A Close Call

She traveled on a budget during her graduation trip. After getting off the train, she headed to a village near a scenic spot. It was dark when she arrived. She hoped to stay overnight with a peasant family.

A 58-year-old man passed and spotted her crouching alone on the road. He offered to let her stay over. He was too poor to afford a wife and believed it was his chance. He made her tea and put knockout drops in it.

As she was about to drink it, two travelers knocked at the door and asked for a night’s lodging.From Guest Contributor Huina Zheng

Huina either coaches her students to write at work or write stories for fun after work.

Attrition

I’m meeting with Robert Todd, our best employee. He arrives early, stays late, seldom takes sick days, and works well with staff.

“Bob, come in,” I say when I spot him waiting by my office door.

“As you know the powers that be cut our budget and we have to let some employees go. Since you do the work of at least four of our other employees, I have no choice: get rid of four employees or you.”

“You don’t want to see four families lose their major primary breadwinners, do you?”

Bob didn’t respond.

“Robert, you’re fired,” I say.From Guest Contributor Dave Harper

Dave, a recovering software developer, now finds himself addicted to writing fiction.

Budget Costs

The detective leaned back in the seat, stretched expansively and roared. “Lazy fucking bastards!”

There was a sudden flurry of papers being shuffled, phones being lifted, and desk drawers being opened and closed.

“Aggghhh, not you useless lot,” he growled. “Not this time anyway.”

“Who’s offended the mighty Sergeant Prick, this time?” an attractive female police officer drawled.

“That’s Pryck … like dyke.” She’d rebuffed his many advances.

She merely generated a smug smile...pausing it for greater effect.

“Hrrmph, thought I’d a break on the Couples Killer...but the council couldn’t be bothered cleaning the CCTV lenses.”

From Guest Contributor Perry McDaid