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!
Darn Dog
Greg hated the basement flat, hated its poky windows, hated that he couldn’t afford somewhere better to live with his beloved Louisa, hated the neighbours in the flat above, with their parties, their hearty greetings, and above all their dog, which left messes on the grass.
One evening, Louisa sighed, ‘That dog misbehaved again today, Greg.’
‘More mess?’
‘Worse than that. It pissed on the window by the woodpile.’
Greg paled.
‘Right. That animal’s history!’
‘Don’t hurt him,’ gasped Louisa.
Greg grabbed his shotgun and stormed out.
There was a shot and howling. Greg crept back.
‘Darn it! I missed.’
Autumn Leaves 
I’m glad he missed.
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So am I. Thank you for commenting, Neil.
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Phew !! .. It’s not the doggies fault, it’s his owners fault !!
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Are you sure? I’ll shoot the owner, then. (Only joking!)
Thank you for your kind comment, Ivor.
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My pleasure Penny
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I like to think he missed on purpose. I’ve lived in a basement flat and it is not the loveliest place to live.
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Thank you for your empathic comment, Dale. With Louisa’s words “Don’t hurt him!” ringing in his ears, I think you’re probably right that he missed on purpose.
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Why not think that? 🙂
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Poor Greg. Basement living, crappy neighbors, and he can’t even hit a mutt with a freaking shotgun. Well done.
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Thank you for your sympathetic comment, Bill. I think Greg realised how distressed Louisa would be if he’d killed the dog.
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🙂
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Well, he’d still be history for me, whether he meant to shoot the dog or not. I did wonder about the risks involved in stacking round windows.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Sandra. Greg may have had good points, perhaps?
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I hate people who shoot at dogs. And I have very little sympathy for Greg. And less for circumstances that make people live under such poor conditions. As you see, your story makes me angry. 😉
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Thank you for your passionate comment, Gabi. I’m very pleased to receive such an emotional response.
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Good writers can create emotional readers. So there… 😀
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Dear Gabi, That might just be the nicest thing anybody’s ever said about my writing. Thank you!
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Any time. 🙂
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Didn’t shoot it but probably gave it a fright!
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Thank you for commenting, Keith. Gave the dog a fright, and terrified the neighbours I expect!
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what a lucky dog. 🙂
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Thank you for commenting, Plaridel
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Wooo,that was a vicious response. Mind you, in the UK farmers will shoot dogs that worry their livestock. Clearly, dogs owners need to accept their responsibility for their pets, including the mess on the grass. This was one of those everyday stories where we know exactly how Greg feels.
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Thank you for your kind and detailed comments, James. You’re right that farmers are permitted to shoot dogs that worry their livestock, although I don’t know any who have done so. Most dog owners are very responsible; a few aren’t, alas!
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Dear Penny,
No doubt Louisa’s relieved. I’m guessing Greg missed on purpose. But I can relate to Greg’s irritation. I suspect this isn’t the end of their…um…discussion. 😉 Good job.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
I’m sure you’re right that Louisa was relieved. I hope, though, that it will be the end of the …discussion. Greg’s emotions are hot and tinder dry; a single spark could cause a conflagration, with unforeseeable consequences!
Shalom
Penny
xx
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Good job he’s a bad shot, it’s not the dog’s fault. I think he’s at the end of his tether.
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Thank you for your compassionate comment. I’m glad he missed, too. I think you’re right that Greg is at the end of his tether; his emotions are hot and tinder dry; a single spark could cause a conflagration, with unforeseeable consequences!
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Ah, but who howled? Great story, Penny 🙂
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Thank you for your thought-provoking comment, Linda. “Ah, but who howled?” What a great question! I was thinking it was the dog, but it’s even more likely to have been Greg.
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🙂
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I agree with Dale. I think he missed on purpose.
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Thank you for your compassionate comment, Adele.
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Well, that rebounded nicely, a dog’s life for Greg (shame!), and a top dog’s life for the other (good doggie)! :>)
pax,
dora
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Thank you for your amusing comment, Dora. I fear Greg is undeniably the underdog. Still, at least he is married to the woman he loves which is quite a success for him. And perhaps the neighbour upstairs has a rotten love-life! There – you’ve prompted the germ of a new story!
Pax
Penny
xx
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Glad to hear it! 😀
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Gosh a drastic solution. I am glad he missed too.
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