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I Told Him Not to Do It, by Doug Bartlett

22/9/2023

 
Six months ago my friend, who is impatient and quick-tempered, told me he was going to teach his wife how to shoot a pistol. He said he wanted her to be able to defend herself if the need were to arise.

I told him not to do it.

Three months ago he told me he was going to show his wife how to use a chainsaw. He said this was so she could help him prune their many trees on their property and would reduce the burden on him.

I told him not to do it.

Last month he told me he was going to show his wife how to operate a backhoe. That was so she could dig the trenches they needed to install new water lines on their ranch while he would do the manual work of using a shovel.

I told him not to do it.

What’s that you say?

You want to know how my friend is doing?

Now that you mention it, I haven’t talked to him since his wife put in that beautiful, new flower bed.
Marjan Sierhuis
22/9/2023 12:11:23 pm

A great beginning for a longer story. Nicely written, Doug.

Doug
22/9/2023 05:14:36 pm

Thank you Marjan. Yes, there is more to the story.

Jim Bartlett link
22/9/2023 03:31:43 pm

Oh my, sounds like she was a quick learner. I have a feeling with that "special" fertilizer, the flowers will be full of blooms this spring...

Nice
Jim

Doug
22/9/2023 05:16:13 pm

Thank you Jim.

Sue Clayton
23/9/2023 06:41:13 am

A student learning the art of murder from an artless teacher.

oug
23/9/2023 06:25:37 pm

Thank you Sue. You always have a way with words.

Robert P. Bishop
29/9/2023 04:22:43 am

Good one...only the best fertilizer.

Doug
30/9/2023 06:51:44 pm

Thank you Robert. Glad you enjoyed it.

Tom Baldwin
8/10/2023 05:39:54 am

Well done, Doug (or is it Dug?). Leaves just the right amount to the imagination.


Comments are closed.

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    Friday Flash Fiction is primarily a site for stories of 100 words or fewer, and our authors are expected to take on that challenge if they possibly can. Most stories of under 150 words can be trimmed and we do not accept submissions of 101-150 words.


    However, in response to demand, the FFF team constructed this forum for significantly longer stories of 151-500 words. Please send submissions for these using the Submissions Page.

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