Friday Fictioneers – Honest Abe

~ Neil MacDonald
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff

I could always tell what Abe was thinking, as if a fluffy cartoon bubble floated above his head. Probably, you read it on his face and body language. In a kinder world, such transparency would be admirable, celebrated perhaps, but in this one, it was a liability. All his life, people duped Abe and took advantage of him, even me.

That late Thursday night, I didn’t need the scent of gardenias on his shirt—the smell of guilt reeked stronger. “Who is she?”

“What do you want?”

“The house.”

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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

39 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Honest Abe”

  4. Aw, I feel sorry for Abe, but at the same time, there’s only so far “I was duped” goes as an excuse. Nice way to leave the reader emotionally torn!

    I didn’t quite understand the word “Probably” in the second line. What am I missing here?

    Jen

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  5. The age-old question – “Who is she/he?”. Thankfully I’ve never had to ask that question. Love the snapshot of this relationship that you created.

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  7. Exquisite write, Neil. This line is so sadly dead-on in this world we live in today:

    In a kinder world, such transparency would be admirable, celebrated perhaps, but in this one, it was a liability.

    Abe is like Vincent (in the song anyway.)

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