Dick and Mike sit at the kitchen table playing two-handed rummy. Dick is drinking whiskey. Mike is drinking beer. He grunts every so often when he lays down his cards, but other than that they aren’t talking.
The phone rings, making all of us jump.
Margaret goes to the wall and picks up the receiver.
“Flahertys,” she says, exactly in the way we all had been taught to answer this phone. “Margaret speaking.”
I wonder if she does that at her own house.
“Yes,” she says, and hangs up. “That was the coroner. We need to go pick up dad.”
Dear Josh,
The last line began a whole second chapter to this. You left me wanting to know more. Deft writing.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I see what you did with the title.
Interesting snippet, leaves a lot of intrigue.
Why do I fear that it’s dad’s corpse they’ll be collecting?
This was a graphic representation of that period in between knowing someone has gone, and getting on with the process of despatching them formally. Well done.
Well written snippet, that! Now I wanna know more!
I like this and the other chapter. Is part of a bigger story that may or may not be written. I was reminded of the TV series on Showtime, “Six Feet Under.”
Very much how we were when we were waiting to go to Granny’s funeral. Nicely done.
Between the sounds falls the silence
A wonderfully atmospheric. of that most difficult of times.
Rosey invited me to lunch!
Love the repeat of the title. And the atmosphere you created in both. I want more!
Good sign that, no?
Oh my, more please!
https://authorshutterbug.wordpress.com/2019/06/13/fridayfictioneers-the-fortuneteller/
Oh! Wasn’t expecting that at all. Great start for a longer story.
Oh dear, poor Dad! (And just in time for Father’s Day, too.)
A beautiful vignette. Such a clear visual of character and place – that answering of the phone is terrific. Great take, Josh