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 © J HARDY CARROLL
Down the drain
I had packed my things carefully into my locker when Myers from Personnel materialised.
“Okay. Open it.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
“I think you should tell me why.”
“We can do this the easy way, or I can call in the factory manager. Your choice.”
I fumbled the key, dropped it. Myers clicked his tongue against his teeth. I opened the locker.
Myers rummaged behind my clothes and pulled out a flask of bourbon. We both looked at it, then he poured away the liquor.
The heady fumes tormented me.
“You’ve no right…” I began.
“Next time you’ll be fired.”
Autumn Leaves 
Caught red-handed and you capture the moment from his perspective cleverly! He’s lucky to be given another chance from Myers.
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Yes, I think he’s busted! As you say, he’s lucky to get a second chance. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
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I wondered what her next step was
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Well, she’s had a lucky escape. It would be nice to think she’ll seek help for her alcohol problem but I’m not confident she will.
Thanks for your comment.
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Well, I don’t know what his job is, but I think, he’s been treated gently. Sometimes people’s lives are on the line. Keep your inebriation out of the factory …
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You are absolutely right, Na’ama. It’s lucky Myers didn’t smell alcohol on his breath or he’d have been out of the door. You’re right; booze and manufacturing plant are a lethal mix. Thanks for the penetrating comment.
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Great response and fun piece, Penny! 🙂 While some accidents are hard to avoid, some can be … and must be … So, yeah, bye-bye alcohol on the job! 😉
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I like Myers giving them a second chance. I hope it’s enough of a warning.
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I like that you you used a non-gendered pronoun for the MC! It should be enough of a warning, but somehow I doubt it will be. We’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed…Thanks for the nice comment!
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Besides, as the others say, Myers being treated gently, I hope the company has a help program Myers can use – someone drinking at work usually has a much bigger problem and needs help fixing it….
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Yes, you’re right. Alcohol abuse is often either the cause of other problems, or the result of them. Thank you for the thoughtful comment.
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Ouch, I hope that wasn’t top-shelf spirits. Jesting aside, strong story Penny. Many people are turning to alcohol to cope with life.
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Thank you for your kind comment, Tannille. I suspect it was a decent branded liquor.
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As a former HR Manager, I once gave someone a second chance after he committed a dismissable offence. Years after I left that company he was made redundant, and a few weeks later he returned to commit suicide on the company car park. I’m so glad I did, and so sorry for the person who selected him for redundancy. You brought all that up with this tightly written, understated tale, Penny. Well done.
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Thank you for your very kind comment. What a very sad story about the man who took his own life after being made redundant. Redundancy is horrid; I went through it twice. But there’s always other opportunities.
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Dear Penny,
I’d say the MC had it coming. But I also hope she gets help before her life is ruined completely. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Yes, the MC had it coming. She was lucky to be pulled up before she caused an accident. Will she realise she nearly ruined her life? I wonder…
Shalom
Penny
xx
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lucky to have a second chance. not everyone doesn’t get one.
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Very lucky. I’m not sure I would have given a second chance – too much risk to others operating equipment while drunk. Thanks for the comment.
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The only way this person is going to survive is to get help with the addiction. The second chance is going to pass way too soon.
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Yes, you’re right. I hope they can find appropriate help. All too often addicts have to hit rock-bottom before they can turn things around. Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
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Great one.
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Thank you very much, Bear.
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Myers is his best friend right now even though he looks at him as the enemy. Hoping this is the wake-up call he needs to realize he’s got a problem that needs intervention. Really good story and dialogue, Penny.
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Thank you for such a kind comment. I too hope that this wakes him up and that he seeks help. I’m so pleased you liked the dialogue.
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You’re very welcome, Penny.
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I think Myers needs to keep an eye on them – they may be taking the Mickey or they may need help, rather than firing.
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Thank you for the thoughtful comment, Ali. Myers will definitely be keeping an eye on them!
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Hopefully this the first step on the road to recovery. Shame it had to go down the drain though!
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Thank you for commenting, Keith. Better the drain than into the MC!
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Oh, boy! A second chance is always nice. I hope the MC takes a moment to evaluate the problems that cause the drinking and the possible effects of the drinking. Addiction is a hard long road.
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Dear Lish
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. As you rightly say, addiction is a long hard road. Myers is risking his job giving the man a second chance.
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Where would we be without second chances? I hope your protagonist makes the most of it. You get bonus points for taking it out of the obvious school scenario most of us eased into.
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Yes, we all need the occasional second chance. I hope Myers doesn’t get fired for giving the second chance. Thank you for the bonus points!
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