful, Christyb!
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🙂 Glad you enjoyed it, Ray!!
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So happy to see a short story up today and loved the surprise ending, too!! Happy Friday to you, too now!!
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Happy weekend to you, sweetie!!
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Flash fiction….short stories….poetry….all done for the love of writing and a desire to improve…and as such I will always respect those who do them. 🙂 Have a great weekend Christy! I think we have a wet one coming in the northwest.
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Oh shucks! Thanks, Bill! It was sunny earlier today here but now overcast… Well we’ll keep things sunny in our hearts 🙂
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Ahhh, you flipped the script on me Christy! I love it and it fit perfectly as today is indeed my birthday, hee-hee…have an awesome weekend my friend! 🙂
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Charlene, it was awesome timing with your birthday!! I couldn’t believe it when you told me that — how cool 🙂 I am glad you had a great day — it was fun chatting on FB about it too xx
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Yes it was – it is always a fantabulous experience chatting with you – what a friend! 🙂
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Aww!!! You are a great friend too, Charlene! 🙂 ❤
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Too cute!
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Thank-you, Jane! Happy weekend x
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… “Surely he hadn’t been seeing things again. He hadn’t smoked weed in over 20 years”…
Cool & smart flash fiction; Christy. Kudos…
You have well captured the irny tone of the daily routine; the atmosphere of an average family… The tv, the corny shampoo commercials, the “Hairy creature,” The Diet Coke can…
Monotonous irrelevancies which obviously contrast with that sharp, unpredictable ending…
Sending love & Diet Coke Toast for you, Aquileana 😉
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Awww, I’m glad you enjoyed this story and caught the surprise ending! Here’s to Diet Coke and great GalPals!!! xoxo LOVE the can of Diet Coke here – makes me laugh — thanks for the Twitter share too, so nice xx
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That was cool and fun with a surprise ending. I surely thought this story was going elsewhere.
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🙂 Got to love surprise endings!
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LOL! Nice twist at the end – and what a great dad!
I actually thought you were taking us down the usual paranormal route. Well done.
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I was tempted to go the paranormal route but it somehow went this way… those characters have minds of their own!! Thanks, Eric!
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Well told Christy, loved the ending!
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Wow, appreciate the compliment! Have a nice weekend, Shain.
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loved the ending C XXX
you have a talent for being able TO WRITE ANYTHING XO
cheering YOU ON XO ALWAYS XO C
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Awe! Thank-you, Cat! It means so much to me that you took the time to come here and comment xoxo Love always!
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Of course Christy ……..
Flash Fiction is so very interesting to me 🙂
and it’s something i have go WOW when i read …..
i am almost always 🙂 in music lyric world 🙂
so ………. “a breath of fresh air ” who said that ? YOU DID 🙂 XO XO XO love love love xo C
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Yes, it’s neat that we can see different sides of creativity when we visit one anothers’ sites — fun, love and friendship — now that’s something to smile about 🙂 xox
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it sure is BEAUTY ………
and who knows How we found one another ….?
but i’s an incredible feeling to now that there are no accidents in Life – PEOPLE DO MEET – even virtually – 🙂 FOR A REASON 🙂
maybe we will never KNOW –
but the JOURNEY together is the very best part xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo
i just found this 🙂 and i toast YOU right now 🙂
xxxx
so proud to call you my friend xo
XOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXO 🙂
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Very clever writing. I really like your short stories and hope there will be more to come.
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Thank-you! Yes, I will write more 🙂
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very well written short story, Christy! I much enjoyed reading it.
love and hugs, Francina xxx
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Oh, thank-you! Francina, I send you hugs back ((you are an author now!!!))
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Hahah, very sweet and funny at the same time 🙂
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😀 I’m smiling now! Have a great day, Letizia!
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LOL! Loved the twist of the dad being scared of something and sending daughter in – and daughter obviously okay with it; that’s usually the other way around. The last line made me burst out laughing! Loved it, my friend! 🙂 xoxox
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Woohhhhhooooo!! I’m so glad you laughed at the end of the story — I wanted that to happen 🙂 You rock!! ❤ xo
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Haha, fun story. LOL. I was expecting something like on that show Grim that comes on Friday nights. Haha.
Have a wonderful evening, my friend! Oh and I DID look at your HP article – so awesome! I haven’t commented, yet, but everything you said is such sound advice. 🙂
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Hehehe 🙂 I started out writing a Grimm story and ended up with a family feud one! Who knew?!! I’m glad I could write the HP post to help you as you are a great friend!
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Wonderful short story, Christy, and also loved the twist at the end! Hope you’ve had a great weekend, too! xo
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Hehe the end was fun to write! Awe, it was a great weekend 🙂 I hope you had a nice one too xx
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Interesting article, Thanks and regards
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Thanks, Gede.
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Great writing, it got my attention from the start. As soon as you mention “big and hairy”, I automatically think of spiders. I’m thinking I would NOT have gone in the kitchen without some protection. Great story with a very happy surprise ending.
*You mentioned Diet Coke in your story, possibly send this little writing to the Beverage Company…I’m sure they would enjoy the extra publicity.
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Awe, Tessa! I’m glad you had a chance to read this one. I hope it made you smile 🙂 Oh that Diet Coke company ((hehe, good idea))
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Haha! Didn’t quite see that coming. 🙂 Loved it.
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Hehe 😉 Glad you liked the twist!
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