wss366

Wandering Shop Story prompt: #refrain #wss366

"Sir, I must ask you to refrain from using your d-com while passing through customs."
The smartly-dressed man in the business suit gave a side-eye look at the prim lady behind the desk, slapped his passport on the counter, and turned away.
"Yeah, Jim, sixteen megabucks per quarter ventery. Not a hundredth more. And you tell that bastard Caleb - "
"SIR!"
He turned back to the counter to see the woman glaring at him, her jaw tight.
"Sir, I will not ask you again. You must end your call immediately while undergoing customs screening."
He rolled his eyes and half turned away again.
"Yeah mate, just some uppity flunky at the 'port, I'll be - "
He spun around as the d-com was plucked off his ear.
"Hey, bitch, give that back! That was serious business you just interrupted!"

His look of outrage faded a little when he saw the predatory smile.

"Refusing a direction from a duly-authorised customs officer: class two felony, not less than six months custodial. Using obscene language in response to a government official carrying out their duty: class one felony, not less than two years custodial."

She picked up the passport and pushed it into a slot. A slight whiff of burning drifted out, then she pulled the passport out. The phrase "Cancelled due to felony conviction" was carved right through it.

The look of horror on the man's face brought a slightly wider smile, as two goons stepped up and gripped the man's arms tightly.

"Enjoy your trip to Ubirna Penal Colony. See you in two and a half years."

#microfiction #tootfic

"Back when Dylan and I were separating, I read a novel that really spoke to me. I treasured it. But several years later when I was in a much better place, I reread it, and it was #total sentimental drivel. Was I so stressed out when I first read it that I couldn't tell a good novel from a bad one?"

Pam shrugged. "Circumstance colors reactions. It was precious to you in a tough time. Maybe that's enough? If I were the writer, I'd be happy you loved it when you needed it."

#wss366 #microfiction

Visitors at Oslo National Museum gaped as dancers in bright sweatshirts & leggings twirled thru the exhibit hall.

"Ugh, performance art," someone griped.

The dancers lined up so their sweatshirts' patterns formed Munch's "The Scream," which hung behind them. Then they removed their sweatshirts. Their t-shirts underneath spelled out "The Munch #caper." Visitors applauded; the dancers bowed & departed. Only then did people see "The Scream" was missing from the wall behind.

#wss366 #microfiction

"You know the Ship of Theseus?" Anna asked her niece, spreading a patchwork quilt out on her lap.

"That's where you keep replacing one piece & then another, & eventually you've replaced the entire ship, but we think of it as the same ship?"

Anna nodded. "Well one day this quilt will be entirely different too." She pinned a strip of cloth along an edge. "Right now I"m just replacing the binding--it's #frayed along the #crease. "

"Quilt of Anna," said her niece, smiling.

#wss366 #microfiction