May 27, 2022 1:54 pm
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.
Posted by draliman
Categories: Fiction
Tags: flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers
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Perhaps he could stock tactical battlefield thermonuclear weapons too
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By neilmacdon on May 27, 2022 at 2:32 pm
Hey, yeah, I’ll pass that on.
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By draliman on May 29, 2022 at 3:53 pm
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. 🙂
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By Bill on May 27, 2022 at 3:36 pm
I hear some patrons who ask for a “pineapple” are disappointed through miscommunication 🙂
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By draliman on May 29, 2022 at 3:53 pm
🙂
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By Bill on May 29, 2022 at 5:09 pm
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.
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By msjadeli on May 27, 2022 at 5:44 pm
Yes, we’re good at that.
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By draliman on May 29, 2022 at 3:55 pm
Humans can rationalize just about anything to fit their mindset. 😦
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By magickmermaid on May 27, 2022 at 6:43 pm
Yes, we’re “good” like that 😦
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By draliman on May 29, 2022 at 3:58 pm
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.
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By oneta hayes on May 27, 2022 at 10:27 pm
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.
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By draliman on May 29, 2022 at 4:00 pm
And there’s always another Jed to replace that Jed. 😞
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By Ninja Pink Sex on May 27, 2022 at 10:50 pm
Yep 😦
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By draliman on May 29, 2022 at 4:01 pm
The fact it is that easy to buy a gun along with the groceries… America is an insane place on many things!
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By Iain Kelly on May 27, 2022 at 11:25 pm
Makes me shudder.
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By draliman on May 29, 2022 at 4:02 pm
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.
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By James McEwan on May 28, 2022 at 8:11 am
Mine too.
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By draliman on May 29, 2022 at 4:02 pm
Very topical, and very good!
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By Peter's pondering on May 28, 2022 at 1:18 pm
Yes, and thanks!
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By draliman on May 29, 2022 at 4:03 pm
Hard to imagine that happening here, but it would come as no surprise across the pond.
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By Keith's Ramblings on May 28, 2022 at 3:14 pm
For sure.
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By draliman on May 29, 2022 at 4:04 pm
it makes me wonder where the world is going when one can buy a gun even at a fruit stand on the street.
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By plaridel on May 28, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Nowhere good, I’m thinking.
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By draliman on May 30, 2022 at 5:49 am
Dear Ali,
It’s sad that assault rifles are so easily bought. Thought provoking story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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By rochellewisoff on May 29, 2022 at 12:38 pm
Dear Rochelle,
It is. Thanks!
Ali
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By draliman on May 29, 2022 at 4:05 pm
A timely story with a ring of truth. Unfortunately, it is that easy. Awful happenings in the US.
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By Brenda's Thoughts on May 29, 2022 at 7:06 pm
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.
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By Margaret on May 29, 2022 at 11:56 pm
Thanks, very true.
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By draliman on May 30, 2022 at 3:08 pm
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?
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By GHLearner on May 31, 2022 at 10:06 pm
One wonders what goes through the minds of these people.
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By draliman on June 1, 2022 at 5:48 am
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.
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By notestowomen on May 31, 2022 at 10:32 pm
Just a passing thought, a pang of conscience perhaps.
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By draliman on June 1, 2022 at 5:49 am
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.🤔
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By Americaoncoffee on July 31, 2022 at 7:55 am
I’ve seen more and more fiction become reality over the past little while.
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By draliman on July 31, 2022 at 3:42 pm
I’m wondering, what if the flip was the opposite.🤔
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By Americaoncoffee on July 31, 2022 at 8:12 pm