© Sandra Crook
“He was odd, but we’re all our own shape,” Toby sighed. “Kept this place going, mind.”
Josh stood absorbing the yesterday aspect of the old mill, the sadness in the dust, cracked beams and rodent tracks.
“What happened?”
“After his missus left, he shut himself away grinding flour for a market he didn’t have.” Toby pointed at the swollen sacks, “Full o’ weevils.”
Josh poked one that bulged unevenly; his curiosity drew a knife down it. Grain and a cold arm spilled from the slit.
“Oh, it appears his wife left without her arm.”
Toby eyed the other sacks ruefully.
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
Michael Wynn 
Seems he was getting a little behind in the orders
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Thanks for reading, he was an odd sort with a sinister secret
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Never try hiding things in bags – it doesn’t work for shopping either. Good story.
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Thanks, glad you liked it.
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Excellent reveal. My mind went in a similar direction from the prompt.
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Thanks Iain, I’ll be on yours sometime today
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Dear Michael,
I’d say more like grisly to the mill. Ugh. I wouldn’t be opening any more of those bags. Creepy and well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s brilliant Rochelle, wish I’d thought of it or gristle to the mill.
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Great use of language here. The “yesterday aspect” creates a strong image and the “sadness in the dust” hints at so much more. The “swollen sacks” are a strong clue and the “wife left without her arm” made me laugh – probably inappropriately! I loved this story!
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Thanks Edith,for a lovely comment.I’m glad you laughed, it’s black humour but if it creates a reaction lie that it’s good.
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Yuck! Yuck, yuck, yuck! But in a very good way.
He was odd, but we’re all our own shape
Full o’ weevils
one that bulged unevenly
So many revealing lines that don’t reveal the story until the end. Well done
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Thanks, it wasn’t my favourite story so I tried to make up for it with description.
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Yeeks! Love the line “it appears his wife left without her arm”.
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That was a cracker of a line “left without her arm”. So matter-of-factly delivered.
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Thanks Sandra, I think Josh was less sentimental about the old boy than Toby was.
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Chilling, to say the least! You have us wondering about the other sacks!
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Yes, I wouldn’t want ot be opening them myself
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😊
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Yikes… I wonder about the other sacks… But I think I can guess.
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I think you’d be guessing right
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“We all our own shape “I love that!
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Thanks, I liked that as well, it was the start point I suppose
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oh, it’s time to call the cops.
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Certainly is.
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Scary twist.
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Thanks, glad you liked it
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Well, I am officially queasy now; thanks for that Michael. You and your excellent writing–– Bah! 😉
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Thanks Dawn, that’s a great compliment
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I loved the descriptive language. I could just see all the rodent tracks (and pills) in the dust.
His wife must have been in a real hurry to leave her arm behind. HA! A great read, Michael.
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Thanks. You’re right, she must have been in a right hurry. Good job she didn’t leave a leg, she’d never have got away. 🙂
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I think I’ll have my bread ordered from somewhere else. I liked the dialogue, Mike, it felt natural and yet well-constructed. Not an easy task.
Awesome!
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Thank-you. Much appreciated comments
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She’s always in the last place you look! 😉
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Indeed she is Dawn.
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Like many, I loved the dry, “Oh, it appears his wife left without her arm.”
So very well done
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Thanks Dale, glad you liked it
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“Left without her arm” I love dark humour, this would make a perfect intro for those crime scene investigation series. Bones comes to mind.
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Thanks, I love a bit of dry humour and understatement.
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