Friday Fictioneers – Truth Telling

~ neilmacdon
PHOTO PROMPT © CEAyr

I don’t care for Bill. He likes the style himself as William.

“You put on airs,” I say. “But you’re nobody special.”

His fist clenches, as if he’s going to hit me. The punch will hurt, but he’ll be finished.

Instead, he pushes his mug into mine. “Cheeky little bugger.”

Then he does something weird with his face—it goes all crumply.

“Are you sad?” I ask.

“No.”

“Yes you are. I can see.”

Bill sighs, gazing out to sea. “You think telling the truth is obligatory. But you’re wrong.”

This is puzzling. “What’s more important?”

“Getting on with people.”

.

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here

62 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Truth Telling”

  4. Sounds like Bill has had a light-bulb moment. Temporary probably. A lot of emotions covered in a short piece: narrator fears him, probably dislikes him, then feels sorry for him and the reader knows he wouldn’t ever trust him.

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  8. I have a friend who is trying to get us to change from Bill to William. Sorry, my friend, we’ve been calling you Bill for thirty years. That said, I loved the array of emotions portrayed.

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  9. The grease of lies has its uses but it’s as empty and artificial as what’s left after eating a McDonald’s Happy Meal. That said, having a few pints down at the pub with buddies, truth is often left at the door. Excellent storytelling, Neil, as it will generate a lot of discussion.

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  19. So very true. It’s also a cultural thing. I’ve learned to appreciate the often superficial easy friendliness in my years abroad. It’s much better than the brutally honest, blunt and stuffy behaviour I so often encounter where I live.

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      1. I miss the superficial friendliness. And the concept of ‘service’ – that’s still mostly an unknown where I live. Friends can provide depth. 🙂

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  23. ‘What is truth?’ said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer.
    Pontius would have fitted right in these days. Along with Bill who seems to have figured everything out.

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  27. The first thing that jumped into my mind was autism. Is the narrator fairly autistic? I wonder if your story might be the beginning of a close friendship, as Bill seems to guess that the narrator is a bit different from most people. Well and subtly written, Neil.

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