“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. Where’s everybody?” Robbie rubbed his sunburned scalp.
Toe kicking dirt, pale-everywhere Jimmy heaved a skinny shoulder, then slumped. “I’m bored.”
“Let’s go swimming.”
“I hate cottage country. Can’t use my iPad.”
“Come on. We’ll round up some of the kids.”
A cement truck lumbered down the street, clouds of dust in tow. The boys sprang off the kerb and stared with mouths agape as it bounced off the kerb a foot too close. Jimmy cleared his throat first. “You see that? He almost hit us.”
“But he didn’t. Whoa. There he goes again. Something ain’t right.” Robbie looked up and down the country road. Not a soul in sight. “Come on. Let’s follow him.”
“Too hot.”
“Something’s wrong.” The bigger boy grabbed Jimmy by the wrist dragging him along, forefinger pointed forward.”
The truck ground to a halt with a screech and a lurch on the opposite side of the road, the drum still spinning.
“Come on.” Robbie let go of his friend and raced ahead. He grabbed the handrail and hauled himself onto the running board. He couldn’t reach to open the door. The driver’s face plastered the closed passenger window.
Jimmy wrung his hands. “Is he dead?”
“Shut up and let me think.” He pounded his eleven-year-old fist into his palm until his eyes protruded. A smile bloomed on his face.
“Where are you going? Don’t leave me…”
“Run to the nearest cottage and tell ‘em what’s going on. I’ll try to get inside and see if he has a cell. Crap, no cell service here.”
“How ‘bout the CB radio?”
“Don’t know what he’s got. Go. Hurry. The other way.” He watched Jimmy change direction and ran around to the passenger side. As much as he strained, the handle was still too high. The engine growled and the drum clanged round and round. The truck cab shimmied like a nervous bride. Robbie jumped down scanning the ground. He raced to the other side and peered up. The driver’s face still decorated the window.
Sweat poured down his young face. “Aha. This’ll do fine.” He tugged and tugged. Nothing. It wouldn’t budge. “Are you kidding me?” The boy danced from one foot to the other combing the ground. He settled on two smaller rocks, which fit one in each hand. Palms down, holding them like bowling balls, he shuffled to the passenger side again. The rocks lined up side by side, Robbie sprang onto the running board, hung onto the handrail and tested his footing.
“Yes!” Chubby cheeks on fire, sweat dripped down his shirt. Nothing. “It’s locked. Are you kidding me?” He yanked and wrenched. “Open!” The door creaked and the boy scrambled to keep his balance. Using both hands and an elbow, he coaxed the rusted door wide enough to clamber up into the seat. Someone on the radio twanged a forlorn country song. He picked up the handset but it didn’t even crackle. He leaned forward and switched off the engine key. The cab stopped doing the shimmy. The cement drum creaked on.
Short of climbing into the unconscious man’s lap, Robbie braced both hands on the horn. It made a terrible noise but someone would have to hear.
A siren screamed somewhere. He peered in the side mirror. A police car and an ambulance grew larger in its reflection. Robbie scooted outside.
Jimmy jumped out of the police car. He wrung his hands like a girl. “Is he dead?”
“I don’t know, but his lips are an awful blue.”
“Step aside.” The paramedics rushed forward with a gurney.
“You did good, boys.” A policeman patted Robbie’s shoulder.
Jimmy beamed; Robbie slipped into a sitting position on the straw-like grass and stared into a void.
The policeman returned. “It appears you saved and captured a bank robber.”
“What?”
“Who steals a cement truck for a getaway car?” Robbie’s mouth dropped.” You still bored, squirt?”
July 29, 2014 at 7:57 pm
Tess I was on the edge of my seat through the whole post. You have such a skill of writing and so quickly creating a vision for the reader. I could see this kid immediately in my mind. ‘Toe kicking dirt, pale-everywhere Jimmy heaved a skinny shoulder’. Well done!
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July 29, 2014 at 8:23 pm
Thank YOU, Sue. No 100-word Challenge this week. I’m a creature of habit and thought I’d try something. Glad you liked it. Your encouragement means an awful lot to me. ❤
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July 29, 2014 at 8:46 pm
Good to explore different things Tess. Count on me as a cheerleader for sure. Love your work.
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July 30, 2014 at 2:37 pm
Thanks, Sue. I’m pleased you llike the work. ❤
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July 29, 2014 at 8:11 pm
This is great! Not the usual ending to a familiar format. I enjoyed this immensely. Good on you!!!!!
