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It was rare for Abby and Geoff to go anywhere special but tonight was a once in a lifetime landmark in their relationship. Today was their 10th wedding anniversary and they had scrimped together what little money they had over the last 4 weeks to spend it all on a night out. They planned to go out for dinner and a dance at an expensive restaurant in the nearest town, approx. 50 miles away.
Abby swirled in front of the mirror and critically assessed her appearance. Since they had purchased the farm seven years ago she rarely had a chance to dress up like this and relished the soft fabric of her dress against her skin. The light make up she’d applied toned down the redness caused by her outdoor life and her red hair shone with a fire of its own. Satisfied with her own appearance she turned to gaze at Geoff and decided that he still looked dashing and trim in his suit. His dark hair was turning grey at the temples but added to his appearance, as grey in hers would not have. Geoff in turn was admiring his wife. While few but himself would call her beautiful she was still a striking woman.
Life had been extremely hard but also very good to them both after they bought the small farm. They worked together to produce goods to feed themselves while generating a small income to supplement the upkeep of the land and house. They had sunk all their savings into the farm and money was a commodity that was rare in their life since then. Having the funds to afford to dine out was going to be a real treat for them.
The headlights of their car were the only illumination visible that night as even the stars were cloaked behind low clouds. Soft music played on the radio as together they travelled in companionably silence. Approx. 10 miles from the farm a loud thud caused Geoff to swiftly apply the brakes and swerve across the lane. He glanced across to Abby, making sure she was okay. It was obvious that they had hit something hard and, even though this was a frequent occurrence, it always made Abby sick to the stomach. She shook her head no at him and dived out of the car taking large mouthfuls of air in an effort to not throw up.
Geoff grabbed his torch from the back of the car and once Abby indicated she was going to be fine they backtracked up the lane to see what they had hit. They were astonished to discover the body of a young boy who looked to be in his early teens. Geoff stooped to check the boys pulse and found it missing. He needn’t have bothered really as while the body was still warm the head had obviously been crushed by one of the wheels. Geoff hadn’t even seen him before he hit him. Had he been sleeping at the side of the road? Where had he come from? Who was he with? Geoff called out loudly several times but no one answered him.
A whispered conversation swiftly took place between Geoff and Abby. They decided that they no longer felt like going into town and they would return home. There had been no question about what they were going to do with the boy. They gently picked him up and stored him in the boot of the car. They both knew that leaving him at the side of the road would have just been a waste, after all, there was nothing tastier then fresh roadkill and this often supplemented their diet. Abby was already picturing the vegetables she would serve later and the rich gravy they would be enjoying tonight. The money they saved would be better spent around the farm anyway.
Abby swirled in front of the mirror and critically assessed her appearance. Since they had purchased the farm seven years ago she rarely had a chance to dress up like this and relished the soft fabric of her dress against her skin. The light make up she’d applied toned down the redness caused by her outdoor life and her red hair shone with a fire of its own. Satisfied with her own appearance she turned to gaze at Geoff and decided that he still looked dashing and trim in his suit. His dark hair was turning grey at the temples but added to his appearance, as grey in hers would not have. Geoff in turn was admiring his wife. While few but himself would call her beautiful she was still a striking woman.
Life had been extremely hard but also very good to them both after they bought the small farm. They worked together to produce goods to feed themselves while generating a small income to supplement the upkeep of the land and house. They had sunk all their savings into the farm and money was a commodity that was rare in their life since then. Having the funds to afford to dine out was going to be a real treat for them.
The headlights of their car were the only illumination visible that night as even the stars were cloaked behind low clouds. Soft music played on the radio as together they travelled in companionably silence. Approx. 10 miles from the farm a loud thud caused Geoff to swiftly apply the brakes and swerve across the lane. He glanced across to Abby, making sure she was okay. It was obvious that they had hit something hard and, even though this was a frequent occurrence, it always made Abby sick to the stomach. She shook her head no at him and dived out of the car taking large mouthfuls of air in an effort to not throw up.
Geoff grabbed his torch from the back of the car and once Abby indicated she was going to be fine they backtracked up the lane to see what they had hit. They were astonished to discover the body of a young boy who looked to be in his early teens. Geoff stooped to check the boys pulse and found it missing. He needn’t have bothered really as while the body was still warm the head had obviously been crushed by one of the wheels. Geoff hadn’t even seen him before he hit him. Had he been sleeping at the side of the road? Where had he come from? Who was he with? Geoff called out loudly several times but no one answered him.
A whispered conversation swiftly took place between Geoff and Abby. They decided that they no longer felt like going into town and they would return home. There had been no question about what they were going to do with the boy. They gently picked him up and stored him in the boot of the car. They both knew that leaving him at the side of the road would have just been a waste, after all, there was nothing tastier then fresh roadkill and this often supplemented their diet. Abby was already picturing the vegetables she would serve later and the rich gravy they would be enjoying tonight. The money they saved would be better spent around the farm anyway.
Kind of subtle but effective. Liked it.
Enjoyed the build-up very much. The characters were nicely drawn. I feared when they hit something we were going into ghost story territory, but you did something very different and surprising with it. Perhaps the ending could have been expanded a little - picking up the boy leaving the reader to think that they're going ot take him to the hospital (especially if he still had a weak pulse) only to find that they go home and get out the big cooking pot...
Didn't really enjoy that to be honest - not really my thing, and the ending was a bit too sudden.
Sorry, usually a big fan of Sleepy stuff, but not this time.
Sorry, usually a big fan of Sleepy stuff, but not this time.
