Written for the July 26th Flash Fiction Challenge
Changing planes at CDG, the public address system harangues, “The white zone is not a place to park automobiles; never leave your luggage unattended.”
A disturbance in the terminal causes me to look up from my reading, and I study a contingent of gendarmes scurrying across the airport to erect a barrier around an abandoned valise. A barrier that resembles something a film noir femme fatale would duck behind to change into “something more comfortable.”
The officers fall back, a muffled “POP” sounds, we watch a single nylon stocking rise above the screen before gently floating back to ground.
The prompt and instructions were:
In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about what happens next to a stranded suitcase. Go where the prompt leads you, but consider the different perspectives you can take to tell the tale.
In Israel, leaving an unattended package ANYWHERE was not illegal, but if you wanted everyone to stare daggers at you, that was the way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great take and I see what you mean about taking a similar path.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for coming by and having a read. I’m glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope the gendarmes could laugh about it. Cool take.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully written
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great image, after the suspense, to see a single nylon stocking float above the screen. That image juxtaposed with the tension of the title and the action is powerful. Thanks for joining us at Carrot Ranch! I’d love to publish your story in our weekly collection. Just submit it in the form at the end of the post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the pop and delicately floating stocking – such a contrasting image to the busy airport and rushing gendarmes.
LikeLiked by 1 person