Week 729 of #ThursThreads was a success, a remarkable feat for 14 solid years. Thank you to everyone who writes each week. You are why we’re still doing this. I’m truly grateful for all y’all!
If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Katheryn J. Avila for judging this week. Follow Siobhan Muir on Bluesky or check out the #ThursThreads group on Discord to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Bill Engleson
- Siobhan Muir
- Silver James
- David A. Ludwig
- Mark A. Morris
Mentions
Silver James
Katheryn says: Incredibly smooth dialogue! All the characters have distinct voices and their personalities come through really well for such a short piece.
David A. Ludwig
Katheryn says: A lot of world building in a short scene! Although we only get this glimpse, the world feels lived in and the characters feel real. Looking forward to reading more.
Mark A. Morris
Katheryn says: The build up in this one is great, and the description made for a viscerally vivid scene! I also really enjoyed how nonchalant the characters were, making murder seem almost mundane.
winner announcement
Week 729 Winner
Katheryn says: This was such a beautifully written, bittersweet piece. But beyond that, it left me wondering. What made the man suspect his wife in the first place? Was she really innocent, or just good at covering her tracks? The word “appreciative” makes me suspicious, too. Well done!
A Queasy Case
There was something off from the get-go. That didn’t stop me from taking the case. It just made me more cautious. I don’t mind an extra layer of caution. Only a fool would want to step in it. Whatever it might be.
He’d been crystal clear. “I don’t have long. Weeks. A few months at best.”
I nodded. I’d seen dead men before. Even a few still upright. Their eyes still had a flicker of light, like dying neon signalling that burn out was just around the corner.
“She’s been a good wife. Far younger than my first…but…trustworthy. Or so I thought.”
“So you want to know…?”
He cut me off. “Don’t say it. I can’t stand the sound of it.”
Yeah, I thought. You can talk about your approaching demise but not about your sweetie sampling another jar of honey.
“Fine,” I clarified. “Do you want a report?”
That stymied him. Verbal or written, it would tell the tale.
“Yes. Written.”
We settled on my fee. I insisted on full payment. He balked. I said, “If you die, do you think she’d pay?”
He almost snickered. He was, in any case, snookered. He wrote the cheque.
Fully paid, I spent four weeks following her. She was easy on the eye. A ton of others noticed her in the various shops and avenues she sashayed on.
There was no sign of infidelity.
He lasted a month.
The funeral was tasteful.
I paid my respects.
She was appreciative.
~~~~~~~
Congratulations FIFTY-THREE TIME WINNER Bill! Don’t forget to claim your badge and display it with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Discord, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
