Every week, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (thank you, Rochelle!) hosts a flash fiction challenge, to write a complete story, based on a photoprompt, with a beginning, middle and end, in 100 words or less. Post it on your blog, and include the Photoprompt and Inlinkz on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!
PHOTO PROMPT © C E Ayr
Bum deal
The streetlights were yellowed by the onrushing dawn as Tony, groundsman of the Paradiso Marina, parked his scooter in its designated parking bay. He doffed his helmet and strolled to the big campervan. He yawned. It had been a busy night, both profitable, if not strictly legal, and pleasurable, if not strictly monogamous.
Why was the campervan here, by the Sopranos’ mooring? He would have to move them on before nine o’ clock.
He hammered on the door, then noticed the hissing and the smell of gas.
“Shit!”
The explosion of the campervan was heard all over the town.
Autumn Leaves 
Well. He wasn’t a good man. Karma
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Neil
Thank you for reading and commenting. He wasn’t a good man, but I should imagine there’ll be plenty to weep at his funeral…
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
Just when he thought his luck was in. It’s always the way!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Iain
Thank you for reading and commenting. If you swim with sharks, as Tony did, you run the risk of being gobbled up!
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
That way of going, a fiery explosion….. is not a way way to go Penny, …..flames and explosions are engulfing our land at the moment…….xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Ivor
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. I hope you’re not in harms way with the terrible bush fires. It sounds dreadful.
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Penny …Geelong is a safe area….just a bit smokey these days…..xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Penny,
It looks like Tony had other things on his schedule than taking care of the grounds. What a way to go. Well written…explosive even. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Rochelle
Thank you for reading and for your kind comments. Tony was a man of many talents, but honesty, empathy and continence were not among them.
Shalom
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, I didn’t see that twist coming. It went off with a bang.
Never know when time is up.
Great job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Tannille
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you felt the twist went off with a bang. TBH I don’t think I got the foreshadowing quite right – the twist was a bit too abrupt.
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hard to do within 100 words.
LikeLike
Well at least he had an enjoyable last night. Happy New Year, Penny.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Sandra
Thank you for reading and commenting. An enjoyable night and then going out with a bang…
Happy New Year to you, too, Sandra.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have said it before, Sandra, for such a nice lady you have a really nasty (and funny) streak!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like he was “not monogamous” with the wrong person 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Ali
Thank you for reading and commenting. You may well be right – Tony’s philandering may have been the cause of his death. That, or his drug dealing anyway!
With best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
A bit of off-piste dalliance doesn’t deserve such a grisly end,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Liz
Thank you for reading and commenting. I agree that Tony’s end was rather spectacular for a bit of off-piste dalliance.
With best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
I’m sure the story won’t end there! Nice one Penny.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Keith
Thank you for reading and commenting. Drug-related murders have a tendency to escalate into vendettas, don’t they?
With best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear. That brutal end took me by surprise. I didn’t think ‘not quite legal’ and ‘not quite monogamous’ would merit such an end, but who knows…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Gabi
Thank you for reading and for your helpful comment. I’m sure you’re right – there isn’t adequate foreshadowing to justify the explosive finale. Changing ‘not quite legal’ to ‘illegal’ would probably help by upping the ante a little. I don’t know – I wasn’t sufficiently focused on what I was trying to do.
I’m really grateful for your constructive criticism – thank you!
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
If the Mafia was involved, that would explain a lot, but I wasn’t sure. The name Soprano hints at it, I know there was a TV show, but I never watched it. I suck at pop culture references. Or maybe some enraged mafia spouse…
LikeLiked by 1 person
poor chap, it was karma striking back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Plaridel
Thank you for reading and commenting. Karma, or the local mafia – or both!
With best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Evidently, he took care of more than just the grounds. I’m sure there’ll be many who miss him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Russell
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, Tony took care of his friends – and his enemies. There was a massive turnout at his funeral…
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
Not the expected ending to a “profitable and pleasurable” day for Tony. It’s possible he ticked off the wrong person in his pursuits. Entertaining tale, Penny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Brenda
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Yes, you’re right – the mafia were very annoyed at Tony’s drug dealing on their patch; and his resistance to hints that he should stop immediately!
I’m glad you found the tale entertaining.
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
Looks like Tony has unwittingly stumbled on a Mafia hit. Unexpected ending,.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear James
Thank you for reading and commenting. Indeed, Tony seems to have been terminated by the Mafia.
With best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not a ‘happy camper’ sort of a place to be sure. Nicely written Penny.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Francine
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, I don’t expect the Paradiso’s image was helped by the explosion.
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
Was he so bad as to deserve such an explosive ending? I kinda feel for him. You made him sound like a likeable cad…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Dale
Thank you for reading and commenting. You’re right – he’s too nice for the explosive end. I needed to have made more of his drug dealing to make it more convincing. Thank you for the very useful constructive criticism – it’s really appreciated!
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
He feels like one of those crooks you root for, like Tony Soprano. You know you’re not supposed to but you can’t help it 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Penny, outstanding tale. I love every detail, especially what the manager had been up to and whose spot the RV was parked at.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Jade
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you loved the details!
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome, Penny.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seems there is a proliferation of dead Tonys this week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear CE
Thank you for reading and commenting. Tony must be an unlucky name this week!
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
Well that’s one way to go out with a bang!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Dawn
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, it was something of a pyrotechnic exit!
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds like Tony have made some unwise choices… was it the infidelity or the illegality that caught up with him?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Bjorn
Thank you for reading and commenting. You ask a good question. My guess would be illegal drug dealing on someone else’s patch – it’s rather an elaborate assassination for a jealous husband to organise!
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
Very nicely told, I enjoyed how you put so much into this story, it went with a good bang
LikeLike
Dear Michael
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the detail in the story.
With best wishes
Penny
LikeLike