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July 29, 2014 at 8:24 pm
Thank YOU, Kansen. I had no restriction of words and hopefully brought this short short to a satisfying ending for a change. ❤
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July 29, 2014 at 10:02 pm
It was really good and interesting. You have quite a talent.
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July 30, 2014 at 2:48 pm
You’re much too generous, Kansen. To me it’s knit one, purl one. Sometimes I’m on a roll. Other times, I rip the whole thing out and start all over again.
I truly appreciate your comment. Thank you. ❤
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July 30, 2014 at 3:09 pm
I know how that is. I’ll get a haiku in my head and write it down, erase, write, change….quite a process but we do love it, don’t we? BTW, after I finish my term 08/0/, I’m going down to see mama.
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July 30, 2014 at 3:21 pm
Wonderful. Does she sound better in the last day or so? ❤
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July 30, 2014 at 4:03 pm
Weak, sad, but looking forward to seeing me. I hope that will lighten her mood some.
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July 31, 2014 at 11:47 am
Yes. Hands folded and fingers crossed. ❤ ❤ ❤
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July 31, 2014 at 11:51 am
I thank you so much
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July 31, 2014 at 12:08 pm
You are welcome. ❤
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July 29, 2014 at 8:23 pm
A must read to the end and….surprise! Very good!
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July 29, 2014 at 8:26 pm
Thank YOU, Rebecca. No 100-word challenge this week and I’m what you call a creature of habit. Thought I’d try a new one of my own. ❤
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July 29, 2014 at 8:29 pm
Loved this one, Tess! You took it in directions that zig zagged and prevented guessing! You have the most delightful picturesque vocabulary!
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July 29, 2014 at 9:15 pm
I came back to add – you captured what a hero is exactly – someone who acts even when consumed by fear and frustration!
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July 30, 2014 at 2:43 pm
I had an awful time tying it all together WITH a title. I find it easier when I have a title first, not afterwards.
Thank YOU, Huntie. Your comments are encouraging. ❤
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July 30, 2014 at 2:36 pm
You have me laughing but I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Huntie. Most of the time I think I’m losing my vocabulary. You’re such a sweetie. How did I manage to ‘meet’ you again?
❤
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July 30, 2014 at 8:11 pm
We are just lucky that way, Tess! ❤
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July 31, 2014 at 11:53 am
~(*_~)~~ ❤ ❤ ❤
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July 29, 2014 at 8:58 pm
That was great. What a twist for an ending. I almost stopped reading after 100 words–and then figured it out. I like it when you write longer material. I get more of an idea what’s going on!
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July 30, 2014 at 2:39 pm
Thanks so much, Jacqui. Thought I’d surprise you. No challenge this week but I work by my clock, and had to fill the void. ❤
😀 😀
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July 29, 2014 at 8:58 pm
You are so good with these scenes and dialogues! Who steals a cement truck for a getaway car made me laugh. Really good! ❤
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July 30, 2014 at 2:41 pm
Thanks so much, Paulette. Wonderful to get that laugh I was counting on. Glad you enjoyed the read. ❤ ❤ ❤
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July 29, 2014 at 9:26 pm
great and informative – Something to learn, I appreciate it!
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July 30, 2014 at 2:45 pm
I’m pleased you got something out of this little story. Thank you for commenting and reading.
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July 29, 2014 at 10:40 pm
Shimied like a nervous bride…wonderful imagery!
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July 30, 2014 at 2:49 pm
😀 😀
Thanks so much, Nancy. More like an old-fashioned bride, right, not the modern ones? ❤ ❤
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July 29, 2014 at 11:26 pm
Good writing lets the reader see the story in their heads. I bet your tale had lots of readers customising your words to their situations, countries and locations. It would be interesting to take a post like this and get your readers to ‘describe’ what they imagined as they read 🙂
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July 30, 2014 at 2:56 pm
Thank YOU Madoqua. We all do have pictures going through our heads when we read, don’t we.
I try to be clear but always wonder how someone else sees a story unfold. It would be wonderful to hear.
You know when you read a book and then go see the movie? No, you decide, they picked the wrong person for…or I didn’t picture that like… etc. ❤ ❤ ❤
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July 30, 2014 at 12:48 am
This could be part of a kid’s book. Kids love reading stuff like this. Great imagery.
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July 30, 2014 at 3:01 pm
Thank you, Darlene. I always say I don’t know kids, and especially boys, because I had no brothers yet somehow I’m drawn to write about young boys. Maybe it’s 50/50. Haven’t paid attention.
