Fate, Fortune or Folly
a Short by M.J. Moores ~
Would you call it a twist of fate or simply a change in fortune? I mean, floating upside-down in a smart car in the middle of the Leeland Park kiddy pool was not what I expected when I agreed to leave the party early. Granted, I would have ended up in the County Police Station either way – apparently the fire was a 3-alarm, intentionally set. At least I got to sit down when I arrived.
Constable Forest leaned over the old wooden desk. “Can you tell me again why you left the party early?”
I finished towel-drying my hair and wrapped the damp cloth around my bare shoulders – the strapless cold and limp against my goose-flesh.
I answered, “Mike, my boyfriend, texted me.”
“And what did the test say?”
I would have shown him, but I’m sure my i-phone is still back at the wading pool. “Not feeling well – staying home – miss ya.”
“You were on your way to see him.”
“That was the plan.”
“Then what happened?”
Oh, what didn’t happen? I thought. The breaks, the hill, the red light; all that I could handle, but old man Werner J-walking at night? White hair and even whiter eyes.
But Constable Forest already knew this. Instead I asked, “What about Mr. Werner? Is he okay? Has the hospital sent word?”
The Black Berry on the desk vibrated. We both looked at it – what more could I be charged with tonight?
It buzzed again.
* * *
Categories: Fiction
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