Golden Opportunity-Flash Fiction

 

 Saturday morning, no electricity meant no clean clothes and an hour wait at the coffee shop with the rest of my power-deprived neighbors. Then Mom called. Her hairdresser’s niece needed a date for a wedding. Could I go? No. Then Uncle Bob called asking for money again. No. I needed a break.

 I put on my least dirty clothes, turned off my phone, and headed for the park. Fido, wearing his favorite matching red leash and collar, panted with golden retriever happiness as I lengthened my stride.

The sun-speckled trail paralleling a stream revived me. I blew out a long breath. A squirrel scampered across the path. Fido barked. The startled squirrel reversed direction twice and then leaped over the stream. Fido lunged, yanking me off balance.

Crack, pain seized my ankle.

Rip, the back pocket of my jeans snagged on a broken branch.

Splat, I landed on the muddy stream bank.

My ankle throbbed, my pants were ripped, and my phone, which landed in the muck, was dead. Fido came to my side and lay down in the stream. His tongue hung out the side of his mouth.

I scowled at him. Fido means I am faithful. Good dog name on a bad dog.

 I was pretty sure I needed to go to the hospital, and I was wearing my I-have-to-do-laundry-today underwear, the Tweety Bird boxers my mother gave me as a joke. I hung my head and laughed. What else could I do?

 “God, I could use some help here.”

Hope soared at the sound of an approaching biker. Fido stood and bounded across the path.

“Watch out!” The beautiful brunette biker skidded to a stop.

I snorted. I needed a paramedic, and God sent me a runway model. Maybe I could use her phone.

Fido shook himself, showering her with swampy water. I winced, anticipating shrill shrieking. But she laughed. Fido took that as an invitation to jump up, plant his muddy paws against her chest, and lick her face.

“What a beautiful boy! Did you go for a swim?”

“No, I was dragged through the mud by a bad dog!”

She raised an eloquent eyebrow, then nodded to Fido. “Don’t listen to him. You’re a good dog. All dogs are good. It’s just the owners who are bad.” She speared me with a piercing glare and then wiped at the mud splatters and dog drool on her face with her sleeve. “Are you injured?”

“My ankle. But I’m sure it’s okay.” The pain was searing. I forced a smile. “I’ll just sit here until it stops throbbing.”

She raised her eyebrow again, clearly unimpressed with my courageous stoicism.

 “Let me look at it.”

“No.”

She stooped down and gently prodded my ankle, disregarding my protests. She grimaced. “That looks painful. You should get it x-rayed. Are you hurt anywhere else?”

Yes, my pride, my pants, and my butt.

“I don’t’ think so.”

“Can you stand?”

I thought of my ripped pants and loony toons underwear.

“No.”

She disarmingly rolled her eyes, stood, and held out her hand. “That was a rhetorical question. With no other injuries, you can stand on your other leg. I’ll help you. We’ll use my bike as a rolling crutch. My truck is a hundred yards that way.” She pointed. ‘I’ll drive you to the hospital.”

I folded my arms. “No. Let me use your phone. I’ll call someone to come get me.”

Her expression was one of forbearing amusement, like I was a recalcitrant toddler refusing to eat okra. Fido wagged his tail and licked my face. ‘Come on, Daddy, stand for the pretty lady!’

My face heated. I chuckled as I admitted, “I’ve ripped my pants.”

The corners of her mouth twitched upwards. Then, with stunning aplomb, she resumed a neutral expression. “I’m a doctor, and I won’t look.”

“My dog—”

“We’ll drop him off at a reputable kennel I’m very familiar with.”

I wasn’t intentionally being difficult, but she fascinated and terrified me. I was a helplessly mesmerized moth, and she was a bonfire.

 She tapped her phone. “Hey, I can’t come. A guy with a dog got injured. I’m taking him to the hospital.”

Her phone’s volume was up. I could hear the other person scoff. “A guy with a dog? So, your romantic catnip. Is he cute?”

She smiled at Fido. “Yes.”

There was feminine laughter. “You go, girl! I want details later. Bye,”

“By the way. I’m Jason.” I offered my hand.

At her touch, heat traveled up my arm and flowed into my chest. “Amanda.” She tugged. I relented and stood. She wrapped her arm around my waist, and I briefly lost the ability to breathe. My heart did somersaults. She helped me to her bicycle.

She turned, took several steps, and made another call. “I’m bringing in a short-stay client for the kennel. Pro bono. His owner needs to go to the hospital…. A Golden. Looks to be 35 kilos.”

I pondered how odd that conversation sounded when she snorted behind me. “Tweety Bird?”

 “You promised no looking!”

“Couldn’t help it,” she snickered. “The colors are so bright.”

“What kind of doctor are you, anyway?”

Conspicuously not answering my question, she steadied the bike as I hobbled, leaving a slime trail behind me. “Come, Fido, let’s take care of your Daddy.”

Amanda’s hair glistened in a sunbeam, and I understood why I’d never fallen in love. I’d never seen a mud-splattered woman smile before.

The dark pickup truck’s sign read Louden Veterinary Hospital and Kennels. It had a bumper sticker. I read, “Mirrors prove God has a sense of humor?”

 “Being humble and laughing at yourself can be an act of worship.”

