Friday Fictioneers: January 21st, 2022

Endurance swimmer, Mistress Rochelle has placed me in the city library children’s section with a limit of one hundred of my own carefully crafted words with which I must contrive a suspenseful story of escape.

Click on the photo provided by Ted Strutz to buzz on over to Rochelle’s page where “Growing older is inevitable. Growing up is optional.” I considered those options when I wrote the photo-inspired story that follows.

Photo provided by Ted Strutz

Genre: Micro-fiction
Title: The Latte Librarian
Word count: 100

***

Passing through the library’s deserted children’s section, I turned toward the noisy coffee shop.

I set my chai latte and backpack on the counter nearest the women’s table, drank half the latte, then slipped the smoke bomb into the cup. From the men’s room, I called in the bomb threat.

When evacuation was announced, I set off the smoke bomb.

I returned to transfer valuables from each handbag or backpack into mine, then left through the side door just as fire trucks and police cars arrived. I removed the disguise in the car, kissed my partner, and we drove off.

Look both ways to be aware of surroundings.
Notice people and their trappings.
Mind the gaps of their absence.

***

Click on Alec Baldwin’s badge (from 2018 movie, “The Public”) for your library card to read other fine stories.

52 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers: January 21st, 2022”

      1. Oh, I understood that part. I’m just saying I like to think I’d have the presence of mind to not forget mine… of course, that doesn’t mean I would 😉

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  5. Your story prompts me to wonder why on earth people turn to crime. If the perp had put in an equal amount of thought ingenuity and work into regular work, he’d probably have made much more money – and without the possibility of gaol time! Good story – and brave man writing a story of crime in a children’s library!

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  8. A criminal ruse that makes me wonder if the proceeds were worth the effort. I suspect in this case it was the thrill and the drama he enjoyed, plus his girlfriend needed some new jewellery. Great story in any case.

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  9. Dear Bill,

    Cagy thief that. A good reminder to never leave the purse behind. Fun story. I thought perhaps he was going to pick up a children’s book and enjoy. I was wrong. 😉

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Hey, Rochelle,

      The scene in my mind was my local library. After all the comments, I want to make changes. 🙂
      Yes, purses, pockets, backpacks, or briefcases; all targets for the wandering thief. 🙂

      Peace,

      Bill

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  12. A hit and run on the inside. haha I think my safety world be more impotant then my purse; then again, I always sling mine across my body. It would be hanging and dragging me down but it would be with me. You’ve created quite a dialog with this thievery tale, Bill.
    Have a wonderful weekend …
    Isadora 😎

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    1. Cuz COVID I no longer linger in my local library, but that is the source and map of my ploy, including the ladies (young and old) meeting and chatting around a large table. 🙂

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  22. Oh man, that was an awesome movie. I hope this person gets caught and goes to jail for a very long time. Because, that is not cool! That said, fun narrator to glare at means a fun story to read!

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