The Devil's Been Busy In Your Backyard

The news traveled fast from farmhouse to farmhouse. Mothers gathered in their children and latched the doors. Farmers loaded their shotguns and walked their fencerows.

The six Smith children were out gathering wildflowers—from the fifteen-year-old girl who laughed at him to the five-year-old with a handful of daisies—when the blue-ribbon marksman cocked his double-barrel and took aim, from youngest to oldest, reloading thrice.

He won the turkey shoot at age twelve, took that blue ribbon in marksmanship at thirteen, and whetted out justice at fourteen. She shouldn’t have laughed it him.

The Gun - (friday flash 55)

He rages against the government

and hits himself in the face

with his nervous tick.

He teaches a class for concealed weapons

and lobbies hard for open carry.

Broken capillary nose of an alcoholic

with the wide-set eyes of a madman,

he smacks himself in the face,

ogles the girls

and fears for his guns.

These days it seems the madmen are closing in. Thank goodness for an online community of writers that is healthy and diverse. Tell us a story in fifty-five words, and let the G-Man know, or just visit him for links to lots of little fifty-fivers by some very talented players.

In the meantime...

TGIF