Flash Fiction Friday 125: Friends by Jane Risdon

Welcome to Flash Fiction Friday and the one hundred and twenty-fifth piece in this series. This week’s is a 211-worder by Jane Risdon. This story will be podcasted in episode 39 (with two other stories and some 6-worders) on Sunday 19th April.

Friends (© Jane Risdon 2013)

Intercourse was immediate and intimate.  He leaned over her, breathing whiskey fumes into her face as she valiantly held her breath, aware of the many eyes watching them, curious, and accusing.

They’d only just met, hadn’t even exchanged names, but here they were involved, engaged publicly.  She tried to move away but he leaned further into her; if she wasn’t careful, she thought, she would fall off the edge.

He spoke, low, close to her ear, his hot breath filling it, making it ache.  She nodded though she hadn’t a clue what he’d said.  She was aware of a thick accent, possibly Irish, but he was so inebriated, it was hard to be sure.  He patted her leg. She shuddered, squirming, revolted, but too well-mannered to show outright disgust.

Aware of her fellow travellers staring she tried to smile, raising her eyes to heaven whilst all the time he mumbled on.  She caught something about ‘Aye, to be sure you’re a lovely lass,’ a couple of times, and ‘Been here twenty years pet. I still miss Mammy, Lord rest her.’

The bell rang; his stop.  He smiled as she moved so he could get off the bus. I always get the drunks, she thought.

*

I asked Jane what prompted this piece and she said…

Any of you who have read my blogs and some of my stories will not have failed to realise that these days I travel a lot by bus (public transport), and more often than not I am in the company of an elderly relative whose many friends often entertain and inspire me; hence many of the stories I come up with.

Sometimes if the bus is particularly full we cannot sit together and I find myself seated next to a complete stranger.  Being the friendly type, I often instigate conversation.  More often than not I prefer to travel in silence, taking in my fellow passengers and mentally filing what I see and hear for future use.

I don’t think I have irresistible sex appeal or give off certain ‘vibes’ to the opposite sex but I have found that whilst waiting for buses, or when travelling on the bus, I become a magnet for all sorts of people who feel the need to unload themselves on me.  I have that kind of face I guess.

‘Friends’ is one such exhilarating experience I had whilst sitting next to a rather inebriated Irishman who decided to strike up conversation during a long bumpy ride home from shopping.  I’ve had quite a few similar experiences – all unforgettable for all manner of reasons.

**

It was great (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. 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.

3 anthologyYou can find out more about Jane and her writing from:

**

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 1,000 words for critique on my Online Short Story Writing Group (links below).

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13 thoughts on “Flash Fiction Friday 125: Friends by Jane Risdon”

  1. Pingback: Guest Author with Paula Roscoe: Friday 21st February 2014 | Jane Risdon
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  7. morgenbailey says:
    Reply

    Yes, thank you everyone… and some new ‘faces’. 🙂 And thank you Jane, for all your contributions. I’ve said this before but this blog wouldn’t be what it is without all my guests.

    Like

  11. Pingback: Friends – Pod-Cast links are live | Jane Risdon

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