Rob Kitchin's Blog, page 5
April 3, 2022
Jealousy
The policeman sighed and lent back.
‘Let me guess, he stole your boyfriend.’
‘No.’
‘She made eyes at him?’
‘I don’t have a boyfriend.’
‘So, you ransacked her apartment and sabotaged her audition for no reason?’
‘He chose her instead of me.’
‘So, it was over a man.’
‘No. Yes. A role. It was to work with him.’
‘So, now neither of you have him, someone else has the part, and you’ve lost your best friend.’
‘She has him.’
‘And you have nothing.’
‘It should have been me.’
‘You could have been happy for her.’
‘She could have dropped dead.’
A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.
March 26, 2022
Last stand
‘How you doing, Sam?’
The filthy sleeping bag rolled over.
‘Sam?’
‘Fuck off, I’m sleeping.’
‘It’d be warmer in the shelter … Sam? Why’re you doing this to yourself?’
‘No judgements; didn’t they tell you that in the training?’
‘I’m concerned about you.’
‘I don’t need your pity.’
‘It isn’t pity, Sam.’
‘Fuck off, do-gooder.’
‘It’s already below freezing.’
‘I’m fine here.’
‘It’s going snow later.’
‘Then I’ll make myself an igloo.’
‘Not before hypothermia sets in.’
‘Then I guess that’s how I’ll go.’
‘I can’t leave you here, Sam.’
‘Then it’ll be my last stand; you and the weather.’
A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.
March 20, 2022
Punchline
Mark entered the coffee shop, looking perplexed.
‘Well?’
‘She asked me for a date.’
‘And?’
‘And what?’
‘What did you say?’
‘I … I … Why would she ask me for a date?’
‘She likes you?’
‘That makes no sense.’
‘Yeah, but stranger things have happened.’
‘She could literally date anyone; I’m a certified loser.’
‘But a nice loser.’
‘A loser’s a loser.’
‘So you’re going to turn her down?’
‘Probably safer than waiting for the punchline.’
‘What if there’s no punchline?’
‘We both know there’s going to be a punchline.’
‘Yeah.’
‘Yeah.’
‘But it’d be cool if there wasn’t.’
A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.
March 13, 2022
Sit-it-out family
We coasted past a disused factory, then some abandoned office buildings surrounded by weeds.
‘What a waste,’ my father muttered.
‘Wonder what happened to everyone?’ my sister asked.
‘Left to seek a better life, or just trying to cling on to their old one.’
‘And us?’
‘There are those that leave, those that fight, trying to revive a place, and those that just sit it out. We were born and raised here. Its home, but there’s no point fighting a battle that can’t be won. Not unless you’re a billionaire.’
‘We’re a sit-it-out family?’
‘Where would we go?’
‘To Momma?’
A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.
March 5, 2022
Voice of an angel
Anna held the note not wanting the moment to end.
She opened her eyes to find all four chairs turned.
Panic blossomed in her chest.
‘I’m sorry.’
She turned and fled the stage.
* * *
‘Is Anna okay?’
‘She’s resting,’ the woman said. ‘It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have entered her.’
‘You’re her aunt?’
‘Yes; her guardian. She’s seventeen, shy, awkward. I thought this might … she thinks it’ll make the bullying worse.’
‘She’s the voice of an angel. She could win this.’
‘Please don’t broadcast her bit.’
‘But …’
‘I’m begging you.’
‘People will flock to her side.’
A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.
February 26, 2022
One strike and out
‘You have to help me, Janie.’
‘She told you what would happen.’
‘I didn’t kiss her! She kissed me.’
‘And you kissed her back.’
‘I didn’t.’
‘How long did the kiss last?’
‘A few seconds.’
‘It should have been milliseconds.’
‘But it meant nothing. You have to talk to Chrissy. Tell her.’
‘She doesn’t do second chances.’
‘I’ve tried calling, texting, emailing. She won’t even listen.’
‘And she won’t. That’s her rule. One strike and out. If you cheat, use violence, or give away her secrets you’re history.’
‘Come-on, Janie.’
‘No way; it applies as much to me as you.’
A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.
February 20, 2022
Into a corner
‘I wondered when you’d show up.’
‘You slept with her?’
‘Yes.’
‘When you knew …’
‘No. Look, the answer’s no. You backed her into a corner, that’s why she lied.’
‘I did what she wanted; I proposed.’
‘She wants to marry the old you. The one before you gave up your dream.’
‘But I did that for her.’
‘She wants you to seek your dream. She’d no choice but to end it. She’d hate herself and you’d probably come to hate her too.’
‘But …’
‘Your dream is her dream. You need to find a way to do it together.’
A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.
February 13, 2022
Once is almost the same as never
‘You’re awake. You want coffee?’
‘Please.’
Sandra disappeared from the doorway.
‘About last night …’
‘Yeah?’ Gary answered, tugging on his shirt.
‘I don’t usually … I guess …’
‘You’ve buyer’s remorse?’
‘No, no … I just … could we keep it a secret?’
Sandra reappeared and held out a cup.
‘Pretend it never happened?’
‘I don’t want our colleagues to … well, you know.’
‘Okay.’ Gary smiled ruefully.
‘I don’t mean it never happened. Just …’
‘Yeah, I know. It was a mistake.’
‘No.’
‘But it’ll remain once?’
‘I ...’
‘Don’t worry, once is almost the same as never.’
A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.
February 5, 2022
Mutual destruction
‘You need to be careful with Mac, he’ll destroy you both.’
‘He’ll be fine.’
‘You don’t know him, Cassie. He’ll put himself through hell to make sure you go there.’
‘What?’
‘When we were nine he added peanut oil to a stir-fry knowing we were both allergic. He nearly killed us.’
‘Seriously?’
‘He’ll endure any pain to realise your worst fear. And he hates you right now.’
‘I don’t …’
‘Imagine your biggest secret. One that you’d die to keep hidden. You know his and its worse. He’ll still reveal yours to make you suffer. I mean it; be careful.’
A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.
January 30, 2022
First love
Brendan did a double-take and halted.
‘My God, Cathy! I was just talking about you last week.’
‘All bad, no doubt.’
She was already backing away.
‘We were discussing first love.’
‘I haven’t seen you, for what, five years, and the first thing you bring up is that.’
‘What?’
‘When I confessed and you humiliated me in front of the whole class.’
‘That was a misunderstanding.’
‘I was ridiculed for months.’
‘I said you were my first love.’
‘Are you recording this?’
‘I meant it.’
‘Well, you had a chance and you blew it.’
‘But I was …’
‘No. Never.’
A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.
