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Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff Fields it is 100 word Friday. Links can be found here.
Captain typed “Twenty fuckin’ years locking up scumbags”.
He grabbed for the snips, cut some wire, bent the chicken wire with the needle nose and took a sip of his Budweiser.
“Nothing changes, always another one to replace them”.
The project sat in the Bucket. He stared at the computer screen.
“You give your life, doing what’s good and you have nothing to show for it. That’s why I like building things. You have something to show for at the end of the day.”
Another message popped up. A twig snapped. He reached for his .38.
“Captain ?”
“That you Sarge ?”
Dear Tom,
An interesting take on the picture and not that far from the truth in many respects. I applaud you for keeping it real and down to earth.
Cannot imagine how I’m going to be able to write a story from this prompt, but you’ve set a good example.
Aloha,
Doug
Doug,
Thanks man. It just reminded me of guy who had retired and had time on his hands. I threw the cop thing in there to give it a little punch. Thanks for you kind words.
Tom
I’d completely missed the chicken wire mesh; great take on the prompt.
Thank you Sandra.
I’m sorry.. I have read this 5 times now and I just don’t get it. 🙁
I will revisit.
Parul,
I didn’t realize it was that hard to follow. Maybe I am missing something here…but for the life of me I have no idea what it is…
Tom
Ohh!
I get it now!
So these are basically prison keepers?
I might be dumbing it down a lot to understand, sorry!
You wrote well, the problem lies in my comprehension. I am just slow sometimes.
Parul,
It’s a retired cop in garage, working on a project(The globe moon or earth), chatting online about his frustrations with being a cop. There is a facebook post on his computer screen about friendship. He doesn’t have many close friends and he is paranoid about people he has locked up in the past. He hears a twig break. He reaches for his .38 (Gun). He hears a voice call out Captain. It’s his former Sergeant. Happy ending.
Tom
Thanks for your patience Tom. Glad you explained.
Thanks!
Me too!
Abraham,
You had a hard time following as well?
Tom
Dear Tom,
Interesting take on the prompt. Makes me want to know what happens next. A nitpick here. Shouldn’t your question marks go inside the quotation marks?
Shalom,
Rochelle
Rochelle,
Of course they do…I changed it…It was a late night and I was wrestling with a bottle of Vodka.
Tom
Who won?
You a on..I mean you on…Wait wait that’s my a past life. No No..It’s you one!
LOL
I seem to win every time but that bottle leaves me a little banged up in the morning.
Typophoid? Typophilia? Typophobia? You are the ON, Tom.
Rochelle,
You make me laugh…I think it is typoitis I have…An inflammation of typos. No you are the ON!
Tom
Very realistic, Tom. I can sympathize with his point of view!!
Thank You Janet.
I get his anger, rage and depression. It must be one of the hardest jobs on earth. A good title would be: Revolving doors of futility. Nice work.
Lora,
That wouldn’t be a bad name….hmmmmm. Thanks for the comments.
Tom
Cool! I like the grittiness of it. Good job, Tom!
Thank you Kent. I thought it had the right feel.
Tom
Original. A peer into the mind of those alert and watching over others. I like it.
Thank you Turnip.
Tom
Interesting take on the prompt. Nicely told
How did I miss your comment…….Hmmmmm!
Thank you.
HI Tom,
I hope he has more than chicken wire to hold back those scumbags. Very innovative and gritty take on the photo. Ron
Ron,
He has his .38…that should do the trick. I bet he has something a little bigger in the gun safe in case there is a break down in social order and he has to take down a crowd of scumbags.
Tom
Interesting take on the prompt. I read the frustration here.
Thank you. A life of running on the hamster wheel can be a frustrating thing.
Tom
Very down to earth and realistic. Just frustration. I like it a lot, like an intrigue to some action I feel.
Brudberg,
Thanks. He could easily come out of the garage gun blazing, popping rounds off.
Tom
An interesting peek into his world, it must be hard to let go after such a pressured job. Good work.
Anne,
I come from a family filled with cops and one thing I know is that young men who enter into that line of business are changed forever. Sometimes they change for the better but more often than not a life filled with dealing with the worst people society has to offer brings out paranoia, frustration and aggression. It is one of the reason I never took the test and became a cop myself. I have a lot of respect for what they do but it would take more than a good paycheck to get me into that line of work.
Tom
i think that what it takes to be a cop is not necessarily the same thing that it takes to be a good husband or just regular guy, and i say that because i’ve never known a cop who wasn’t either divorced or on his way there. and i constantly hear about that. i’m not putting cops down, just saying they do things differently. cops have something extra, not sure what, and i know i don’t have it and could never do that job. but i’m thankful there are people out there who can do it.
Rich,
I know some cops that are married and have been for over fifty years but they are all old timers. In today’s world most of them are divorced or headed that way….times have changed. My Dad was a cop. My mother and him are still happily married. My Dad has that something special, he is not bitter but he is quick to reach for the gun. My Mom as far as I am concerned is a saint and a special woman to be able to deal with that wild man of a father I have…he’s a true cowboy, ex green beret and paratrooper. My mom a gentle, kind soul who spent her life working as nurse helping those in need. I am blessed to have them both still in my life and they are blessed to have each other. But me…I could never be a cop because it would have robbed me of my tolerance for those that are different from me. Thanks for the comments and for stopping in to give your opinion. I appreciate it.
Tom
I can imagine that many years of dealing with the worst could taint it all. Shame, though, because he seems more the prisoner.
Yo Dutch,
I believe he is. Good seeing you again. Thanks for the comment and for stopping by.
Tom
uh oh. i’m sensing a little paranoia here. well done.
Thank you Rich.
Great story!
Thank You Mari!
Jumpy! Would be tough trying to just enjoy life in your garage. I got the feeling he’s having a hard time adjusting to retirement.
Ted,
The poor guy could put a hole in the Easter Bunny….jumpy, jumpy, jumpy!
Tom
Oh I like the menace at the end. I wonder what happens next. Great Story.
Atiya,
Thank you.
Tom
Oh I like this. Nice take on a difficult picture (at least I thought it was difficult)
Jackie,
Thank you so much. I enjoyed yours as well. I was reading through your other blog….sorta skimming it. I can’t wait until I have the time to read through the recipes. I will have to do it on a full stomach cause you made me so hungry the other night. I enjoyed the background of the different cultures and all the food. One of these nights that blog is going to blow up from comments by me so keep an eye out. Thanks so much for stopping by and for the kind comment.
Tom
Uh oh. Sounds like something evil is brewing here. Great job.
Shirley,
Evil is everywhere.
Tom
Dear Tom,
You captured the dyed in the wool habits of an old cop finding his balance in the world. lovely riff on life.
Aloha,
Doug
Doug,
Thanks. I heard you were playing Santa this week. What a cool thing to do for the kids. I hope all went well. I really enjoyed yours this week it remind me of one of the first writings I read of yours just a few short months ago. Your poetic talents are a gift even Santa would have a hard time leaving under the tree.
Tom