Author: Danny James

This post is written for Friday Fictioneers.

They had made the reservations months in advance. They had visions of what they would see. The Oval Office, the East Room, a walk around the Rose Garden, these would be the things that they would tell their children and grandchildren. In their wildest dream even the President stopped by and said hello.

“You have arrived at your destination,” the GPS on their rental car announced.

“Carole, this can’t be right,” Ted said.

“I put the White House in the search bar.”

Ted, looking out his car widow saw the sign: “White House Pub and Grill.”

This story is written for Friday Fictioneers.

That day was hot from start to finish. Yesterday the building was full of people wandering around all the leafy plants and green shrubby. Now there was nothing but glare and dust, the two elements of hell. The flower beds and and lawns of the local town will have to wait on their promised beauty. The gutted interior is invaded now by a swarm of insects that buzz with their new found home.

The ambulances and fire trucks have since departed. He can still here his daughter’s question when he arrived home. “Where’s Mommy?”

This post is written for Friday Fictioneers. The challenge is to write a complete story with a beginning, middle and end in 100 works or less. My story follows the picture prompt below.

His thirty day leave of absence expired tomorrow. He either had to return to his current position or resign. He had his signed resignation letter ready to mail. A decision had to be made. It helped being single with no family to support.

The serape felt comfortable, not like the boring three piece suite he was required to wear in his current job. Too hot here and too cold there.

One more year and he made partner. Here,in his unfurnished apartment with the cockroaches dropping from the ceiling, was his latest unfinished manuscript. To mail or not to mail.

This post is written for Friday Fictioneers.

The old man looked into the thrift shop and politely inquired, “Where’s Iris.”

“She’s not here today Mr. Jennings.”

“Tell her she’s been in there long enough. She decided on that wedding dress yesterday and just wanted to have it fitted today. We’re to be married next Thursday you know.

“Come back tomorrow Mr. Jennings perhaps she will be ready by then.”

“Seems like I’ve been waiting years for her.”

“It has Mr. Jennings. You have been coming back every year on this date for the last ten years. Please come back next year and I think she will be ready.”