Flash Fiction Friday 111: ‘Changing the Guard’ by Jane Risdon

Welcome to Flash Fiction Friday and the one hundred and eleventh piece in this series. This week’s is a 191-worder by Jane Risdon. This story will be podcasted in episode 35 (with two other stories and some 6-worders) on Sunday 29th December.

Changing the Guard (c) Jane Risdon 2013

Sam ‘the stiletto’ Musso waited until the noise died down before clearing his throat and looking up from his notes.

‘We are agreed. No more discussion, no more voting.  Sonny Versace is toast.’ Hands and cutlery thudded on the white clothed tables as the various Families showed their approval.

‘Don Giacanni, ‘The South-side Chapter,’ has elected to make the arrangements.  He has given the honour of ‘retiring’ Sonny to his trusty foot-soldier, ‘Arturo, ‘I invoke the Fifth’ Giovanni.’  Cheering and more table banging followed as Sam smiled at the white-haired Don sitting at the table opposite.

The only female Don watched carefully as her fellow Dons made their way out of the dining room.  They suspected nothing.  Those sitting with her began discussing who would have the largest slice of Sonny’s part of the city.  She waited, silent, amused.

Without warning Sam fell forward onto the table, as dead as he could be.  Before the others could react, they too fell forward; dead.

Sophia, ‘the nurse,’ sat quietly, listening to the sounds of gunfire and screams coming from outside.  Her foot-soldiers had succeeded, and she was now undisputed Don of Dons.

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I asked Jane what prompted this piece and she said…

This short story was written for one of my writing group competitions which had a maximum word count of 200 words.  I enjoy a challenge.

Anyone who has read anything I’ve written or seen interviews with me will know I’ve spent most of my life in the Music Business and you will have noticed a number of references to ‘certain’ people who’ve crossed my path during those years; I suppose my love of crime, mystery and espionage has to come out somehow and mixing my experience of ‘certain’ people with one or other of these much loved themes is too good to miss.

I heard of a Mafia trial in Italy on the News and I guess it must have sparked my imagination. Talk of who would take the place of the Don now in custody, and suddenly I thought about a female Don.  I’ve no idea if they exist or could exist in such a male dominated world, but what a thought!

My favourite movie is ‘Some Like it Hot,’ – the birthday party scene came to mind; machine gunner emerging from the cake as they all celebrated at the long table.

**

I loved it (as always). Thank you, Jane.

Jane Risdon began writing seriously three years ago after a life spent in the International Music Industry where she managed recording artists, record producers and songwriters from all over the world.

Putting her own wishes to write on hold throughout her Music career had unseen benefits in that she has garnered a wealth of material for her stories.  She now has time to write crime and mysteries and has three novels on the go at the moment.  Another is a co-written novel with an award winning author and which she hopes will be published in 2014.

Jane has also had short stories published in various anthologies in aid of charity and has another anthology due out in 2014 involving authors from across the globe.  She also writes flash fiction and her short stories and flash fiction stories have been published and pod-cast on the internet frequently.  These stories are often, but not always, crime related and she often writes humorous short stories based on her observations of characters she has met or knew in the past – heavily disguised of course.

Married to a musician and being involved in the Music Industry for many years, travelling and living in many countries including SE Asia, China, USA and Europe, Jane draws on all her experiences for her writing.

You can find out more about Jane and her writing from:

Facebook Author page: http://www.facebook.com/JaneRisdon2

Author Blog on WordPress: http://janerisdon.wordpress.com

Various publications and podcasts: https://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/?s=Jane+Risdon

I Am Woman Anthology vol 1 available: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Woman-Anthology-Anthologies-ebook/dp/B00817P8DI / http://www.amazon.com/The-Woman-Anthology-Anthologies-ebook/dp/B00817P8DI

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If you’d like to submit your 6-word or 500-word max. stories for consideration for Flash Fiction Friday take a look here, or up to 2,000 words for critique on my Online Short Story Writing Group (links below).

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Morgen’s Online Non-Fiction Writing Group

• nonfictionwritinggroup.wordpress.com
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Morgen’s Online Novel Writing Group

• novelwritinggroup.wordpress.com
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• poetrywritinggroup.wordpress.com
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Morgen’s Online Script Writing Group

• scriptwritinggroup.wordpress.com
• facebook.com/groups/319941328108017

Morgen’s Online Short Story Writing Group

• shortstorywritinggroup.wordpress.com
• facebook.com/groups/544072635605445

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