Two Flash Stories
Cosmic Daffodil/January 2023
“The Flawless and the Flawed”
Sydney stretched a bejeweled hand across the diner table.
“My grandmother had a ring exactly like that.” Rosamond squinted, examining the emerald ring pushed under her nose.
Sydney’s outstretched fingers recoiled.
“Lee bought it at Smithfield’s antiques. It’s flawless. It’s vintage,” she said.
“Jeez. What’s with the service here today?” Rosamond signaled for the waitress.
“There’s no other ring like it. And, if and when YOU get engaged, if we’re still friends, I’ll be happy for you.”
“I’m getting eggs, that’s what I’m getting. Do you know what you’re getting?” Rosamond said, placing her menu to the side.
“Victorious”
The light shifted, the office growing darker as afternoon progressed. I am looking for new experiences in the retail market. The sentence trailed through his mind like one of those biplane banners across the ocean at the shore. Alan conjured the sensations of summers past: the fine sand stuck to his lean body, the smell of cigarette smoke and old beer.
The snow fell.
Back in his Jersey days, Alan saw Karin from across a crowded room, the car dealership showroom where he worked since high school. On the test drive - a Chevrolet Malibu- he noticed her quick laugh, not to mention her bare knee that moved slightly as she pressed on and off the gas.
Karin had a plan and Alan followed it. They married, packed their suitcases, and moved here, her hometown. She’d accepted an assistant principal position for the super great school district. Returning victorious, she had a degree, a husband, and a job to boot. Of course, Alan knew there were problems. He knew she made excuses, she spun the car dealership to her family and friends so it sounded like some great entrepreneurial act. He knew her love had its limits.
But still, somehow, he didn’t expect what happened. Alan whistled, he whistled, as he came through the door that day, the day he found out. He remembered his wife’s down-turned mouth. “You can’t be surprised. Please,” she said, hands on her hips, like he should be ashamed for not guessing, for needing to be told about Phil.
