FF – Jed’s Extras
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Brenda Cox.

Old Jed sat at his fruit-n-veg shack. He loved it. No-one much came by, but it was a quiet life.
A van drew to a halt, throwing up a cloud of dust.
“Alright, mate!”
“Good morning,” answered Jed. “What’ll it be?”
“I’ll have… a punt of strawberries and a bag of potatoes. Oh, and…” the man looked around “… an AR-15 assault rifle.”
“Right y’are,” said Jed, fetching the items.
Sometimes he wondered what people did with the guns he sold, but it wasn’t really his problem. After all, guns didn’t kill people. People killed people.
Usually with his guns.
Categories: Fiction
flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers
Perhaps he could stock tactical battlefield thermonuclear weapons too
LikeLike
Hey, yeah, I’ll pass that on.
LikeLike
And then there are the pineapples with pins to be pulled and seven second timers. 🙂 I’ve heard he also sells jugs of rum on the side. 🙂
LikeLike
I hear some patrons who ask for a “pineapple” are disappointed through miscommunication 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love how you turned the story. One of human nature’s worst attributes is how it can rationalize just about anything, no matter how harmful.
LikeLike
Yes, we’re good at that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Humans can rationalize just about anything to fit their mindset. 😦
LikeLike
Yes, we’re “good” like that 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like he thought what he was doing was illegal. But he did it anyway. Was it illegal? I don’t know but I know it didn’t stop the sale.
LikeLike
There aren’t many countries where the sale of under-the-counter military-grade weaponry is legal, so I reckon he’s a black market arms dealer.
LikeLike
And there’s always another Jed to replace that Jed. 😞
LikeLike
Yep 😦
LikeLike
The fact it is that easy to buy a gun along with the groceries… America is an insane place on many things!
LikeLike
Makes me shudder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jed understands his customer’s needs, and shares their moral justifications. I think the perception that; guns don’t kill people, people kill people…is the weakest excuse every. Guns were invented and developed for killing, having a gun encourages killing and does not deter. Just my view.
LikeLike
Mine too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very topical, and very good!
LikeLike
Yes, and thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hard to imagine that happening here, but it would come as no surprise across the pond.
LikeLike
For sure.
LikeLike
it makes me wonder where the world is going when one can buy a gun even at a fruit stand on the street.
LikeLike
Nowhere good, I’m thinking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Ali,
It’s sad that assault rifles are so easily bought. Thought provoking story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Dear Rochelle,
It is. Thanks!
Ali
LikeLike
A timely story with a ring of truth. Unfortunately, it is that easy. Awful happenings in the US.
LikeLike
Sadly, it seems it’s just that easy to acquire weapons in some places, and also sadly, it seems that ‘not my problem’ is a common attitude. Well told truths, and an engaging story.
LikeLike
Thanks, very true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bitter and timely story. I can’t understand the insanity either. If it’s not the guns but the people, what does that tell us about the people?
LikeLike
One wonders what goes through the minds of these people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s interesting how he wonders what people do with the guns he sells them and then, thinks that it really isn’t his problem.
LikeLike
Just a passing thought, a pang of conscience perhaps.
LikeLike
Our world is definitely changing. Seems as though the future is fast approaching and there are hints of disappearing produce and the ban on firearms. Your fiction is a reality.🤔
LikeLike
I’ve seen more and more fiction become reality over the past little while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m wondering, what if the flip was the opposite.🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person