Life in progress

Tag Archives: Flash Fiction


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255. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Sunday, May 13th, 2:00pm
Colm and Harvey

 

Harvey: Feels lovely to be full after a Sunday brunch, doesn’t it?

Colm: It would feel even better if you hadn’t upset the party.

Harvey: You think it was upset?

Colm: Did you see the look on my mother’s face?

Harvey: Yes, but everyone else seemed all right with it. Your brother thought it was hilarious.

Colm: Still, promise me you won’t do it again.

Harvey: (shrugs) What’s a little nudity amongst family?

Colm stares.

Harvey: And it’s such a nice day for a swim.

Colm: Skinny dipping in the bird bath is a bit much though, don’t you think?

Harvey: If I’d gone in the pool, you’d have told me off for swimming on a full stomach.

Colm: You have a point.

Harvey: Anyway, it was for your mother that I did it. It is Mother’s Day, after all.

Colm: Oh right. Who knew she wouldn’t appreciate having a grown man take off all his clothes and jump in her bird bath.

Harvey: You’re being sarcastic, aren’t you.

Colm stares at Harvey for a moment, then looks away.

Harvey: (sighs) You used to think I was entertaining, once upon a time.

 

Next stop: Monday, May 14th, 8:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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254. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Saturday, May 12th, 8:00pm
Hillary (and Sean)

 

Hillary sits at the window. Sean takes the seat beside her.

Hillary: What do you want?

Sean: It’s not what I want. It’s what I got to offer. (pulls a baggie part way out of his pocket)

Hillary: Yeah, what’s the catch? Do I gotta sleep with you?

Sean: You don’t got to. You can if you want.

Hillary: May as well. What do I got to lose?

Sean: Your self-respect?

Hillary stares at him.

Sean: (laughing) Yeah I know. I’m a joker.

Hillary: You know what? You’re right. Go find someone else to fuck up.

Sean: Now now, don’t get all grumpy on me. I heard lover boy dumped you. You ain’t got a lot of choices.

Hillary: (shakes head) Right. I’m a fuckin’ loser. Get away before I infect you with my loser self.

Sean: (getting up) It’s your loss.

 

Next stop: Sunday, May 13th, 2:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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253. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Friday, May 11th, 6:00pm
Shannon and Terry

 

Shannon: I wanna do something fun.

Terry: Like watch TV?

Shannon: No! Something like jumping off a cliff with a bungee cord wrapped around my ankle.

Terry: How about going to a movie?

Shannon: A movie? I’m talking about doing something exciting! Like taking a trip to a foreign country where I don’t know the language, and getting lost.

Terry: That’s fun?

Shannon: I think so.

Terry: We could go downtown and play in traffic …

Shannon: (glares at him) Don’t you have any sense of adventure?

Terry: Sure. I play video games.

 

Next stop: Saturday, May 12th, 8:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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252. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Thursday, May 10th, 5:00pm
Michael (and Meredith)

 

Michael sits at the window, reading a book. Meredith takes the seat beside him.

Meredith: (clutching head with hands) Ugh!!

Michael ignores her.

Meredith: I can’t stand the pressure!

Michael: (looks up) Are you talking to me?

Meredith: Who else? Don’t you feel the pressure building up sometimes until you can’t stand it anymore?

Michael: No.

Meredith: Not at work? Not at home?

Michael: No.

Meredith: Don’t you ever have deadlines?

Michael: Only the ones I set for myself to read my book. (goes back to reading)

Meredith: (sarcastically) Well then. I’m sorry I disturbed you.

Michael ignores her.

Meredith: Aren’t you going to say ‘that’s okay,’ or anything?

Michael: (without looking up) No.

Meredith: You should.

Michael: (clutching head with hands) Ugh!!!

Meredith: Well! I never!

Meredith changes seats.

 

Next stop: Friday, May 11th, 6:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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251. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Wednesday, May 9th, 5:00pm
Drommen and Francine

 

Drommen: Are you sure you’re going to be okay?

Francine: Jake, I’ll be fine. The doctor gave me the go-ahead.

Drommen: But isn’t it a little drastic, you moving out?

Francine: I’ll be okay.

Drommen snorts.

Francine: And besides, I’ve cramped your style enough already.

Drommen: Pfft. What style?

Francine: How about that girl you like? Hillary, or Jessica or whatever her name is?

Drommen: Jessica. She doesn’t want anything to do with me. Thinks I’m a pervert.

Francine: So convince her you’re not. I know you’re a decent guy.

Drommen: (regards her silently for a moment) You don’t know me as well as you think you do, sis.

Francine: Sure I do.

 

Next stop: Thursday, May 10th, 5:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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250. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Tuesday, May 8th, 6:00pm
Red (and Phil)

 

Red sits at the window. Phil takes the seat beside her: he is out of breath.

