Holding the nail gun made her feel powerful. Four charges of air later, her humor had improved. This was in contrast to the way she felt earlier; a fool for believing he could ever change. Completing her work, she showered with her favorite soap, the smell of which reminded her of strawberries and chocolate. How sweet those memories were, but tonight, she hoped to make them sweeter.
Soon, she heard Lenny returning from the garage. Like an ungulate on concrete he clod into the room and stopped when he saw her on the couch. Seeing her there, in her newly purchased negligee, he gulped, his xenophobic face betraying his feelings. It was as if he was staring at a complete stranger. This was the probable outcome she had hoped for as she knew his night out with the boys wasn’t going to happen. Not with four flat tires.
© 2008 J.C. Montgomery
Home Schooled
Winning entry – Flash Fiction Group: Flash Fiction March Second Challenge
Requirements: No more than 150 words. MUST incorporate the following words:
Fool, Chocolate, Nail gun, Face, Probable, Humour, Xenophobic, Charges, Soap, Ungulate
I named this Home Schooled as this was exactly the wife’s intent – teaching her husband a lesson about marriage. In a fashion.
Anne van Alkemade
,
6 months ago
LOL. Well done.
Natella2020, 6 months ago
Very funny and well-written.
Miri, 6 months ago
like it! particularly the ending! this site’s great isn’t it!!
jcmontgomery in reply to Anne van Alkemade’s comment, 6 months ago
Thank you. For the comment and for hosting this. Its wonderful.
jcmontgomery in reply to Natella2020’s comment, 6 months ago
You know, I didn’t realize the humor until I let it sit a bit before re-reading. It was fun though. I had a great time participating.
jcmontgomery in reply to Miri’s comment, 6 months ago
Thanks, and yes, so far this has been a fantastic experience.
Natella2020, 6 months ago
Congratulations on the win!
jcmontgomery in reply to Natella2020’s comment, 6 months ago
Thank you!! As I told Miri, this has been such a wonderful experience. My goal in participating is really to help myself grow as a writer…so something like this is icing on the cake. Wow.
Damian, 6 months ago
Nicely done, a very cool use of the words! I like the result :)
jcmontgomery in reply to Damian’s comment, 6 months ago
Thanks…this means a lot. As you know those words were enough of a challenge, let alone creating a coherent narrative out of them. Of course you did a damn fine job too. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with for April!
xstephens, 6 months ago
Seamless use of the words and congrats. Looking forward to reading more of your stuff.
Ruth Anne McCa..., 6 months ago
Very cool story!! Well written, looking forward to more.
jcmontgomery, 6 months ago
Thank you xstephens and Ruth….I am looking forward to more too. I am truly inspired by all the talent here….we’ll see what shakes out!
tristan14, 6 months ago
Great Story
jcmontgomery in reply to tristan14’s comment, 6 months ago
Thank you Tristan!
Pilgrim
,
6 months ago
funny – and not violent, just light but good.
jcmontgomery in reply to Pilgrim’s comment, 6 months ago
Thank you! And, uh, yeah, with having a nail gun as one of the ‘words’ it was very tempting to go the violent route, but as I tend toward stories with a ‘twist’, I could think of none better than not doing what would be expected.
Nicole Ryan, 5 months ago
ha !! i love it .. very clever :)
jcmontgomery in reply to Nicole Ryan’s comment, 5 months ago
Thanks Nicole…this was SO challenging considering the words which need to be used. Plus, this was one of the very first things I wrote for RB….was nervous…but everyone here is so great!
MickyMc, 4 months ago
A very enjoyable bit of flash :^)
jcmontgomery in reply to MickyMc’s comment, 4 months ago
So glad you liked it MickyMc….thank you!
Dwayne Boyd, 4 months ago
Nice work. The title drew me in. I’m glad I checked it out
jcmontgomery in reply to Dwayne Boyd’s comment, 4 months ago
Thank you Dwayne, this is a very great compliment. It is one thing to draw a reader to your work, but another to keep them, and satisfy their curiosity.
