micro fiction

Striking a Chord

/ Steve Lakey / 22 Comments

dismantled-keyboard Photo: Copyright – Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

 

An enthusiastic young copper decided to take his drug search a little too far. In the old days, Mick would have slipped him a financial sweetener – no fun having your door kicked in at 3am.

He’d been off the stuff for months, but being an ageing Rock musician made Mick an easy target. He would call his lawyer, if only he had the cash to pay him.

Mick can’t look at the photo of his shattered keyboard without shedding a tear. He still keeps it close, just in case he’s ever tempted to go back on the white powder again.

 

This my contribution to Friday Fictioneers 100 Word Challenge, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Please click the link for more details.

View other entries by clicking here.

Silver Star?

/ Steve Lakey / 4 Comments

marathon-medal

Photo: Marathon Medal.  Marina Shemesh

 

Mason wasn’t known for losing, and that’s what getting the Silver medal was for him. He was firm favourite to add another Gold to his collection, but surprisingly was beaten to the tape over the last few yards.

He certainly wasn’t known for losing well. And yet here he was, congratulating his opponent and smiling for the cameras. Gracious in defeat, he announced his retirement with a gentle shrug of the shoulders.

Enter John King, a reporter determined to catch a falling star. He broke the real story: Mason’s connections with syndicates who had made a fortune from his loss.

 

This is my contribution to 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #110 from Julia’s Place. The prompt was Silver.

100 Word Challenge

Beware the Gargle

/ Steve Lakey / 7 Comments

Gargoyle Photo: Copyright kattermonran.com

 

Another day, another dollar, with the Agency. They gave me a straightforward assignment – travel to a Country House pub in England, U.K. and plant a listening device in the main Dining Hall. It was one of those pubs in the ‘Red Lion’ chain.

We’d arranged a little ‘electrical trouble’ for them, and here I was, Mr Ken Speedie, of Speedie Electricals to sort it all out. Got into character with a false beard and stained teeth.

Well, all our new listening devices were out – it’s a busy time for us. So I ended up going in the safe for one of those bulky Cold-War era models. I know we’re not supposed to use them anymore, but the job needed doing.

As it’s not the smallest piece of kit, I found one of those big Gargles on the wall to fit it behind. Soon it was all done, nice and neat.

Don’t they say Gargles are to ward off evil? I guess I’m in the same business!

Then things went a bit off-message. Luckily, I’d driven a couple of miles away before activating the device. Unfortunately, it was one of those ‘Red Button’ models that if tampered with, self destructs and takes out a whole village. I blame faulty Brit wiring. Why did no one tell me they were on 240 volts!

 

This is my contribution for Alastair’s Photo Fiction. Please click here for more details and to read the other entries.

Shop Tactics

/ Steve Lakey / 13 Comments

Trolleys

Photo: Copyright Janet Webb

 

Daft Visor, The Dark Lord, fumed helplessly as his once feared Battle Fleet floundered on the over gorged waters of the former ice planet.

A combination of sweeping cuts to the Empire’s Defence budget, unprecedented global warming and forgetting to set his alarm clock, had resulted in his Elite Shop Troops coming to grief – in the shallow waters of a supermarket car park.

In order to retain some dignity, he had personally led the mission to remove the remaining coins from the ditched trolleys.

“I’ll take them myself” he told his embarrassed comrades, before spending all the proceeds on doughnuts.

 

This is my entry for the Friday Fictioneers Challenge, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields – creating a story in 100 words, based on the photo prompt. Please view the other entries by clicking here.