draliman on life

Here is my contribution to Roger’s first ever “Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner” challenge. The rules, in brief:

• Up to 200 words
• A beginning, middle and end (no serial stories)
• A photo and (optional) opening sentence are provided
• Content to be PG-13. It will be a new challenge not to include any hideous deaths in my writing 🙂

The supplied sentence is in italics in my story.

Click on the blue froggy for the other entries!

Image public domain free stock photo

Of all the places I thought I would end up on New Year’s Eve I can’t believe it’s here. I used to be somebody. I used to be a contender. Last New Year’s Eve I was in a boxing gym. I saw the greats. I was punched by pretty much anybody who was somebody.

Okay, so I’m a bunch of processed petrochemicals. I don’t get a choice of career.

But the boxing gym… Oh, the joy as a gloved fist smacked me hard. Those people knew how to live!

Whap – boing! – whap – boing!

Life doesn’t get any better than that.

And now I’ve been recycled as a bowling pin. I still get smacked in the face, but it’s not so personal any more, you know? Just a ball rolled down an aisle. There’s no finesse. No “up close and personal”. Trashed by a random unknown at long range. Oh, the dents I’ve suffered. The indignity of it all!

Here comes another one. It’s swerving, it going to miss me, it’s just gonna clip the edge… ouch! Tough luck, Chester, my fellow pin-at-arms. That had to hurt! Hey! No strike this time, loser. Loooserrrrr!