Home > Fiction > FF – Hard Times

FF – Hard Times

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers. Rochelle is our host and she also provided this week’s photo!

To read this week’s other stories, click on the blue froggy.

Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

 

Myron contemplated the dilapidated factories across the river. They used to be so busy, he mused. Back when there was money. No longer. Times were tough. With the closure of those factories, days of joy and laughter spent with his wife and son had become a hand-to-mouth existence.

Something had to give. Myron had taken action.

At least now there’s one less mouth to feed, he thought. As if on cue he saw a bundle being swept downriver.

“Samuel!” he yelled angrily. “Your mother’s floating off again. Fetch her back and this time use all your gym equipment to weigh her down!”

 

  1. inkbiotic
    March 16, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    Bizarre and funny, like it a lot. 🙂

    Like

    • March 16, 2016 at 8:53 pm

      I’m glad you liked it! There’s nothing better to break melancholy reflections of the past than your dead wife floating past 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • inkbiotic
        March 16, 2016 at 8:55 pm

        😀 I don’t think that will ever catch on as an aphorism

        Like

  2. March 16, 2016 at 8:43 pm

    She keeps floating to the top so she can rise up and drown him! LOL! Your dark humor is showing again, Ali! 😀

    Like

  3. March 16, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    I like when people fully comprehend the meaning of “sacrifice!” 😀

    Like

  4. March 16, 2016 at 9:04 pm

    I shouldn’t laugh… but I did….

    Like

  5. March 17, 2016 at 1:23 am

    Oh my gosh! This story should come with a warning! I almost spewed coffee on my computer when I read the last line. Thanks for the laugh – I think!

    Like

    • March 17, 2016 at 12:46 pm

      “Warning – likelihood of sudden switch to comedy for next 3 paragraphs” 🙂

      Like

  6. Lata Sunil
    March 17, 2016 at 3:15 am

    Funny.. dark. Good one.

    Like

  7. March 17, 2016 at 6:31 am

    Ha! That’s too mean!! BUT funny, nonetheless. 😀 😀 😀

    Like

    • March 17, 2016 at 12:48 pm

      Hee! Every dark story needs a bit of comedy in my world 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • March 18, 2016 at 2:12 am

        We’ll be looking for more of that from you, ALi! 😀

        Like

  8. gentlestitches
    March 17, 2016 at 7:14 am

    and ever one said they were such a nice, polite family! LOL!

    Like

    • March 17, 2016 at 12:48 pm

      But behind closed doors – murder most horrid 🙂

      Like

      • gentlestitches
        March 17, 2016 at 11:25 pm

        its the quiet ones you have to watch! 😀

        Like

  9. March 17, 2016 at 8:48 am

    Oh that made me laugh!

    Like

  10. March 17, 2016 at 9:27 am

    Savagely funny! 🙂

    Like

  11. March 17, 2016 at 9:49 am

    One of your more bizarre pieces again, Ali. Looks like another of your dark humor periods. I certainly hope for everyone’s sake these examples are from your imagination and not from real life. It’s those killer video games again I bet. Well written, though. 😀 — Suzanne

    Like

    • March 17, 2016 at 12:50 pm

      Comedy dialogue is taking a bit of a break while I revisit my dark comedy roots 🙂 Maybe I should play fewer video games. I’m glad you liked it!

      Like

  12. March 17, 2016 at 9:50 am

    Oh me oh my!
    I honestly didn’t want to believe he treated the situation so casually.
    He needs help
    😂😂dark humour well done.

    Like

    • March 17, 2016 at 12:50 pm

      Yeah, I think he’s a bit sociopathic 🙂
      I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. gahlearner
    March 17, 2016 at 3:39 pm

    This one’s had me coffee snort through my nose, so thank you very much. 😉 Great, I really ddn’t see that coming.

    Like

    • March 17, 2016 at 4:33 pm

      Oops 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it even after the coffee mishap 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  14. March 17, 2016 at 4:06 pm

    I also almost spit my coffee all over the place when I read that last line! Way to really surprise us!

