Copyright Dawn Q Landau
“Damn’ woman needs locking up” says Matt, watching his mother-in-law through the kitchen window.
“Leave her, she’s doing no harm.”
“Pacing around, all day… is that the behaviour of a sane person?
“She thinks she’s warding off bad luck. It keeps her happy.”
Matt opens the window.
“Stupid cow,” he bellows.
The old lady looks up, puzzled, her step faltering so that her rubber boot comes down firmly on the crack in the flagged yard.
“Matt!!”
The old lady is still standing there, rooted in horror, as the sirens herald the approach of assistance that will arrive too late for her son-in-law.
Not too much time to devote today, as we’re still busy on the river. For other (probably better prepared 🙂 ) submissions, click on the Friday Fictioneers link. Thanks once again to Rochelle for her ministrations.
castelsarrasin 
Sandra, That sealed Matt’s fate, and probably permantently cemented the belief about not stepping on cracks in his mother-in-law’s head. What a tragedy. He should have kept his mouth shut and not raised his blood pressure. Well written. —Susan
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I think you’re right Susan. Thanks for reading.
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Dear Sandra,
Matt definitely pushed his luck, didn’t he? Was it bad luck or did his wife push him out the window with a bullet?
Glad you found the time to submit as story since your writing always floats my boat. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well I left it open to conjecture. Maybe he just had a seizure, or maybe she just seized his throat… thank you for your kind comments. 🙂
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That’s what you get for making nasty comments behind someone’s back. Karma is best served warm.
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And rapidly cooling… 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Oh this one was a bad move from Matt.. “Check Matt” could be an alternative title
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I don’t usually struggle with titles, but I did with this. I should have emailed you… 🙂
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Ha. Better than mine. More thoughtful. Darker. Evil.
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Darker and evil perhaps. 🙂 Thanks for reading Patrick.
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Dear Sandra,
Your imagination is unparalleled and unbridled and we are the beneficiaries. Thank you for the great story and laughter to end my long day.
Aloha,
Doug
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Glad I could make you laugh Doug. My work here is done… 😉
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Very good!
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Thank you! I liked your story too, Hamish.
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How rude!!! Well deserved end, if you ask me. We need to respect and love our elders more. Great story, but that is always expected from you.
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Thank you! 🙂
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Matt certainly got what he deserved. I hope mother-in-law doesn’t blame herself!
Funny and wicked 🙂
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Thank you Siobhan. 🙂
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Stupid cow! How rude. Well lesson learned.
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The man has no breeding… sorry, had no breeding. 🙂
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Lol
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I guess heeding the “Step on a crack” is something we should all do. Don’t know where this came from, but bring up some more from the same spot. I like the mix of humor and awfulness.
janet
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Thanks Janet, it was a case of writing on the hoof today. Not my best work, but needs must when the devil drives. Or something… 😉
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Serves him right for not being more sympathetic.
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Exactly! 🙂
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Time or no time, this is a wonderful. Mother-in-law one, Matt zero!
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Thank you! Yes, M-I-L definitely scored here.
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Always enjoy your take on these challenges. Great one!
DJ
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Thank you Danny! Glad you liked it.
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As always I like your stories. Not completely sure what happened at the end but I can hazard a guess. Good one.
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No I left it open purposely. The ‘Matt!!” exclamation could have been horror or rage. 🙂
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Very nicely done Sandra.
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Thank you! 🙂
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So long, Matt. It’s been awful–finally got rid of you. Loved it. Lucy
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Thanks Lucy! 🙂
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Does it sound mean to say serves him right for being so rude.
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Sounds fine to me… 🙂
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In your groove, Sandra! I love it. This grabbed me, as I watched out the window at the woman… and then found myself jolted back by the twist at the end.
Hope your trip is wonderful! I sometimes imagine what it must be like… cruising on such a boat is on my bucket list.
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Thanks for reading Dawn. We’re safely back in port now and getting the boat ready for winter. A lovely season this year.
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It sounds absolutely fantastic!
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“Stupid cow!” Hah! This was awesome! I really liked the whole play on stepping on a crack theme.
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Thanks! 🙂
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i think he deserved what he got.
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You’re right, I think.
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That was rich. You never know for whom the protectors are protecting. It may even be that they are protecting and warding for you. So be ware, and be kind, or be dead. I liked it very much.
Thanks, Sandra.
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Thanks for dropping by JK.
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Such a wildly brilliant and creative and heartbreaking story! I really liked it!
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Thank you!
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He got what he deserved. I reckon she used the evil eye on him.
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She wouldn’t be the first mother-in-law to do that.
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Hi Sandra, this Matt should have kept his mouth shut and taken care of his life. Now it’s late for him.
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Very late. 🙂
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Quite a jump you left for us there. Certainly made me re-read a couple of times to see if I missed the smoking gun. Personally, I would go with a coronary, or something similar I think!
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I left it open so you could make your own minds up. 🙂
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lol he deserved it for being so nasty towards a harmless old lady 🙂 very entertaining!
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Thanks KZ.
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stupid cows know old tricks.
Nicely told story with dialogue that moves us along to a smoothly and subtly written ending. Thanks. randy
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Indeed they do. Thanks for reading Randy
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Those are come pretty huge inverted cracks there!
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Aren’t they just?
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🙂
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What an end! so much meaning in this aside from the shock you managed to create with that ending. I enjoyed reading this very much.
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Thank you!
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This very clever…I did NOT see that end coming!
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Thanks Claudia.
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A nice mystery (as to the exact nature of Matt’s death). Did Matt slip on a mat? At any rate, the police will never prove murder.
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Perhaps it was a conspiracy. There’s usually one somewhere.
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good one!
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Thank you!
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Well now that was a surprise! Well done Sandra! Ha, kind of just rewards, but you didn’t hear that from me. 😉
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My lips are sealed. Thanks for reading.
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Oh no! What’s happened to Matt? Always respect your elders I’d say. You just never know. I enjoyed this. Marg
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I agree with you Margirene. Thanks for reading.
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You step on a crack like that, you can expect super bad luck! I’m not sure it might not be better to be rid of the son-in-law but not this way …. whatever it is! Thanks, Sandra.
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Thanks for dropping by Perry. 🙂
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Bwahaha. Serves the little bugger right. I love what comes out of your wild and wooly imagination, Sandra. Always a surprise, always a delight!
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Thank you Barbara! 🙂 Wild and wooly hey?
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Yes!! And you realize that is a compliment of the highest order from moi?
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I love this Sandra: “Stupid Cow” What a wonderful story and she lives to see another day!
Just absolutely wonderful! Nan 🙂
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Thanks Nan!
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Oh, no! What an unexpected twist, Sandra, and some tight writing. The son-in-law will never be right with himself now. I imagine he’ll regret this forever.
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I don’t think he had time to get round to regretting it Amy… 😉
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Oops, I reversed that. I thought it was the mother-in-law that was dead. Yeah, you’re right. He had no time. 🙂
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Well, I guess we should know better, huh? Matt? No chance. Terrific read, Sandra! 🙂
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He was pretty rude, although I don’t know if he deserved that. I guess the rhyme, “Step on a crack, break your son-in-law’s back” was accurate.
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LOL 😀 what a great twist in the tail. They should never go against their betters, but never seem to learn. A smashing, most enjoyable write, Sandra.
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OMG! What a story. Written so well though I took my own time to understand.
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