MFTS – Rags to Riches
Here is my contribution for Barbara Beacham’s Mondays Finish the Story. We get a photo, an opening sentence and then we have 100-150 words to finish the story.
I had a story all written, about a woman who’s had a terrible life and decides to drown herself, then changes her mind, swims back towards shore and gets eaten by a shark (ha ha ha) but you’ll be pleased to hear I changed my mind and wrote this one instead.
For this week’s other contributions, click on the little blue froggy. In my story, the supplied opening sentence is in bold.
Arriving at the beach, she reflected on her life. A tough childhood. Orphaned. In and out of trouble. Never fitting in, never belonging. She’d grown hard. Bitter. Always putting herself first. Because she had to. Because she needed to survive.
That was before David. Sweet David. Gentle David. David, who wouldn’t think twice before throwing himself under a bus to save a small furry animal in distress.
New husband David. Rich David. Gullible David. She couldn’t believe how easy it had been to talk him out of the pre-nup. “Davey, honey, love’s forever. We’re forever.”
She imagined tomorrow’s headlines. “Wealthy philanthropist David Gear dies in tragic boating accident while on honeymoon. New wife inconsolable.” She’d better work on inconsolable, she thought. The way he’d thrashed about as the sharks had ripped him apart made her smile. It had reminded her of the way he made love. Ineffectually.
She pinched herself to make her eyes water, then walked back to the hotel to face the Press.
I love a happy ending. Well fed sharks, well-heeled widow. Doesn’t get better than that.
LikeLike
Yeah, and that David sounded like a bit of a wet blanket anyway, so all’s well that ends well.
LikeLike
Eh, murder & mayhem. For money. Sharks, unless hungry or confused, aren’t going to go after humans, though. From what I know.
LikeLike
I guess it was hungry and smelled the blood. I’m sure there have been shark attacks on humans in the past, or so it implied in the excellent documentary film series “Jaws” 🙂
LikeLike
Wow…. Glad I never had a date with her!
LikeLike
Lucky escape!
LikeLike
Got me with that one Ali! A black widow! Loved the tale! Thanks for writing again for this challenge and hope that you continue on…I appreciate you! Be well… ^..^
LikeLike
I’m glad you liked it! I only hope she now has enough money not to need to do this again with another poor chap 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The black widow stories are fun to write. Who knows if she will do it again. Maybe I have a photo to go with the black widow theme!
LikeLike
Yeah! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like your style and enjoyed this story. Well written – as usual 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, I’m glad you liked my tale of dark betrayal 🙂
LikeLike
Glad you decided to go with the happy ending story. 🙂
DJ
LikeLike
You know me 🙂
LikeLike
what a brilliant ending, content and photo…
LikeLike
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLike
Hard-hearted indeed. I hope David’s ghost comes back to haunt her. Serves her right. Where is Sherlock Holmes when you need him? I see your dack muse took over, Ali. 😀 — Suzanne
LikeLike
Yeah, I went all dark this week 🙂
Poor David, he seemed like such a nice guy. Maybe there will be a Sherlock Holmes type on the case who smells a rat…
LikeLike
That’s supposed to be “dark” muse in the last sentence. 😦
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Pretty cold on that beach! Well done.
LikeLike
She’s a cold an calculating one, certainly. Thanks!
LikeLike
She’s a nasty piece of work, it obviously doesn’t pay to be a nice guy.
LikeLike
He deserved a kindred spirit rather than this nasty piece of work.
LikeLike
This will provide plenty of good fodder for the tabloids for years to come. Especially once the trial of the century begins….
LikeLike
Yeah, one of those high-profile ones with top lawyers, mud-slinging, bribes (allegedly) and all the trimmings!
LikeLike
To be taken for the ride of a lifetime ~ A very short lifetime indeed! ~ I grieve for the family and the poor lawyers when she is in court ~ Well done Ali 🙂
LikeLike
She’s hoping to avoid charges, but I suspect she hasn’t been as clever as she thinks. Glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful story woven in a few words…kudos…you nailed the challenge.
LikeLike
Thanks, I’m glad you liked my “black widow” story 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are exceedingly wicked. But you know that, don’t you? (Love it!)
LikeLike
Yeah! I have fun with my fiction 🙂
LikeLike
Oh I know it’s fiction!…
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
All that for being ineffectual ? Wicked story of a remorseless black widow. Nicely done.
LikeLike
A woman’s gotta do what a woman’s gotta do 🙂
Glad you liked it!
LikeLike
“The way he’d thrashed about as the sharks had ripped him apart made her smile. It had reminded her of the way he made love. Ineffectually.” That’s brutal – says so much about the character. There’s a lot of story in there. Excellent work!
LikeLike
She’s cold and dark through and through. No compassion there at all. I hope she enjoys the money!
Glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wickedly hilarious! Your commenters are always a good read too. Loved the first comment.
HaHaHaHa! 😀
LikeLike
You’re a good bunch, my commenters 🙂
Glad you liked it!
LikeLike
OMG! What a cold-hearted witch. I love how you lead the reader through her tough life and then her David, from sweet to gullible. Loved the description of him fighting the sharks like he made love. Well done!
LikeLike
Thanks! Yes, she’s cold through and through. I think even if she’d had a happy childhood she’d still wouldn’t have been a very nice person.
Glad you liked it!
LikeLike
I love the happy ending! Poor David, marrying such a cold woman. At least the sharks are well fed! Great story. 🙂
LikeLike
I hope he gets justice, it depends on how clever she’s been…
Glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it when a plan comes to together!! Now to see if she can keep up the lies. Wonderful story!
LikeLike
I get the impression she’ll have no bother keeping the lies going. I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLike
Can we have the eaten by the Sharks story next week? 😛 gotta love a femme fatale story, and this is a great example!
LikeLike
The original story was very sad for the poor woman 😦 This one was very sad for David, though 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I prefer this version :p
LikeLike
That’s what’s wrong with this world. All the good ones die. LOL
LikeLike
He was too good for this world 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL Yes, I guess he was.
LikeLike
Sometimes too good is too bad just like too much sweet is harmful. Now she’ll have a pretty good life. I hope she sees the ghost. 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, I was trying to paint him as “too good” – I would imagine most people would get fed up with him after a while!
LikeLike
Never trust a woman, huh?
LikeLike
Certainly not that woman!
LikeLiked by 1 person