Dwayne Boyd, 4 months ago
Anytime
KelseyD, 4 months ago
I love this! It’s built up so well for the humorous and delightful ending.
jcmontgomery in reply to KelseyD’s comment, 4 months ago
What’s really funny about this is that it snuck up on me too – and I wrote the darned thing! LOL
Thanks Kelsey!
Robyn Smith, 4 months ago
It was so hard not to jump to the end because I knew there had to be a twist. I didn’t. I read it all and it was worth it.
jcmontgomery in reply to Robyn Smith’s comment, 4 months ago
O good, I’m glad you didn’t!! Whew.
Thank you for such a great compliment!
incaalpaca, 4 months ago
what a sense of humour you have but the idea of it is intriguing indeed and once again you said so much in such a short time. excellent JCM
jcmontgomery in reply to incaalpaca’s comment, 4 months ago
This was actually the very first piece wrote for and submitted to RedBubble. It was so much fun that I decided to stick around. And look at me now….I’m an addict.
Careful Inca….it can happen to you too! But its a good addiction, I assure you.
incaalpaca, 4 months ago
hmmmm my adictions are reading and writing and between work and ezinearticles.com and now here I try to write 7 articles per week and am wanting to get back to writing poetry and short stories. I have written a play but it needs something… will figure it out someday and I love being with the farm animals I mind too… Alpacas and of course being with my wee dog Skippy other than that who needs addictions lol You tube of course for the music
mattie666, 4 months ago
i love this style of writing. good work missy
jcmontgomery in reply to mattie666’s comment, 4 months ago
Hello Mattie…welcome to the Bubble! There is a lot of great work around here, so for you to stop by my littler corner – well, its appreciated, thank you!
Outdoors2, 4 months ago
Just happened across this at the WMG Blog JC
Great twisting around with an unexpected outcome that brought me a good chuckle…;)
Outdoors2, 4 months ago
Flash Fiction Blog… I meant ..;)
jcmontgomery in reply to Outdoors2’s comment, 4 months ago
You know whats really funny? In my little circle of friends here in Reno…yeah…like on one hand….but I digress….the guys seem to find this funnier than the gals….really strange, but true. Perhaps its nervous laughter, and the gals are silent because its not as funny as it is an idea I’ve placed into their heads…..LOL
Rachel Leigh, 3 months ago
lol,... your comments are as funny as the work. Very nice! And to see someone other than me who actually uses the word xenophobic without fear, haha.
It is a great piece of writing!
Rachel Leigh, 3 months ago
I just saw that it was part of the assignment… oh well… :)
Even more impressed with the work though!
jcmontgomery in reply to Rachel Leigh’s comment, 3 months ago
Thanks Rachel. I may have been forced to use the word xenophobic, but at least I did use it properly! LOL
fleece, 2 months ago
ha just read this now for the first time. clever, given the constraints
jcmontgomery in reply to fleece’s comment, 2 months ago
Thanks Fleece…yes…not only with the 150 words, but the mandatory one we had to use. Very much a challenge. Happy you like it!
Paul Rees-Jones, about 1 month ago
Excellent, take our thoughts to the worst and twist it with humour with such ease.
Great!
jcmontgomery in reply to Paul Rees-Jones’s comment, about 1 month ago
Muahaha! Thanks hon. xox
Verangel, about 1 month ago
What a clever and enjoyable read! It makes me want to read it again 8)))
jcmontgomery in reply to Verangel’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thank you Vera. This was, I think, the first piece I ever posted to RedBubble, so it does carry a special place in my heart. I am so please you liked it!
Matthew Dalton, about 1 month ago
I was worried for a moment! Thankfully only the tires. Nice work.
jcmontgomery in reply to Matthew Dalton’s comment, about 1 month ago
Hehe, thanks!
Enivea, 8 days ago
Love it!!
jcmontgomery in reply to Enivea’s comment, 8 days ago
Thanks! xx