“Fiction In A Flash Challenge” Week #14

Linda walked into the local store—to chat with Carrie and confirm plans for later.

“Hey Carrie, still done at five? Dinner and shopping remember?”

“Yes, I’ll be ready to go at five.”

“Great.” Linda walked to the chip aisle. After staring at the shelves, she decided on Red Hot Chips. On the way to the counter, she grabbed a bottle of water and a sour cream doughnut.

She was third in line, behind an elderly man and a hot looking guy. The elderly man didn’t have enough cash and was trying to decide what to put back. He looked as though he needed what he had, she had to help.

“Look mister, you have to put something back. I can’t wait all day. If you knew you didn’t have the money, you shouldn’t have grabbed so much stuff.” She crossed her arms. “Well…”

Linda couldn’t believe how she treated that man. Cassie would never behave like that. What a jerk. She stepped in front of the hot guy and asked, “How much does he need?”

“He’s two dollars and sixty-five cents short.”

Linda threw a five on the counter. “Here. Keep the change in case anyone else needs it.” Unbelievable. She placed her items on the counter and headed for the door.

The old man stopped her. “Thank you.”

“I’m sorry she behaved like that. I’ve had that happen to me too, and there’s no call for that.”

A tear formed in the corner of his eye. He thanked her again and left the store with his small bag of groceries.

Before Linda got out the door Carrie came running up. “I saw what happened. Val was out of line. I’ll make sure our boss knows what happened. See you at five.”

Linda looked over her shoulder and saw the people around the cash register, especially the hot guy. Oh well, she’d probably never see him again anyway. No need to worry about what he thought.

Linda pulled in a few minutes early. Only a couple more minutes and Cassie would be done. She looked at her watch as Cassie ran out the door.

“Change of plans. We’re going to the 315 Ocean’s concert.”

“Seriously. Don’t mess with me. You know I tried to get tickets and they were sold out.”

“Well, we’re going.” She waved the tickets. “Now drive. Oh, I also have a parking pass. We got primo parking too.”

“How—”

“Don’t worry about it, just drive.”

Linda smiled and floored it. They got to the arena and parked. Primo parking for sure. Once inside the ticket taker showed them to a private suite.

“A private suite? How did you get these tickets?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, we got backstage passes too.”

“Cassie—”

“Just enjoy the concert.”

The concert had everyone on their feet. Ray McQuaid, the lead singer, really put on a show. Once he started singing Home Sweet Home the crowd went wild. The only thing that would make this concert any better would be performing her favorite song, My Demons.

Ray raised the mic after finishing and took a bow. Wow, he was hot.

“I’d like to acknowledge a special person. Someone that took the time to help a man in need. Linda Kiner.”

Linda’s mouth dropped. “Is he talking about me?”

“Yep.”

“But how?”

“He was the hot guy in line behind the man you gave the money to.”

“That’s—”

“He asked me about you after you left, and I told him about you. He left and came back with the tickets, and passes. You really made an impression on him.”

She couldn’t believe it. An impression. On Ray McQuaid. She didn’t even know it was him. Wow. Today was her lucky day. One small act of kindness. This is something she wouldn’t forget.

A familiar chord. Her favorite song, My Demons. He played her favorite song. After he finished, he thrust him arm in the air. Bowed and left the stage. And she had backstage passes. Her lucky day indeed.

The Rules:

Each week Soooz features an image and invites you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

Please put your piece (or a link to it) in a comment on Soooz’s blog or email it to her by 4:00 pm EDT on Thursday, August 20.

Subject: Fiction in a Flash Challenge. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to Soooz’s blog page would be much appreciated.

She will be sharing all entries received, and, her own contribution on her blog beginning on Friday, August 14.