Fred lifted the manuscript from the desk and leaned back in his chair. Ginger usually made him wait until her work was published before allowing him to read it. With a slight tremble of excitement he now held the first chapters of “Mort de Plume,” her work in progress. Fidgeting absent-mindedly with his Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Doué — a habit that Ginger detested — he turned to page one and began reading.
Some minutes later Ginger crossed the small office. She kissed the top of Fred’s head and stood behind him as he finished the last few pages.
“Well?” she asked with apparent nervousness.
“Well,” Fred took a deep breath, considering his words carefully. “Your style is as sharp as ever. But… this is a little different. You always kill someone in the first chapter. Always.”
“That’s right,” Ginger replied as she grabbed his pen and plunged it deep into his neck.
[Note: Learn more about Fred and Ginger here. ~Tim 6 Dec 2009]
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Let's do Something Cheap and Superficial 
Wow. You are a true artiste.
I want to remind you that I asked you to read my work, and you agreed. And I own a really nice fountain pen.
Just saying. . .
Maybe we should agree to stay on opposite sides of the desk? ~Tim
Wow! Did not see that coming!
Your first friday flash?
Very well done! Welcome!
Thanks so much for stopping by and for the kind words. ~Tim
Love it
You pack so much into so few words. Well done.
Thanks! ~Tim
I don’t know if I’ll think of Fred and Ginger again in quite the same way. I wondered why you’d used so many words, in the context of so few, describing the pen in German words – your denouement cleared that up and then some! Welcome to #fridayflash!
Thanks. I was afraid I was foreshadowing too much. ~Tim
No, you didn’t foreshadow too much. That caught me by surprise.
Wonderful! Welcome to #fridayflash.
Thanks! ~Tim
Great story!
Great impact with so few words.
Thanks! ~Tim
This did have a flash moment. well done.
Thanks! ~Tim
We’ll have to put a bell on you so I don’t have to worry about my carotid.
Or I just won’t let you stand behind me while I read.
Can I use the line “what a pain in the neck?”
I guess that would be “may I….”
[don't want to get in trouble with the teacher for my grammar]
nice job. Welcome to fridayflash!
Karen :0)
Yes you may call me a pain in the neck. I am. ~Tim
sacred chat!
I don’t know what this means, but thanks for stopping by. ~Tim
Quite an impact for such a short piece. Well done.
Welcome to #fridayflash.
~jon
Thank you. This is a lot of fun. ~Tim
Geez. And this was BEFORE the crit!
Nicely done — and welcome to #fridayflash
I’ve heard that everyone’s a critic. Apparently, some are more severe than others. ~Tim
Hehe, very good.
Although shouldn’t it be Mort de Plume and not Plum?
I think you are right; it should be “plume” and that’s fixed now. Thanks! ~Tim
Now that’s what I call flash! Great job. I, too, was wondering about the long description for the pen, would have never guessed how important that little thing was to the plot.
Welcome to fridayflash!!
I was afraid it was too much detail, but I like the way it figures in later. Thanks! ~Tim
You took it literally when Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Masterpiece is perhaps what she had in mind, but Mister-stuck is what she accomplished. Nicely written flash.
Jeff Posey
You mean some people take that figuratively? ~Tim
To reply to your comment that replied to my comment:
I am as stealthy as a lemur and I can fling myself across a desk. Just saying. Never tempt the vaguely homicidal!
I love happy endings. Heehee. Welcome to #Fridayflash!
Me too! ~Tim
An abruptly surprising ending that served well to hold together this short but enjoyable piece!
Thanks! ~Tim
Wowowo!!!!! I want to read more! I had to read it several times because it was so graphic. What is Fridayflash and were can I read more of this? Is this just an excerpt? or are you developing this in to a thriller novel?
I like the scene I have here enough that I will probably add to it, but I’m working on a couple other projects too. There are some really great writers in the Friday Flash group. A list of links to all participants is posted at Mad Utopia every week. ~Tim