Considering my current condition, I chuckled. “How appropriate.”

Amanda’s cheeks pinked. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I admire people who can laugh at themselves.”

Her smile shot through me, dulling my pain like morphine. “Good, because right now, I think I’m hilarious.”

 

As You Wish-Flash Fiction

 

Carried on the shrieks of carnival-ride goers, the fragrance of funnel cakes and cotton candy wafted through the air. It was a smell Judy usually associated with fun times with friends and family. Now, the odors were making her nauseous. The festive lights felt like spotlights following her walk of shame. She was sure everyone knew why she was at the carnival alone. 

She was a loser and needed magic to find true-love. 

 Shazahm’s Magic Love Machine promises to lead you to your true-love. The magical machine traveled with the carnival and was usually set up behind the Ferris wheel. Tonight was the last night the carnival would be in town. 

 This is silly. Judy shook her head and turned to leave. How could a machine built in a factory help you find true-love?

Magic. 

 The Smiths met because of Shazahm’s Love Machine. The owners of Uptown Bakery said that’s how they met too. She turned back toward the Ferris wheel.

Magic was her last hope.

 Her brother’s best friend, George, was back in town as the new offensive football coach at the University after an injury ended his NFL career. She’d had a crush on him since she was sixteen. She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind since a group of their friends went to that baseball game last week. Her brother Jason wouldn’t tolerate his little sister having feelings for his best friend. And George would probably laugh at her if he knew. She had to find her true love to get George out of her heart.

There it is.

She searched the crowd for familiar faces. Clear.

Shazahm’s machine looked like an old shopping mall photo booth. The floor was sticky from spilled soda. She sat and pulled the heavy curtain shut. A ratty animatronic puppet wearing a gold turban greeted her. “Welcome. Judy.” 

Hair prickled on the back of her neck. How did the machine know her name? 

The puppet continued. “For seventy-five cents, the amazing Shazahm will guide you to your true-love.” She deposited three quarters. The puppet’s gaze became startlingly human and direct. “Judy. Tonight is a magical night for you. Your true-love is near.” A purple ticket popped out of a slot. 

It read, “Go to the churros trailer. Show this ticket to receive a free churro. Your true-love will be there wearing a purple shirt.”

“A guy in a purple shirt at the churro stand?”  Her shoulders sagged. She held the purple ticket up to Shazahm. “I can’t believe I fell for this.”

The booth shook with a metallic screech. Shazahm’s eyes glowed red. “Do not hesitate! Do not doubt Shazahm’s magic!” 

Her heart thundering, Judy fled the booth. 

If nothing else, she would get a churro for only seventy-five cents.

 At the churro stand was a man in a purple polo shirt.  He had his back to her. She recognized that head, that hairline, those deliciously broad shoulders. George. She froze. He turned around, holding a yellow ticket, scanning the crowd. His eyes fixed on her yellow shirt. Then to her face. He smiled. She turned and ran. No. Her true love couldn’t be George. 

“Judy! Wait!”

She dodged through the crowds. Did she really think she could outrun a former professional football player? No, but she had a good head start. This is so embarrassing. Now he knows.

 “Judy. Stop.”  Already losing her breath, she stopped but didn’t turn around. She clenched her fists. Standing behind her, George wasn’t even breathing hard. “You have a purple ticket. I have a purple shirt. I have a yellow ticket. You have a yellow—”

“Jason would disown me.”

“What does Jason have to do with this?”

She spun around. “Jason has everything to do with this!”

“Why? I don’t see him here. This is between us.” He took a step closer. “Judy, I’ve liked you ever since…Remember that trip our families took to that lake house?”

“Yes.” Warmth crept into her cheeks as she recalled laying on her back on the dock with the kids from both families staring up into the night sky. The moon was just a sliver of light. The sky was clear, and the milky way was visible overhead. The water slap slapped against the boats. She was so close to George that she could’ve touched him if she stretched out her fingers. There was a shooting star they all wished on. She had wished he’d kiss her. 

“That night, we were all laying on the dock, and that shooting star passed over, I wished I could kiss you.”

Her eyes met his. “You did?” 

He stepped closer. “I did.”

He smelled of good memories. “You could have any woman you want. Why would you—”

“I went to Shazahm because the only woman I’ve wanted was my best friend’s sister. I thought she was off-limits, out of reach. I couldn’t get you out of my mind.” He swept a wisp of her hair behind her ear. “You’re so beautiful.” 

  “You think I’m beautiful?” She thought herself too heavy, too tall, too big to be beautiful.

“Your beauty isn’t just on the outside. It glows like a magical force from within. You’ve had me under your spell for a long time.” He held up the yellow ticket. “Shazahm knows what I’ve always known. You and I belong together. Is there any chance that you’d give us a chance?” 

“I…I want to, but….” She looked at her purple ticket. George was right. Jason had nothing to do with this. Let him fuss. “If we did this, there would be no going back. It’d change everything.”

“If I had you, I’d only want to go forward.” 

She straightened her shoulders and looked George square in the eye. “Same.”

He smiled and cupped his hand under her chin. “Judy, I’m going to kiss you.”

She leaned into the warmth of his hand and smiled. “As you wish.”