Guten tag! Time for another 100 word dose of fiction. Would you like it in story form or convenient suppository? Your choice.
Before we begin, please allow me to pimp my facebook page. Why not like it and bask in my glory for a bit? You might even learn a thing or two. Don’t believe me? Did you know that assassin bugs are freakin’ sweet or that robots think humans taste like bacon? No? Well you would have if you were following my facebook page.
As always, thanks go out to Madison Woods for hosting this weekly party and the Fictioneers for wading through my river of words.
Comments, criticism, and half drunken rants are all acceptable in the comments section.
The Buzzard
Gramps clings to his ridiculous belief that our worlds revolve around him, that we still fear him, but the old buzzard couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m basically the only one who still visits. Everyone else got tired of trying to break through his gruff exterior to the sweet, gooey center. Fact is, that sweet center is pure myth, doesn’t exist. I don’t have much love left for the old man. I’m just waiting for him to die so I can claim my inheritance. I figure I’m due every penny when he finally decides to croak. I earned it.
—
View the rest of the Fictioneers stories by clicking on the image below. Go on, I dare ya. Click it!
July 12th, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Oh my days lol…no fair :). But considering you are the last man standing with the buzzard, you deserve every last penny…hopefully it is a lot of pennies. Very well done!!! Thanks for stopping by mine and taking a closer look at the post :).
July 13th, 2012 at 8:06 PM
The younger man is just as much of a buzzard as the older, circling around waiting for death to come.
July 12th, 2012 at 11:15 PM
Lawd child you do believe in writing true that’s for sure! Love this such honesty even in a write is hard to come by, makes me proud to say I follow you.
July 13th, 2012 at 8:08 PM
I’m honored that you’re proud to follow me. Glad I could live up to your expectations.
July 12th, 2012 at 11:28 PM
Honesty is the best policy…and if Gramps is as rotten as you say, I’m sure he knows just why he has only one visitor and exactly why he is stopping by.
~Susan (www.susanwenzel.com)
July 13th, 2012 at 8:10 PM
To be fair, the younger man is just as rotten, but in a different way. He’s only in it for the money.
July 12th, 2012 at 11:40 PM
the old buzzard in his stark milieu
July 13th, 2012 at 8:12 PM
The younger buzzard is the one that worries me. The old buzzard is near death. The young buzzard is still in his prime. Who knows where he’ll go from here.
July 12th, 2012 at 11:47 PM
Haha damn. gramps gotta go or he gonna get poisoned.
https://writersclubkl.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/friday-fictioneers-the-river/
July 13th, 2012 at 8:13 PM
I was thinking pillow over the face while he sleeps, but poison could work too.
July 13th, 2012 at 10:12 PM
🙂 ..
July 13th, 2012 at 1:54 AM
A nice touch of realism to go with the prompt. Convincing voice.
https://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/every-cloud-friday-fictioneers-july-2012/
July 13th, 2012 at 8:13 PM
Thanks, Sandra. I’m glad you found it convincing. Coming from you, that means a lot.
July 13th, 2012 at 4:00 AM
Good night!! Talk about no love lost. At least he’s honest; give him that… Lol.
Thanks for the tidbit on assassin bugs
July 13th, 2012 at 8:14 PM
That’s about the only thing I’d give him, and if I was Gramps I wouldn’t give him a single cent.
July 13th, 2012 at 4:54 AM
Ouch.There’s some close-to-homeness for me in this one. As always, love your writing. Thanks for your comments on mine.
July 13th, 2012 at 8:16 PM
No close-to-homeness for me- thankfully. I just saw the photo and pictured a mean old man on his death bed. The story basically wrote itself from there.
July 13th, 2012 at 5:05 AM
Sounds like Gramps is a pretty unhappy guy. I feel sad for him. A little, at least! 😉
Good take.
July 13th, 2012 at 5:05 AM
Forgot to add my link: https://www.lazuli-portals.com/flash-fiction/tideline-transition
July 13th, 2012 at 8:17 PM
I know what you mean. I kind of felt bad for Gramps. Then I remembered he brought it on himself. Then I remember I created him so I basically brought it on him. Then I felt a little bit mean. Then I had some ice cream and felt better.
July 14th, 2012 at 4:15 AM
LOL!!! 😀
July 13th, 2012 at 6:43 AM
I like the way you took the picture and turned it into a metaphor for something different, not about the bird in the picture at all. Good job!
BTW, I love hockey!
July 13th, 2012 at 8:18 PM
I figured there would be a lot of stories about birds this week so I wanted to give everyone something different to read. Hopefully I succeed, I haven’t yet had a chance to read most of the stories.
And I love that you love hockey!
July 13th, 2012 at 8:29 PM
I’ve been a fan of hockey since I was a kid. We lived in Omaha and were a farm team of the Montreal Canadians, which means that all the players would be in the NHL now. It was great hockey. If I could, I’d go to lots of games.
July 13th, 2012 at 8:06 AM
What he deserves and what he gets may be two different things, Your protagonist sounds as though buzzardom lies somewhere in his jaded future. Great characterization in this tale.
Aloha,
Doug
July 13th, 2012 at 8:20 PM
Actually, I think what he gets and what he deserves will be one in the same, only what he thinks he deserves and what he actually deserves are two very different things.