    Like

    • March 17, 2016 at 4:39 pm

      There seem to be a lot of coffee accidents going round 🙂
      I’m glad you liked it!

      Like

  15. March 17, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Excellent! Immediate smile and appreciation. Well done!

    Like

    • March 17, 2016 at 7:46 pm

      Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Like

  16. March 17, 2016 at 7:39 pm

    I often wondered why when recession strikes a town goes quiet, now I know.

    Like

    • March 17, 2016 at 7:47 pm

      Yes, behind closed doors there’s a culling… 🙂

      Like

  17. March 17, 2016 at 8:00 pm

    He certainly took drastic action to ensure there was one less mouth to feed! Poor wifey. If I were Samuel, I’d be watching Myron like a hawk from now on. It could be him floating down the river next. Dark and funny – a great combination. 🙂

    Like

  18. March 17, 2016 at 9:49 pm

    i bet it was more than hunger that drove him. he was suffering from mid-life crisis and looking for a younger replacement. 🙂

    Like

  19. March 17, 2016 at 11:49 pm

    Seems like such a waste of good food. Surely cannibalism can’t be far behind!

    Like

    • March 18, 2016 at 7:49 am

      True, he missed a trick there! I can imagine him saying to his son, “Don’t come running to me telling me you’re hungry, you’re the one who refused to eat his mother.”

      Like

  20. March 18, 2016 at 12:55 am

    This is the third drowning in this week’s FF list and I have just been through 9 stories…what’s with you people? ha ha. Just joking. You made murder and a grim situation sound like a joke. Well done!

    Like

    • March 18, 2016 at 7:50 am

      That’s what you get when there’s a body of water in the photo 🙂
      I’m glad you liked it!

      Like

  21. March 18, 2016 at 6:35 am

    The mother? Oh, no! Brutal, Ali. Well told story.

    Like

    • March 18, 2016 at 7:52 am

      Thanks! Yes, sadly she made the ultimate sacrifice (though not willingly).

      Liked by 1 person

  22. mickwynn2013
    March 18, 2016 at 9:07 am

    Very funny. Thanks

    Like

  23. March 19, 2016 at 4:16 am

    Sounds like laudable action; one less mouth to feed and one less mouth to annoy him, I guess.

    Like

    • March 19, 2016 at 6:08 pm

      Yes. I’m thinking it was the “annoying” that sealed her fate, “one less mouth to feed” was just a bonus!

      Like

  24. March 19, 2016 at 9:24 am

    “your mother’s floating pasr again” is a great line

    Like

  25. March 19, 2016 at 2:42 pm

    Dear Ali,

    You have seriously wicked streak. Too funny.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Like

    • March 19, 2016 at 6:09 pm

      Dear Rochelle,
      I do! I’m glad you liked it!
      Ali

      Like

  26. March 19, 2016 at 9:33 pm

    I don’t know about this one. Mom’s deserve respect, after all they do have to put up with treacherous fathers.
    Myron best watch out. Sons do grow up to be just like their fathers. Ha!

    Like

  27. March 20, 2016 at 12:45 am

    Oh my….

    Like

  28. March 20, 2016 at 3:19 pm

    This reminds me of Hansel and Gretel…brutal way to get along!

    Like

  29. jellico84
    March 22, 2016 at 6:31 pm

    Oh, you are powerfully cruel this week, young man! (hear Mother’s tone). Excellent writing, as usual! So wicked! 🙂

    Like

    • March 22, 2016 at 7:00 pm

      Thanks 🙂 Yep, Myron seems to have few morals. Quite a nasty piece of work!

      Liked by 1 person

  30. March 23, 2016 at 6:42 pm

    That was such an unexpected ending! Excellent story, Ali. I love the dark humour. 🙂

    Like

    • March 24, 2016 at 7:57 am

      Thanks, when I’m stuck for an ending I find there’s always a dark one lurking around somewhere I can use!

      Liked by 1 person

  31. March 27, 2016 at 1:55 pm

    Horrible! I think that I broke my computer chair from laughing so hard!

    Like

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