Red: Are you okay?

Phil: Yeah. I almost missed the damned bus. (does a double take) … I mean, the darned bus.

Red: I wish I had. I’m really starting to hate taking the bus. I used to have a car to go to my grandma’s house. But since it broke down, I’m having to deliver the goodies (holds up basket) by bus and by foot. Yesterday I almost got eaten!

Phil: (stares) You hate the bus too … Wait, did you say eaten?

Red: Yeah. A guy came out of the bushes and tried to bite my neck. He was wearing all this glittery stuff. Kept calling me Bell-something. I might not even be here if some crazy brunette hadn’t shown up and chased him away with a pointy stick.

Phil: That doesn’t sound very safe. What do you say to getting off the bus with me? I’m just going to get my car from the shop. I can drive you to your grandma’s house.

Red: (sighs in relief and grins widely) Oh, could you?

Phil: I’d drive you there every night …

Red takes his hand. They get off the bus together.

 

Next stop: Wednesday, May 9th, 5:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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249. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Monday, May 7th, 1:00pm
Red (and Justin)

 

Red sits at the window carrying a basket of food. Justin takes the seat beside her.

Justin: Don’t I know you from somewhere?

Red: I … don’t think so.

Justin: Yeah, aren’t you that chick who gets eaten by a wolf?

Red: (eyes widen) Ooh, I hope not!

Justin: You’re not going to your grandma’s house, are you?

Red: Yeah … I just left my mom’s place. I’m on my way to drop off some goodies.

Justin: It’s not safe out there alone you know. I can walk you there if you’d like.

Red: (smiles) I made it there without incident the last two days running.

Justin: Well you know what they say: three times lucky. Or unlucky. Or something.

Red: How do I know you’re not a wolf?

Justin: Pfft. Who, me? Nah. I’m just a bouncer in a dungeon.

Red: (eyes widen even more: slowly nods head) Now THAT sounds like a trustworthy profession. I think I’ll take my chances. Thanks anyway.

 

Next stop: Tuesday, May 8th, 6:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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248. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Sunday, May 6th, 1:00pm
Red (and Simon)

 

Red sits at the window. Simon takes the seat beside her.

Simon: Hi.

Red: Hi.

Simon: Nice basket. You look like Little Red Riding Hood.

Red: Who’s that?

Simon: Never mind. You going to your grandma’s house?

Red: How did you know?

Simon: Wild guess.

Red: I went yesterday, but I forgot the bread.

Simon: You really want to take the chance, going back twice in two days?

Red: What do I look like, a chicken?

Simon: I could go for some white meat.

Red shakes her head and turns to the window.

Simon: I’m not averse to a leg …

Red: (turns back) Anyone ever told you you’ve got a big mouth?

Simon: (smiles) All the better, my dear.

 

Next stop: Monday, May 7th, 1:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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247. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Saturday, May 5th, 8:00pm
Drommen (and Red)

 

Drommen sits at the window. Red takes the seat beside him.

Drommen: That’s a nice cape you have.

Red: Thank you. (holds up a basket of goodies) I’m going to visit my grandma.

Drommen smiles.

Red: But I might be lost.

Drommen: This bus doesn’t go to the woods.

Red: What makes you think I’m going to the woods?

Drommen: Isn’t that the way the tale goes?

Red: What tale? Anyway, I’m heading for Maple Street. Do you know where it is?

Drommen: (cocking his thumb over his shoulder) Back that way.

Red: Darn! I’ll have to get off the bus at the next stop.

Drommen: You know, there’s no way I’m going to beat you to your grandma’s house.

Red: (frowning) I don’t expect you to.

Drommen: (smiles) You never do.

 

Next stop: Sunday, May 6th, 1:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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246. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Friday, May 4th, 8:00am
MoJo and JoJo (and Sean)

 

MoJo: You know what day it is today, right dude?

JoJo: Dude!

MoJo: Totally!

JoJo: Go forth and prosper, dude!

MoJo: Awesome, dude!

Both: (stand up and raise fists in the air. To the bus.) IT’S STAR TREK DAY!!

Sean: (from the seat behind them) That’s Star Wars day. Dudes.

MoJo: No way!

JoJo: Nuh uh, dude.

Sean: It’s May the fourth.

MoJo: Yeah, it’s Go Forth and Prosper Day.

Sean: (shakes his head and enunciates) May. The. Forth.

MoJo: (enunciating) I. Know.

Sean: (shrugs) Whatever.

Both sit down.

JoJo: Dude, that guy, man. (points at ear and draws a circle in the air and sings Twilight Zone theme)

MoJo: (nods) Dude.

 

Next stop: Saturday, May 5th, 8:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.