July 13th, 2012 at 8:14 AM
Ha! The old buzzard has probably left the lot to a church or something, just out of spite!
July 13th, 2012 at 8:21 PM
That’d be the kicker, wouldn’t it? He’d be furious, which is probably what he deserves with the way he views Gramps.
July 13th, 2012 at 9:04 AM
yep, there are some buzzard typed in the homosapien species! Love the honesty and the humor!
July 13th, 2012 at 8:22 PM
Most certainly. I’ve know one too many buzzards for comfort. I fear they may be multiplying.
July 13th, 2012 at 9:34 AM
Prya you are not in for a big surprise, judging from Gramps character. Mine is here and linked as well: https://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/fridayfictioneers-spectators/
July 13th, 2012 at 8:23 PM
Something tells me he isn’t going to get anything. He’ll either find out Gramps donated it or didn’t actually have anything to give.
July 13th, 2012 at 12:22 PM
I won’t be surprised if Gramps gets the last laugh. Judging from his character, who knows what he’ll do with his property?
https://logo-ligi.com/2012/07/12/soliloquy-of-a-disgruntled-raven/
July 13th, 2012 at 8:24 PM
I have a feeling you’re right. The old buzzard will teach the young buzzard a valuable lesson, though the younger probably won’t see the lesson in it. He’ll just be angry and more buzzard-like because of it.
July 13th, 2012 at 2:28 PM
This story rings true for so many adult children who put up with selfish, grumpy buzzards. Most children dump them in snake pit-nursing homes. If he’s that nasty, I would not be surprised if he disinherited them long ago.Well done.
July 13th, 2012 at 8:26 PM
Note to self: do not become a selfish, grumpy buzzard. I don’t want to be tossed into a snake pit nursing home.
July 13th, 2012 at 4:41 PM
LOL, I can’t help but find the mc likeable in spite of his vulturistic habits. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. If I had to bet, I’d bet the old buzzard had the same constitution when his father was on his death bed and his son is following closely in his footsteps.
July 13th, 2012 at 8:27 PM
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as the saying goes.
July 14th, 2012 at 4:29 AM
Reminds me of a funny true story I heard this week of an 80 year old woman whose man never married her and despite her 2 homes she’s not happy he left all his lot to his nephew - I knew the young had expectations, but was amazed some are still waiting to inherit into their 80’s, I guess it represents a little acknowledgement, not quite sure what to make of it.
Thought provoking interpretation!
https://wp.me/s1nUrn-buzzard
July 15th, 2012 at 7:15 AM
I’m not quite sure what to make of that either. It seems to me like inheriting anything at that stage in life would be rather pointless, but what do I know?
July 15th, 2012 at 9:07 AM
Exactly what I thought, but then I wasn’t the 80 year old who’d spent years looking after and caring for the needs of her partner, certainly made me think, as the person narrating the story was a friend of hers and a sympathiser.
July 14th, 2012 at 9:12 AM
Oh, for the days when the peasants whipped up an “eleventh hour broth” for the cumbersome ancestor. Forensics have become too good nowadays. That’s the comment. Don’t have any criticism and the drunken rant’s out because there’s no alcohol in the house - except for the apple cider vinegar, but I don’t want to waste that. (I’ll try to find a nice Merlot or a Bordeaux for next week.) So, you’ll have to make do with the comment this time.
July 15th, 2012 at 7:16 AM
haha thanks for the comment, I look forward to next weeks drunken rant.
July 14th, 2012 at 11:30 AM
It’s terrible to admit but I know people like this — on both sides! My favorite bit was the giving up on the gooey center.
July 15th, 2012 at 7:17 AM
I’m fairly certain we all know people who’d fit this description. Glad you enjoyed the nonexistent gooey center.
July 14th, 2012 at 12:11 PM
So be a good chap and help the old man on his way.
Well done.
July 15th, 2012 at 7:18 AM
If he doesn’t hurry up and die, that may be a definite possibility.
July 14th, 2012 at 6:08 PM
Oh that nasty personality rears its ugly head. Greed!! 😀 Nice twist to the photo prompt.
July 15th, 2012 at 7:19 AM
Greed is an ugly monster, indeed. Glad you enjoyed it.
July 15th, 2012 at 6:51 AM
Oh dear! Just goes to show you can’t trust family. I did enjoy your main character though. I just hope he isn’t planning to help Gramps on his way.
Here’s mine
https://tollykitsjourney.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/i-should-leave-fridayfictioneers-poem/
July 15th, 2012 at 7:21 AM
When you’re like Gramps, you can’t trust anyone. I think that’s part of what drove the rest of them away.
July 16th, 2012 at 12:00 PM
One buzzard begat another, and so on down the line. Neither appears to have a sweet gooey center. I thoroughly enjoyed it, Adam. It was a nice break from feathered bird stories.
July 16th, 2012 at 8:17 PM
Nice! I never came up with anything. 🙂
August 9th, 2012 at 4:15 PM
Looks like we “play” the same prompts_ I enjoy reading yours! Thanks for continuing to read mine! beebeesworld
August 9th, 2012 at 8:23 PM
I try to make sure I get something written every week. The hard part is managing to read everyone elses’ writings. With so many, I don’t always get to them all.