Photo Copyright – Marie Gail Stratford
The blade of the ax bit into the tree stump. The wood was shredded from many previous anger management sessions, but it still got the job done. He knew he’d have to cut another tree down to replenish his stock of firewood soon anyway. Then he’d have a brand new stump on which to take out his aggression.
Memories of her packing lingered in his mind. She’d left her key on the kitchen counter. He pictured her with Kurt and snarled. Fingers clenched around the ax handle, he looked over his shoulder at his truck then back at the ax.
—
This story was written for Friday Fictioneers. The connection to the prompt photo is loose at best. The word ‘chop’ stuck in my head and I ran with it. I hope you enjoyed the result.
July 23rd, 2014 at 10:02 PM
Oh shoot . . . You posted before I had a chance to guzzle the night’s ration of hard cider. (It’s a good batch too–all girly, with elderflowers and stuff in it.) Anywho . . .
I like your story. Hard work is an excellent antidote to pent up anger and even aggression.
All my best,
Marie Gail
July 23rd, 2014 at 10:13 PM
My apologizes for posting too early in the evening.
You’re right about hard work, but I think he might be thinking about replacing the stump with Kurt. Knowing my characters he just may be crazy enough to act on the thought. Poor Kurt.
All the best to you in your hard cider guzzling endeavors.
July 23rd, 2014 at 10:18 PM
That was intense! A well-written and drama-laden story.
July 24th, 2014 at 2:03 AM
Adam, When he looked at the truck, I just knew what he was thinking.
This story was lacking the usual creepyness of your stories up to that point. Well written yet again. 🙂 —Susan
July 24th, 2014 at 2:23 AM
Dear Adam,
many a forest has been felled with the anger you describe. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
July 24th, 2014 at 3:36 AM
Could feel this piece, Adam.
Ellespeth
July 24th, 2014 at 4:42 AM
Uh oh. I get the feeling smashing up tree trunks isn’t going to be enough pretty soon. Great story!
July 24th, 2014 at 5:10 AM
Wow. She’s for the chop then? Or Kurt? Or both? Wouldn’t want to get in the way.
July 24th, 2014 at 7:13 AM
Adam, what great, and useful, therapy, but methinks from your last line that he’s going to go over the edge. I like that you set it out so normally, then just slipped in the possibility of horror in the last line.
janet
July 24th, 2014 at 8:34 AM
Clever, outside of the box thinking with ‘chop’–albeit slightly ominous and disturbing. 😉 Well-done!
Sarah
July 24th, 2014 at 9:11 AM
Anger (Most people’s healthy brand of steroids) lol. I hope wood is not the only thing he’s planning on chopping…Nice one Adam 🙂
July 24th, 2014 at 11:43 AM
I say, go get her and turn her into firewood!
July 24th, 2014 at 4:35 PM
Maybe it’s because this is your story, but I was a little suspicious about what had happened to Kurt and his missus… Great lessons in anger management though.
July 24th, 2014 at 6:28 PM
I’ve always thought wood chopping therapeutic. Hopefully he won’t have to chop down an entire forest.
July 25th, 2014 at 3:32 AM
I think there will be some chopped Kurt for dinner tonight. I hope it’s kosher!
July 25th, 2014 at 4:39 AM
Nice. Can really feel the aggression in this.
July 25th, 2014 at 8:00 AM
while he is chopping – he can make some chopsticks as well – could use them to pick some other chopped pieces 😀
July 25th, 2014 at 11:17 PM
uh-oh… i’m scared about what he might be considering… nice piece. subtle but you know it’s gonna end up in blood 🙂
July 26th, 2014 at 7:24 AM
Very clever and scary! I think he it practicing chopping off the guys head. Be careful! Nan 🙂
July 26th, 2014 at 9:21 AM
Dear Adam,
I thought it was a good way to take out his aggression until he looked over his shoulder at the truck. The secret’s in the sauce.
Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
July 26th, 2014 at 9:37 PM
Ominous tones here…..hmmmm…..
July 27th, 2014 at 9:16 AM
He might be visiting Kurt pretty soon, chop chop.
July 27th, 2014 at 5:56 PM
Something tells me the stump isn’t the only thing he wants to hit. Watch out Kurt.
July 28th, 2014 at 4:39 PM
Very well done and surprisingly restrained.
July 29th, 2014 at 9:26 AM
I’m hoping there’s a story somewhere about Kurt’s head on that stump!