‘What is Mr Bridgewater is doing? That’s a mighty big bag he’s putting in his boot. And in all this snow too.’
‘It’s a dead body, mum,’ Bailey said, not looking up from his magazine. ‘I told you months ago he’s been killing off the wrinklies in the neighbourhood. But you never listen. He can see you, you know. The light.’
‘Oh.’ She flicked the lamp beside her off.
‘It’s probably Mrs Gillespie, haven’t seen her for a while.’
‘Oh dear, I hope not. The annual neighbourhood watch meeting is next month and she makes the most amazing plum pudding.’

***
This piece was written for the Friday Fictioneers hosted by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields – Addicted to Purple.
Each week a photo prompt is given and the challenge is write a flash fiction piece of no more than one hundred words.
Find other Friday Fictioneer stories here.
Oh this is brilliant!! The way he didn’t look up from his magazine and I can see her stood at the window! Love it 🌸
Thank you Kate! x
Honestly.. there’s not one piece of your writing that I haven’t enjoyed 🤗
What a lovely thing to say! Thanks Kate x
Oh the casual indifference of the adolescent, and the much more studied motivation of the adult!
Thanks Neil
Not anymore.
Ha.
Priorities – it’s ALL about the plum pie – how dare he jeopardise that?! Love the nosy neighbour quality – you can just see her curtain twitching – and Bailey is a great character – cool as. Amazing how such a short piece can establish such a clear relationship. Sons are often know it alls 🙂
Thanks Anna! Glad you got all that from it. My son is a massive know it all, I dread to think what he’ll be like as a teenager 😊 x
I can see the youth teaming up with Miss Marple to catch the killer 🙂
Ha! If he can muster enough enthusiasm 😊
Is Bailey very observant, or just possessed of a vivid imagination, and a wicked sense of humour? Entertaining yarn!
Just another day in the neighbourhood! Shame about the plum pud though.
A true shame. It would have been the centrepiece. Thanks for reading 😊
I’m not sure whose indifference is the most shocking. The mother’s, I suppose, as it has a mercenary quality to it. 🙁 Good take.
Dear Jen,
A little dark humor? I love it. The whole matter of fact conversation and the way he doesn’t even look up from his magazine. Brilliantly wicked.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks so much Rochelle! I do enjoy a bit of dark humour.
From the mouths of babes! I will miss that plum pudding, though…
Ha! Thanks for reading 😊
I would be a little bit more concerned about a wrinklie wiper in the neighborhood… and that plum-pudding too
Me too Björn! Thanks for reading 😊
Plum pudding is of prime importance! Nicely done 🙂
Thanks Dahlia! 😊
If the neighborhood is watching, why is he getting away with murder?
No one cares as long as it doesn’t affect them. Just a bit of dark humour 😊
Oh, such cool indifference!