Some of the other Marines joshed Peters about being a soft touch. He always loaded up on cigarettes and candy before going to the brig for the daily interrogation and gave these out freely to every prisoner he came across.
The other boys preferred the brutal approach. They would lock a prisoner in a footlocker full of roaches or cuff him to a roof-beam for the night. When these failed, they’d fall back on the standard: fists, boots, a blackjack.
But Peters would sit, ask them questions about their families, their homes. Before too long they’d be telling him everything,
Grateful congratulations to Rochelle for four years of hosting Friday Fictioneers. I find it to be one of the most useful tools in my writing world.
There are always more subtle ways of getting where you want to be. A nicely written piece.
Dear J Hardy,
You put a lot of story into 100 words. I’m impressed…truly.
Thank you for your kind words as well. Nice to be appreciated. Like you, I’ve found this exercise in brevity to be a valuable tool for my longer pieces. So when Madison announced she was stepping down 4 years ago I couldn’t let it go. In fact I begged to take it on, thinking nothing would change. Hoo boy, was I ever wrong. Sometimes it’s like herding cats, but well worth the scratches.
Again, expertly written piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Very impressive story, expertly crafted.
Softly softly gets the mouse.
Point made! And a well crafted story.
Lovely job. You’ve told us so much about Peters, just in that small comparison between his technique and that of the others. Lovely rhythm to the sentences too. Great story
Thanks so much!
My pleasure :)
Great writing. Like this very much :-)
You’ve made the characters and the experience very real. A difficult thing to do in just 100 words.
Loved the Peters character. Great story.
I like the soft touch much better. And it seems to work ever so well.
this should be a movie…great writing!
Interesting take on the prompt. You took me there so I am glad it had a kind and gentle ending.
There’s loads in this. It’s almost a whole dissertation on interrogation techniques with great portrayal of the brutal whilst concentrating on the subtle
I have a feeling that Peters might be more dangerous than the conventionally brutal types. Great characterization.
He’s onto something. I suspect he’s no ‘soft touch’. I get the feeling that behind the soft approach lurks a monster. Wonderful story.
Subtle! He is as devious as they come and seems more to be feared than the ones who rant, rail and kick!