This past week has been packed with tales of time, but now to a new prompt, and the lion is thirsty…
This week’s word is ‘water‘.
You have seven days to pen a piece of 400 words or less. Pingback to this post to ensure I can see your post, include the tag ‘Literary Lion’ so we can all see it in the WP reader, and don’t forget to yell at me on Instagram and twitter.
Here is my H2O inspired fiction…
Dirty Laundry.
The bell on the launderette door chinked as the man in the suit slinked inside. He was smartly dressed to the most meticulous detail; his cufflinks polished, the pleats of his trousers crisp, his finely crafted Saville Row suit not the kind one might usually see in a place such as this.
As he proceeded towards the corner of the room, his presence raised several eyebrows from the bodies going about their humdrum routines. He rested his attaché case on the washer and opened it; the mechanical clatter echoed throughout the room while his back disguised what he wanted only his eyes to see.
Gingerly he lifted an item of clothing from the case, while stealing a look behind him to see who was watching. Everyone. The regular visitors to this launderette were intrigued by this alien presence and they had no shame in displaying their inherent nosiness with their indiscreet eyeballing. He contemplated for a moment walking away, finding an alternative and imagining their stares if he were to do so. He predicted their hurried whispers as soon as his foot touched the path outside. Instead, he remained resilient, determined to do what was required and leave without a trace.
He jerked the washing machine open, hurriedly placed his garment inside and shut the door on what he no longer wished to see. He pulled a small sachet of powder from his case, poured it into the draw and took two pounds from his pocket and slid them into the coin slot.
After selecting the hottest cycle, he watched the water begin to drain into the drum and wondered if it would be enough to wash away the evidence of his sins.
I’m intrigued! Compelling as ever with an air of mystery to boot!
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Thank you! I do like the mystery… 😉
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Water great story 😉
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Haha, Dad joke.
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I do take it as a compliment 🙂
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An interesting and domestic use of the word ‘water.’ I am wondering what the well dressed man is hiding, did he kill someone? Great story.
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Thanks. I’m keeping my mouth shut, I might make it part of a longer story, so you might find out one day 😉
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The suspense is killing me! I wonder what he’s washing. My guess is he’s a business man by day, and a drag queen by night, & maybe he’s washing the sexy lace bra from his costume! 😉
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That’s a very unique and interesting interpretation, I can’t say that crossed my mind when I thought of why he was there!
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Brilliant. Very intriguing story.
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Thank you! I do like to intrigue… 😉
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Wonderful story! I want more. Loved the first image and the second made me laugh!
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That’s good, I thought I would provide a little light entertainment at the end!
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Interesting! Trying to wash away the “mark” of his sin. What could he be trying to wash away in such a public place? He looks like he’s got truckloads of money – even if he’s murdered someone, wouldn’t he rather wash his clothes in the privacy of a hotel room’s bathroom? I am stumped!
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I would tell you more, but there might be a longer piece on the way… one that I can send out into the universe for anyone looking for the answers… haha
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I am looking for answers 🙂
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First time reading your work. I love writing fiction. Actually, I just love writing. But fiction is fun. This looks like it was a fun piece to write. Now I want to know what he is washing.
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I would tell you but then I would have to kill you 😉 Fiction is my favourite too.
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Just wrote my first. I had one of those moment of inspiration just come to me.
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Fab, I love it when that happens. I shall have a read now 🙂
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Excellent. Might be my favorite of your stories yet! I’ve got one brewing in the brain; we’ll see if I can get it out in the next day or so!
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Thank you! I’m glad it inspired some ideas, looking forward to reading it if you do get a moment… although I’m sure you are rather short of those right now 😉
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I love the ambiguity of the washing machine anecdote. Left me wanting to know more about the morality of the man’s life decisions. That’s powerful!
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Thank you! I’m pleased it left you wondering, I might continue to write it as a short story, it depends if I want to give everyone the answers or let them imagine them for themselves I guess… 😉
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I love the intrigue: What’s he washing? Why’s he washing it in the launderette? What kind of sin? Nice work 🙂
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Thank you. I think I’ll leave you wondering, best to leave people wanting more I guess… 😉
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Absolutely 😀
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I’m intrigued! I think he cheated on his loving wife and feels really bad about it, so he snuck the clothes out to launder them… I love your flash fictions, they’re always awe-inspiring 🙂
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Thank you, that is very kind! I’m glad to provide a little intrigue, I might finish it off one day soon…
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So many possibilities! Murder? An illicit affair? I would definitely continue reading this story.
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Thank you! That’s great to know, I might continue to write it very soon 🙂
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Great piece. Oh, what to do, what to do. lol
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Thanks! Oh the pressure… haha
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https://livehomeandaway.wordpress.com/2015/07/31/confused-waters/
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a beautifully written scene…would be interested to read (watch) more!
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Thank you. Funny you say that, as the original story was a short film in my head, I’m still considering adapting and lengthening it for that 🙂
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oh nice! You should… part 2?
Often, for descriptive writing, I can view the scene in my mind as it slowly moves forward like a story board.
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Thanks! It’s actually part of a longer short story, so in theory there is a part two…
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A very intriguing piece! I look forward to finding out what his story is!
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Thank you! Now to find the time to write it… 😀
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Great story, would never have thought to take water in that direction for some reason…
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Thank you. That’s the beauty of this challenge really, that we get to see so many different directions 🙂
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Very exciting and full of suspense. I missed this post till now due to being busy in other things.
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Thank you! No worries at all, it’s difficult to keep up sometimes!
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Okay this creepy. How come i have the same idea of using water to wash of sins/evidence whatever.
We will see again next week!
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How funny. Great minds…
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