Fred tapped his favorite Montblanc pen absent-mindedly while staring at the monitor. He had used the pen as a murder weapon once. Today, it was just a distraction. Ginger breezed in carrying a tray. He loved her dearly, but disliked ever having his work time interrupted. Even unproductive work time like this.
“Have some tea, dear,” she said while pouring the hot liquid. With a sigh, he rolled his chair away from the desk and accepted the cup. “It’s almond and honey flavored,” Ginger continued. “Something new!” She grinned and breathed in the steam from her cup. Then her brow furrowed. “Fred, I’m worried about you.”
“Worried? Why?” He sipped the tea and tried to hide a grimace.
“You kill someone every week.”
“I write murder mysteries. That’s not the same as really killing someone.”
“I’m afraid it just keeps your head in that frame of mind. It colors everything else you do.”
“I don’t understand. What frame of mind?”
“You seem sad all the time. Your stories are all so sad.”
“Sad? The killer is always brought to justice in the end.”
“But only after terrible things have happened to people first.”
“Not innocent people. The people that die in my stories all deserve to die.”
“You really believe that some people deserve to die?”
“In my stories? Absolutely.”
“How about in real life? Drink up, sweetie. It’s good for you!”
“Well, yeah, but I’m glad I don’t have to decide about them.” He gulped down another mouthful.
“But someone has to decide?”
“Ginger, what’s really bothering you?”
“I’ve decided. You’re leaving me.”
“What? Sweetheart, I’m not going anywhere. What makes you think I’m leaving you?”
“I don’t think. I know. You’ll be dead soon.”
“Dead?”
“Yes, Fred. Dead. Poisoned.”
His tea cup shattered on the floor.
[Note: Learn more about Fred and Ginger here. ~Tim 6 Dec 2009]
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Let's do Something Cheap and Superficial 
I can hear the cup fall! Dear me poor Fred. I enjoyed the to and fro.
Thanks. It was fun to write the to and fro. ~Tim
Oh wow! First, I loved the nod to “Fred and Ginger.” I liked how you used dialogue to move the story along.
At first, I debated if he stabbed someone in the neck with the pen — or if he was a writer.
I like the weighty commentary about the decisions writers make when they kill their characters.
All around — great stuff!!
Thanks! I often use Fred and Ginger in my flash fiction. The use of the pen refers to an earlier piece. And, oddly, I rarely feel any remorse for killing one of my characters. ~Tim
Use of dialogue was quite well done!
Poor Fred…that Ginger was certainly very twisty.
Nice job with the last sentence saying so much with an image!
Thanks! In an earlier draft I had a couple sentences following the crash of the cup. I like this ending better. ~Tim
Ha! Nice job. A fair (and fitting, especially after NaNoWriMo) warning to writers who overly neglect those who love them, perhaps? I really enjoyed it.
Thanks! Maybe I’ll repost this just before next year’s NaNoWriMo. [grin] ~Tim
Haha! I too could hear the cup shatter, and got a great mental image of the look on his face
Thanks! It’s interesting that the cup must land at his feet but it’s his face that I keep picturing too. ~Tim
Haha! Love it…I think…I write horror and kill people every week…
I’m making my own tea from now on!
Maybe we can hire food tasters? ~Tim
Some much awesomeness packed into a tiny space. Pretty much a perfect flash!
Pretty much perfect? Thanks! ~Tim
A new murder mystery is popping up. Good story!
Thanks! ~Tim
Aw come on Tim! He didn’t see that coming?
lol….. ever since The little girl who lived down the lane I won’t touch flavored tea.
Enjoyed the story [to borrow David's word] “muchly”
Karen :0)
Fred certainly should have seen it coming, but he was rather self-involved. ~Tim
I really like the idea that the murder mystery writer kills on a regular basis. Been there, done that.
Good work.
Thanks! And we don’t need to feel guilty! ~Tim
Hmm…surprised her distractions from his work hadn’t driven HIM to murder. (Lol. I just feel that way sometimes when I get interrupted…) Like the back and forth of the dialogue (oh, the dance…Fred and Ginger)–went back and read the link “murder weapon.” Just who is this many-lived Fred and…who writes the stories?
Thanks! I’ve added a page about Fred and Ginger here. ~Tim
And there I was thinking she was going to top him with his Mont Blanc
It has been known to happen. ~Tim
Being an avid tea drinker, myself — something told me that Fred would die the minute his lips touched the tea cup It may have been the grimace. Nicely written dialog!
Thanks! I was afraid that grimace might give away the ending too soon, but the story didn’t feel right without any reaction there. It’s all compromise, right? ~Tim
Crikey!
superb example of what flashfiction should be
Thanks! ~Tim