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!
Berkeley, and a life
“Wot’yer doin’, yer lazy bastard?” called his mother.
Caleb hastily fumbled the g_n out of sight.
“Goin’ out.”
He felt the money pouch under his clothes, stuffed with the proceeds of dealing. Soon, people would have to take him seriously.
“Don’ wait up, Ma” he said, and disappeared into the night.
He crept into the old factory where the gang met, concealed himself and waited, listening intently.
A motorcycle! But whose?
Very cautiously, g_n in hand, Caleb peered out.
Thank goodness! It was Steve. Caleb ran across, kissed him, and jumped onto the pillion.
“Next stop Berkeley and a life!”
Autumn Leaves 
A delightful surprise ending Penny. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind comment, Iain. I’m glad the ending was a surprise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even gang members dream
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for commenting, Neil. Yes, we all have the capacity to dream, and Caleb had the strength to act on his dreams.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see more available to relate about their life together,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your comment, Michael. Yes, it would be fun to develop these two characters further.
LikeLike
Dear Penny,
And a new life ahead, I presume. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind comment, Rochelle. Caleb’s future looks promising – provided he stops dealing drugs!
Shalom
Penny
xx
LikeLike
Well done, Penny. There is an excellent pharmacy school at Berkeley, so dealing legal drugs may work out. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great comment, Bill – love the humour! Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great ending to a dangerous story. I hope he gets rid of the gin… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Gabi. He probably drank the gin…but, seriously, referring to the gun as a g_n was meant to convey how the gun was so special to Caleb, as a gang member, that he almost reverenced it. He could hardly dare think of what he was carrying.
LikeLike
Hopefully this will be the start of a better life for him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the comment, Ali. I really hope you’re right.
LikeLiked by 1 person
i love happy endings and this is one of them. well done. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind comment, Plaridel. This was going to be dark but I changed my mind while writing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, I thought this was going to end foul! Just need to ditch the g_n and drugs. Is g_n for gun or gin? 😀.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your perceptive comment, Tannille. When I planned the story, it was indeed going to end foul. But somehow while writing I changed my mind.
Referring to the gun as a g_n was meant to convey how the gun was so special to Caleb, as a gang member, that he almost reverenced it. He could hardly dare think of what he was carrying. I don’t think it was a particularly effective idea but, hey, if you don’t try, you don’t learn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A far happier conclusion than I expected and all the better for it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind comment, Keith. I’m glad you liked the happy ending.
LikeLike
Quite a twist at the end. If they’re going to build a better life in Berkeley, I hope they get rid of the g_n ASAP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind comment, Margaret. I hope they get rid of the g_n quickly, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe he won’t be verbally abused where he’s going. No wonder the kid wants to leave home… I like how the plot played out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your very kind comments, Lisa. I hope Caleb manages to build a better life for himself, and that his past history of drug dealing doesn’t catch up with him now he’s planning to go straight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome and I hope so also.
LikeLiked by 1 person