How about I leave the kids’ book writing in your capable hands? ❤ ❤ ❤
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July 30, 2014 at 1:41 am
What a brilliant twist 🙂
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July 30, 2014 at 3:01 pm
THANK you, Gilly. I didn’t expect it either. ❤ ❤ ❤
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July 30, 2014 at 5:48 am
Indeed! What little boy wouldn’t be excited now????????? Well done Tess! I felt like I was sitting on the ground yelling at him to keep trying!!!!
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July 30, 2014 at 3:05 pm
I’m glad you did, Colleen. I know it helped. Heck I was yelling louder for the same thing. 😀 😀 😀
Actually, I almost peed myself , I laughed so hard as I typed. ❤
Thank you, Colleen, for reading and joining the fun.
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July 30, 2014 at 6:27 pm
😀 thank YOU for creating the fuN!
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July 31, 2014 at 11:52 am
😀 😀 😀
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July 30, 2014 at 6:45 am
Tess this was amazing. I was there, the actions, the imagery, the dialogue and your usual quirky twist endings. Very well written Tess. ❤
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July 30, 2014 at 3:07 pm
Thanks, Jen, for reading and joining the fun. Hope you’re feeling a little perkier the last little while. ❤ ❤ ❤
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July 30, 2014 at 6:10 pm
A little that I am hun, still getting used to living here and have been busy with Services which takes my mind of everything else. The driving back & forth for an hour to get to my computer is painful, but we don’t have the internet set up here as yet thank you and it was an enjoyable read. ❤ ❤
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July 31, 2014 at 11:52 am
Better days ahead, I hope. ❤ ❤
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July 30, 2014 at 7:32 am
This was absolutely a fun read. I could see it all in my mind and loved the two bored children to death (though I thought they might need spankings).
What a wonderful read.
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July 30, 2014 at 3:10 pm
Thanks, Val. Glad you enjoyed this one. I don’t know anything about boys because I had no brothers but I did play with boys a couple of centuries ago.
No WiFi in cottage country. How boring is THAT?
BTW, our government announced they will be installing WiFi in camping areas. Ugh.
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July 30, 2014 at 3:12 pm
Nice ending, Tess… nice tale in fact! I so wanted the door to open you threw me completely off guard with the end. Good one!
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July 30, 2014 at 3:23 pm
Thanks, Tom. Like we all know, the story goes where it want. Surprised me too. I’m pleased you enjoyed the read.
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July 31, 2014 at 5:28 am
Yes, who steals a cement truck? Loved the twist.
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July 31, 2014 at 11:57 am
Thank YOU, TBM. 😀 😀 😀
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July 31, 2014 at 7:24 am
Ha! Oh, I never expected that ending. Good twist.
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July 31, 2014 at 11:58 am
Thank you, kathils. 🙂
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July 31, 2014 at 8:27 am
This is brilliant, Tess. Wow, exciting, it felt as though I was right there in the story! 🙂
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July 31, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Thanks so much. This one was fun. ❤
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July 31, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Dangit, Tess! Tell me now that you have a novel in the works!
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July 31, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Aren’t you NICE. Thank you. I’ve a spring to my step today.
I haven’t touched it in quite a while. If I give up blogging, I might get somewhere. I’m letting it cook for now.
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July 31, 2014 at 9:29 pm
Gripping! Your writing is spry and made me feel like I had to catch my breath to keep up. Great story to arouse curiousity! Love the end! 🙂 ❤
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August 1, 2014 at 10:12 am
~(*_~)~~
Thank you, Debby. Glad you enjoyed my little ditty.
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August 1, 2014 at 12:24 pm
🙂
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August 1, 2014 at 10:50 am
Thief shoulda used a magic carpet escaper
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August 1, 2014 at 1:17 pm
Or a least a police car. 😀 😀 😀 Or a muscle machine.
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August 1, 2014 at 11:24 pm
Tess, the fact that you laughed as you typed this piece says a lot about your writing and why you are so good. Your on target sensory and unusual twists are definitely a win-win.
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August 3, 2014 at 2:21 am
Thank YOU, Sheri. Most of the time, I sweat it but this time I got lucky. Your continued support puts a spring in my step.
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September 18, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Thrilling story and a cracking end. “Who steals a cement truck” indeed? ❤
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September 18, 2014 at 8:32 pm
There are all kinds of stupid criminals, aren’t there? Why bother? I have to shake my head.
Like trying the roof to rob a place and falling through the skylight? 😀 😀 😀
Tripping the alarm? All stuff from the newspaper, but not the short story. I have no idea how that hatched.
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November 14, 2014 at 7:17 pm
Great story, Tess. I love the surprise at the end!
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November 15, 2014 at 10:05 am
Thank YOU, Naomi. It surprised me as well. The ending came out of the blue. ❤
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