It felt nice. Generous. Whimsical. Someone had left a Christmas decoration on the tree by the fence. This brightened my morning, and I smiled, giving a little skip in the snow.
The next day, a stocking hung beside the shiny orb. I searched inside for chocolates, nuts and tangerines. But it was empty. That disappointed, and my heart sank.
A day later, and they’d tacked a sign on the stocking. “Fill me, cheapskate.” Now my environment was making demands with menaces. Fear squeezed, and I gulped in a breath of air.
After that, I followed a different route to work.
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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
Neil MacDonald Author 
Sad tale, some evil doers taking the magic out of life.
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Of course, it may have been intended as a joke, and backfired
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That really made me grin. The switch in mood was beautifully paced.
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Thanks so much, Sandra.
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Oh, I love this! Definitely scored high on my weird-o-meter. As with so many of your posts, I want more of the story.
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Life is weird, if you know where to look
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I’d liked to fill it once, and then set the police on the trail. Who takes it?
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Great idea. I’ll suggest it to him. But, what’s the crime?
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Extortion 🙂
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Menacing stuff, of course he could have filled the stocking with rose petals or even haggis
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Haggis sounds a great idea
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Looks like someone has to fill and the stocking and monitor who’s doing this! Great story, Neil
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Thanks so much, Shweta
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Lol. That’s what one gets for expecting a little surprise. A blunt demand.
Role reversal?
Another route would be better.
Great writing, Neil. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Terveen. The bauble may have been a loss leader.
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Super story, Neil. As Sandra says, it’s beautifully paced.
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Thanks so much. Penny
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Dear Neil,
We’re even. Your story made me smile. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent
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So the bauble was a bait. Must be someone in Corporate Marketing 😉
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Nobody is quite sure what the bauble was for. But he thinks it’s better to be extremely cautious
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It’s a commentary on the times that we live in. Anything unaccompanied or unclaimed scares us!
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Good point
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What a whimsical and eerie take on the prompt. Well done, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Mason
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You’re welcome.
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Hah! So much for that. He was ready to take but not so much to give…
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I like that interpretation, Dale
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Glad you do!
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I can’t think of a better example of someone being a killjoy. My fear would be the person is lurking around there watching those who approach these items. I think a lot of tv shows with the candid camera feature have a self-serving voyeuristic aspect similar to your story. Great atmospheric writing, Neil.
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That’s a great hypothesis
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Thanks, Neil.
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I would have too, that was beginning to get creepy.
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But now he’ll never know for sure
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it looks like somebody is begging for attention. it would be a kind gesture to indulge him once and see what happens. 🙂
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And there’s almost certainly an alternate universe in which that happened
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Ooooooo I love the creepy air in this! Well done
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Thanks so much, Laurie
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Oh this was great. To me this feels like a kid’s prank, but I love the reaction of the narrator, their unease is palpable.
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Thanks so much
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An encapsulation of “modern” society — demanding instant gratification based upon “our” own selfish satisfaction. Or maybe just a good reason not to walk that way to work. Next time, take public transit, lol.
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Or maybe an opportunity missed
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A great portrayal of how the mind is buffeted by external stimuli, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Jenne
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Brilliant how your turned this into menace.
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I hadn’t intended to when I started but stuff happens
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You certainly built up the tension. Time to take action.
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Or to avoid taking action
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After that, I’d follow a different route, too. Giggles ensue.
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Glad it made you giggle
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Awww … it seemed like someone was trying to make a connection with whoever would be daring enough to try to join in.
Cute ending for your story since the protagonist didn’t want to join in.
Have a super weekend, Neil … stay safe and be well 😷
Isadora 😎
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Yes, your reading is closest to what I had in my mind
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The shift from joy to menace is done with subtlety. Clever the way you play with the idea of a stranger’s randomness, or a targeted recipient.
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Thanks so much
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Put something in the stocking! I totally would have gotten something cute and put it in the stocking to see what happened. Like in fairy tales. You never know who or what may be watching….
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And thus the world divides into two types: those who explore and those who flee
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