Copyright Kent Bonham
She closes her eyes, trying to erase the memories of what just happened.
When she opens them, his aura is stronger, pulsating deep crimson now and he’s approaching her… again.
Concentrating fiercely, she summons the image of the old book… opens the pages…
“Any witnesses?” says the pathologist later, zipping the charred remains into the body-bag.
“Only that kid there, and she’s a retard,” says the cop.
The pathologist winces, embarrassed. “You don’t mince words do you, Bud?”
Bud sighs.
“Ok… for the bleeding hearts brigade, I’ll rephrase it. She’s hardly likely to set the world on fire, is she?”
Back on the boat in France, and after one lovely warm sunny day, we’ve had twelve hours of incessant downpour. With more rain forecast, and the river already rising, the only place to be is on our boat. Thanks to la capitaine, Rochelle, for continuing to navigate the Friday Fictioneers ship with her usual aplomb. 🙂
castelsarrasin 
Rire!
Superb piece of black humour.
Your normal extraordinary standard which most of us merely dream of attaining.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why thank you! 🙂 I see you’ve lost none of your charm, even though your mobility might be a little impaired right now. Here’s hoping your hand is soon better – I can imagine only too well how frustrating this might be for you (as someone who has to get other people to open jars and bottles for them). Thanks for taking the trouble to drop by. All good wishes coming your way.
LikeLike
Dear Sandra,
You’re one of the writers that has made me happy to have stuck with FF so long. The last line made me snort. Good thing the coffee’s not done yet. 😉 Brilliant.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Aww, that’s lovely to know Rochelle – not the snorting… the other. 🙂 Thanks for all you do.
LikeLike
Well done! Everything necessary to piece a mystery and a tragedy with abuse and witchcraft implied. Fabulous take on the image.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Emmy 🙂
LikeLike
Loved the dark humor here! You certainly never disappoint, Sandra. 😀
LikeLike
Thank you! Glad you liked it.
LikeLike
Great character sketch in very few words.
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
You captured the essence of a lost soul! Well crafted and well done!
LikeLike
Thanks, glad you liked it. 🙂
LikeLike
Love the story. Hate the behavior of “Bud”! Not only is it socially unacceptable, it simply shows who the real “retard” is (and it isn’t the child)!
LikeLike
Yes, he’s hardly covered himself in glory. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tee-riffic, Sandra! I could see it all happening. Great last line, too. You capped it off well. Five out of five zippered bags. 😉
Could you e-mail me your radio play? I lost it in a “computer information purge.” 😦
LikeLike
Thanks Kent. I’ll have to search for it. Hoping it wasn’t a casualty of my computer melt-down last year. Thanks for dropping by.
LikeLike
You’re welcome. I do hope you find it. If not, well … I KNOW there are more great plays to be written. 😉
LikeLike
Fantastic take on the prompt Sandra! Really enjoyed the dark humour, well done!
Heidi 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Heidi. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
While the bleeding heart’s brigade is not a fan of Bud’s attitude, I enjoyed the way his poor manner of speaking brought the piece to a funny close- due to the darker nature of the story line. Well done!
LikeLike
It’s nice to bring in a contrast. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He had better watch his back.
LikeLike
I can already smell scorching… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
XD
LikeLike
Great, dark write, Sandra!
LikeLike
Thanks, Sue.
LikeLike
Always best to judge a book and a girl by the cover, I never say.
Mysterious piece.
Tracey
LikeLike
Nor do I, but then we’re both writers. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story Sandra, I love all the layers
LikeLike
Thanks Siobhan, hope all is well with you.
LikeLike
This was subtly brilliant 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Helen, glad you liked it.
LikeLike
Ha.. Love that last line… What a perfect conclusion… Dark humor, witchcraft, hypocracy everything at once.
LikeLike
Thanks Bjorn. 🙂
LikeLike
That last line just sets the whole piece off perfectly. Amazing piece Sandra.
LikeLike
Thanks Carol 🙂
LikeLike
This was fabulous! Yes, were I Bud, I’d be more careful around that “retard”… methinks she won’t mince actions… 😉
LikeLike
I think you may be right, Dale. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
Breathtakingly good. This is a gem – perfect pace, plot and character.
LikeLike
Thank you Margaret. Glad you liked it.
LikeLike
Brilliant! The last line brings the kind of laughter that eventually chokes you.
LikeLike
Ooh! I hope not. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! This is wonderful. It’s a good lesson in not taking things at face value. My Dad and I were talking about spontaneous human combustion recently (perhaps this is one explanation…).
LikeLike
I’ve always been fascinated by spontaneous combusion, Claire. Glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is great Sandra. Loved the subtleness of the narration and the dark humour of the final line (did you smile when you wrote it?!). It could be the opening to an episode of The X-Files!
LikeLike
I always smile when I write the last line, Thom. 🙂 Thank you for reading and I’m glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great piece! Bud may end up eating his words 🙂
LikeLike
Lightly grilled, of course. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uh uh… someone’s in trouble! I hope he gets away before she summon any old books again. Thrilling piece, Sandra!
LikeLike
Thank you Maria! 🙂
LikeLike
Well told, as always. Never underestimate an angry (or scared) woman!
LikeLike
I’m with you on that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Once again, you freak us all out with a powerful last sentence that puts everything into perspective. Great piece, but let’s bring marshmallows the next time she goes off.
LikeLike
You bring the marshmallows, I’ll get the sausage.
LikeLike
most definitely, one can’t judge a book ..er, a kid by its cover. well done.
LikeLike
Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved it! Great ending.
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. 🙂
LikeLike
That was a terrifying and brilliant story, Sandra – your combination of witchcraft, sexual (I think) molestation, societal blindness, death and innocence is deadly. You are a master-storyteller.
LikeLike
Thank you! I’m not in great demand for bed-time stories, though. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder why … 🙂
LikeLike
Great story. So much happening between the lines. And so much empathy built up for your main character so quickly.
LikeLike
Thank you!:)
LikeLike
The last line is hysterical, in a creepy, “you may be next” kind of way. Brilliant story!
LikeLike
And of course you may…. bwah hah hah! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like she has powers beyond the detectives perception. A lot of us are mentally challenged. I wouldn’t hold that against her.
LikeLike
And once again it is the “foolish” things that confound the “wise”.
LikeLike
Savage revence on her attacker – well written as ever.
LikeLike
Wonderful.
LikeLike
Well, you’ve set a fire with your tale here 🙂 Well done! Zip up that black bag and be careful what we say! 🙂
Just back from two months in Bermuda and getting reacclimated to Friday Fictioneers. Some wonderfully unique takes on this great photo. From map to coloring book to witch craft 🙂
Good to be back!
LikeLike
She’d be a great help at family barbeques. Great line to end another brilliant story.
LikeLike
Well put together, Sandra. Your characters really come through with your dialogue. You don’t want to get on this little girl’s bad side. Love it!
LikeLike
Oh that was great fun!
LikeLike
A wise use of a dangerous book, Bud better watch out. Great writing mike
LikeLike
Good story, Sandra, ending in dark humor. This child has special powers. No one need worry about her unless they mean to harm her. They’re then toast. Well done. 🙂 —- Suzanne
LikeLike
Deftly done, your last line was a corker, well done.
LikeLike
Wonderful twist to this tale – it has a Stephen King’s “Carrie” feel to it, which is delightfully pleasing. Well written and thoroughly enjoyable. Love the direction the photo prompt image inspired. 🙂
LikeLike