Aaron sells watches on the beach.
He proudly totes an aluminium briefcase stuffed with his wares, his arms wreathed in watches both ‘new’ and ‘used’.
Aaron knows everything there is to know about time; he should… he’s done some.
He sells to the dusties, who’re stealing time with pills and potions…
… to druggies, living on borrowed time…
… to chancers, making time with the local girls…
… and drifters, wasting it.
Today Aaron and I stroll beside a stinking, crimson sea, kicking bleached fishbones beneath sickly green skies.
“No watches today?”
Aaron shrugs.
“We’ve run out of time,” he says.
101 words this week; I had one left over from last week, if you remember. I hope Friday Fictioneers can see the link between the photo and this story. And I hope I don’t get sued for it… 🙂 You can never be too sure these days. You can, however, be sure that our gracious hostess, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields will be presiding over our court today. Thanks Rochelle.
How interesting that we both did time this week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Sandra,
“Not Guilty!” says herself. However, you are guilty of one thing and that’s writing a wonderful, gritty story. Dare I say, ‘timely?’ (I had to…besides, I’m still working on my first cup of coffee. 😉 )
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rochelle, I appreciate your commenting. Especially whilst you’re still on your first cup of coffee – I know how tough that can be. 🙂 Have a lovely day!
LikeLike
Nice sketch. Makes me wonder how many of the “used” watches come from swimmers who left them lying on their towels!
LikeLike
Maybe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The stinking crimson sea is a marvelous phrase, too.
LikeLike
A very beautiful story rendered in your trademark beautiful writing. I just love your writings, Sandra.
LikeLike
Thank you Neel, I’m flattered.
LikeLike
Nicely penned as ever, Sandra
LikeLike
Thanks Sue 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
Awesome, Sandra. The time metaphor and the way you worked it was brilliant. I liked the ending line where it put it in perspective and kind of a diabolical sense of humor. Made sense to me.
Five out of five Bulova Watch Times.
LikeLike
Thanks Kent. Great photo this week. I’m hot on ‘diabolical sense of humour’. 🙂
LikeLike
Both Rochelle and I think you ghost write for Aunty Acid. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent build-up to the surprise at the end 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Love the way that tale spun around the dial. Out of time, indeed…. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Jellie. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very clever piece, Sandra. Love how you put it together.
It also reminded me of a trip to Hong Kong many years ago where I often heard the chime: “Copy watch! Copy watch!”
xx Rowena
LikeLike
I think the watch sellers are the same the world over. And I wouldn’t buy one, except out of charitable persuasion.
LikeLike
I’m always amazed at how great a story you can pack into 100 words (or in this case 101 words). A great read.
LikeLike
Thanks Mike 🙂
LikeLike
And there goes the environment, Poof.
LikeLike
That’s all it takes.
LikeLike
Smiled at this line “Aaron knows everything there is to know about time; he should… he’s done some.”
I like the way you have this set up — the telling as well as the placement of the sentences.
Really enjoyed your post here today.
LikeLike
Thank you Lillian. I appreciate your commenting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I absolutely love your use of time here right to the bitter ending. This time I don’t get the connection to the picture, but that’s probably some cultural reference i don’t get.
LikeLike
Thanks Gabi. The link is the recent VW emissions scandal where they appear to have been ‘doctoring’ the software for measuring the harmful emissions from their engines. I wasn’t sure what kind of coverage this had ‘enjoyed’ around the world, but it was fairly widely publicised in Europe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes that, well, it’s a german company, it still is all over the news here. And one by one, the other companies turn out to not be little angels either. I guess I was thrown by Aaron, I thought he would be someone everyone knows but me (which would be the normal state). 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nice story, Sandra. A cautionary tale!
LikeLike
But few are heeding it. Thanks for visting Penny.
LikeLike
Simply brilliant. and your subtle reference to the VW scandal was inspired.
Click to visit Keith’s Ramblings
LikeLike
Thanks Keith.
LikeLike
Our VW has just had its emissions reset, we are not pleased, but I was pleased with your story.
LikeLike
I read this morning that our Merc should be getting one. Better to jump than be pushed, I guess. 🙂
LikeLike
Excellent work as always Sandra.
LikeLike
Thanks Iain.
LikeLike
Masterfully constructed, Sandra. I once wrote a poem about being slaves to time. How it controls us instead of the other way around. The automakers are all guilty of scandals. The big news here over the last few months has been air bags. They either don’t work or they kill the person they’re supposed to protect.
LikeLike
The airbag stuff hasn’t surfaced here yet. But we learned this morning our Merc is to have a reset. Thanks for visiting.
LikeLike
I love the narrative voice in this, Sandra, so strong for such a small piece.
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Great story; you’re such a talented writer! Time is such an important thing, yet so hard to control… lovely ending and lovely story 🙂
LikeLike
Many thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s lovely, although I can’t see how the prompt took you there. But who cares. A good read.
LikeLike
The VW emissions scandal, Patrick. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Terrific,Sandra. ‘Bleached fish bones ‘, ‘stinking crimson sea ‘and ‘sickly green skies’- horrible man-made disasters , you have so brilliantly painted with words. Why does he say ” we have run out of time ? ”
Regards and best wishes..
Moon
LikeLike
The clue is in the environment, I guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmm. sorry about the silly question. look forward to reading your story , tomorrow .
LikeLike
Awesome story this week Sandra! I hope our civilization never comes to this but everyone fights over everything. Sad when we learned of Volkswagons misleading the consumer.
LikeLike
Sad indeed.
LikeLike
You are one smart lady.. brilliant take
LikeLike
And you are one resilient lady. 🙂 Thanks for reading, Dale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙄😎😘
LikeLike
Loved how you worked the time theme here. The future is not looking good.
LikeLike
It’s not, for sure. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Nice, but hopefully not prophetic. Nice use of “time”.
LikeLike
Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great description of the sea and fish. Let’s hope it never comes to that.
LikeLike
Indeed. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
The value of time as an underlying approach–or at least to me. What an eye-opening piece. Thank you.
LikeLike
Thank you Matthew.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chilling – For most of your story I was visualising the watch-sellers I used to see regularly on Tenerife beach, then you hit me with a crimson sea.
LikeLike
Yes, Spain was overrun with them too. Thanks for reading, Liz.
LikeLike
Aaron and time… this post say everything about time. he sells used watches too. interesting.
it is time to hit bed for me. good night.
http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/07/photo-prompt-kent-bonham-i-always-stand.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow great prompt take. Time and all it’s meanings. I wonder where he got thrm all?
LikeLiked by 1 person
A message subtly passed across’
Great writing.
LikeLike
Yes, Spain was overrun with them too. Thanks for reading Liz.
LikeLike
oops, typing faster than WordPress can catch me.
LikeLike
perhaps it’s time to lay low. they’re being watched.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The all elusive time and the ways it’s abused.
I very much like the way you’ve written it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved the play on time and it’s many manifestations. Great stuff
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love how you brought this full circle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really enjoyed the cast of characters you painted in the middle of this, and descriptions at the end – bleached fishbones etc. Such a poignant ending, but maybe it’s time Aaron called time on this life.
LikeLike
I think Mother Nature is saving him the bother. 😦
LikeLike