Yesterday, Fictioneers Mistress Rochelle dealt us an urban photo by Ted Strutz from which we were prompted to contrive, via inspiration, a micro-fiction story. May my tardiness be forgiven. Three more NaPoWriMo poems and my life returns to whatever my normal may be.
Genre: urban fiction
Title: Tony Loves Rosie
Word count: 100
The slow walking old man stopped. He remembered this corner with ambivalence, but that day with dread.
The ironic sign was near where he’d shot and killed Ted Coffey during the gang rumble. Hearing the Third Avenue elevated pass brought a tear. The bike lay were he almost bled to death. Behind him the spot where Rosie died. Then, her loud voice.
“Tony fucking Del Toro. Is that you? Remember me? It’s Rosie Reyes. I heard you died in Viet Nam. Marines, right? Hey, let’s get a cup a joe and talk old times. Good memories.”
Seeing her changed everything.
Look both ways, even on one-way streets.
Mind the gaps hidden in the crevasses of your mind.
Our Literary Journey 
Interesting how they both thought the other died, but found out to their joy that they didn’t. Well told story.
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Thank you, Frank.
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Did they, or didn’t they? Were they, or not? Great conflict of thought provoked in so few words!
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Thanks, Peter.
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Sad story indeed. Good job!
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Thank you, Kimber.
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Interesting one Bill. Are they both actually dead and ghosts reunited, or did they both actually survive? Good stuff.
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Thanks Iain. I am thinking both survived, but each thought the other did not. 🙂
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Whether it’s life or afterlife, it’s suddenly become dramatically better. Great story, very atmospheric.
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Thank you. 🙂
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However you interpret it, it’s wonderfully graphic. Nice one Bill.
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Thanks, Keith.
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Very interesting. A lot of interpretations are possible here, though “slow walking old man” makes me think they both survived…
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Me too. Thanks, Trent.
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A happy ending. Hooray! You convey the difference of expectations between gang culture and conventional society, while affirming their common humanity and ability to love.
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Thank you, Penny.
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The juxtaposition of where these two characters created a nice effect! Brought me from melancholy reminiscing to ‘oh everything’s fine’. Thanks for sharing.
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Glad you liked it. 🙂 Thanks for saying so.
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“Reunited and it feels so good…”
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Yep. 🙂
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Dear Bill,
Until I saw a reply to a comment I thought they were meeting in the afterlife. Either way, dead or alive, this story works and makes me smile. Well done, sir.
Shalom,
Her Purple Majesty 😉
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(Bows as he removes his hat).
Thank you, Rochelle.
I suppose we can place them in whatever dimension we like.
Peace,
Bill
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Very atmospheric descriptions and I really like how the slow melancholy of the story is lifted by the upbeat language and mood of the ending. Love the characters, too.
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Thank you, Margaret.
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I imagine they have a lot of catching up to do and it will take several cups. Great storytelling.
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Thank you, T.
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what a surprise happy ending. they didn’t expect it. i didn’t either. 🙂
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Yes. Happy is good.
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I imagine seeing her would change everything if he thought she was dead.
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I agree.
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