I liked that very good.
I was disappointed with the final paragraph. I thought it was going to go somewhere spooky/mysterious, but the ending just made me laugh - for the wrong reasons.
Perhaps the boy could've been a girl and the mirror image of Abby (or something)?? - it's tricky I know to round off these little stories. My recent attempts have had no plot at all!
Having said that, nicely written :)
Perhaps the boy could've been a girl and the mirror image of Abby (or something)?? - it's tricky I know to round off these little stories. My recent attempts have had no plot at all!
Having said that, nicely written :)
Wondered at first where on earth the story was going, but loved the ending. Suitably nasty. :D
It was rare for Abby and Geoff to go anywhere special but tonight was a once in a lifetime landmark in their relationship. Today was their 10th wedding anniversary and they had scrimped together what little money they had over the last 4 weeks to spend it all on a night out. They planned to go out for dinner and a dance at an expensive restaurant in the nearest town, approx. 50 miles away.
Abby swirled in front of the mirror and critically assessed her appearance. Since they had purchased the farm seven years ago she rarely had a chance to dress up like this and relished the soft fabric of her dress against her skin. The light make up she’d applied toned down the redness caused by her outdoor life and her red hair shone with a fire of its own. Satisfied with her own appearance she turned to gaze at Geoff and decided that he still looked dashing and trim in his suit. His dark hair was turning grey at the temples but added to his appearance, as grey in hers would not have. Geoff in turn was admiring his wife. While few but himself would call her beautiful she was still a striking woman.
Life had been extremely hard but also very good to them both after they bought the small farm. They worked together to produce goods to feed themselves while generating a small income to supplement the upkeep of the land and house. They had sunk all their savings into the farm and money was a commodity that was rare in their life since then. Having the funds to afford to dine out was going to be a real treat for them.
The headlights of their car were the only illumination visible that night as even the stars were cloaked behind low clouds. Soft music played on the radio as together they travelled in companionably silence. Approx. 10 miles from the farm a loud thud caused Geoff to swiftly apply the brakes and swerve across the lane. He glanced across to Abby, making sure she was okay. It was obvious that they had hit something hard and, even though this was a frequent occurrence, it always made Abby sick to the stomach. She shook her head no at him and dived out of the car taking large mouthfuls of air in an effort to not throw up.
Geoff grabbed his torch from the back of the car and once Abby indicated she was going to be fine they backtracked up the lane to see what they had hit. They were astonished to discover the body of a young boy who looked to be in his early teens. Geoff stooped to check the boys pulse and found it missing. He needn’t have bothered really as while the body was still warm the head had obviously been crushed by one of the wheels. Geoff hadn’t even seen him before he hit him. Had he been sleeping at the side of the road? Where had he come from? Who was he with? Geoff called out loudly several times but no one answered him.
A whispered conversation swiftly took place between Geoff and Abby. They decided that they no longer felt like going into town and they would return home. There had been no question about what they were going to do with the boy. They gently picked him up and stored him in the boot of the car. They both knew that leaving him at the side of the road would have just been a waste, after all, there was nothing tastier then fresh roadkill and this often supplemented their diet. Abby was already picturing the vegetables she would serve later and the rich gravy they would be enjoying tonight. The money they saved would be better spent around the farm anyway.
Abby swirled in front of the mirror and critically assessed her appearance. Since they had purchased the farm seven years ago she rarely had a chance to dress up like this and relished the soft fabric of her dress against her skin. The light make up she’d applied toned down the redness caused by her outdoor life and her red hair shone with a fire of its own. Satisfied with her own appearance she turned to gaze at Geoff and decided that he still looked dashing and trim in his suit. His dark hair was turning grey at the temples but added to his appearance, as grey in hers would not have. Geoff in turn was admiring his wife. While few but himself would call her beautiful she was still a striking woman.
Life had been extremely hard but also very good to them both after they bought the small farm. They worked together to produce goods to feed themselves while generating a small income to supplement the upkeep of the land and house. They had sunk all their savings into the farm and money was a commodity that was rare in their life since then. Having the funds to afford to dine out was going to be a real treat for them.
The headlights of their car were the only illumination visible that night as even the stars were cloaked behind low clouds. Soft music played on the radio as together they travelled in companionably silence. Approx. 10 miles from the farm a loud thud caused Geoff to swiftly apply the brakes and swerve across the lane. He glanced across to Abby, making sure she was okay. It was obvious that they had hit something hard and, even though this was a frequent occurrence, it always made Abby sick to the stomach. She shook her head no at him and dived out of the car taking large mouthfuls of air in an effort to not throw up.
Geoff grabbed his torch from the back of the car and once Abby indicated she was going to be fine they backtracked up the lane to see what they had hit. They were astonished to discover the body of a young boy who looked to be in his early teens. Geoff stooped to check the boys pulse and found it missing. He needn’t have bothered really as while the body was still warm the head had obviously been crushed by one of the wheels. Geoff hadn’t even seen him before he hit him. Had he been sleeping at the side of the road? Where had he come from? Who was he with? Geoff called out loudly several times but no one answered him.
A whispered conversation swiftly took place between Geoff and Abby. They decided that they no longer felt like going into town and they would return home. There had been no question about what they were going to do with the boy. They gently picked him up and stored him in the boot of the car. They both knew that leaving him at the side of the road would have just been a waste, after all, there was nothing tastier then fresh roadkill and this often supplemented their diet. Abby was already picturing the vegetables she would serve later and the rich gravy they would be enjoying tonight. The money they saved would be better spent around the farm anyway.