PHOTO PROMPT © Janet Webb
A boy of roughly nine entered the shop by himself and wandered aimlessly until a jar of pennies caught his eye.
“You’ve got a lot of coins,” the boy said.
“Indeed, I do,” the man behind the counter replied.
“How’d you get so many?” the boy asked.
“Well, you see,” said the man, “every time a kid asks about ‘em, I take him out back into the woods and sell him to the trolls for a penny. Then I come back here and toss it in the jar.”
The boy ran out the door and the man added another penny.
—
Nothing scary here, unless you count the made up trolls. Just a guy having some fun at the expense of a gullible child, who won’t be the last.
Written for Friday Fictioneers.
Click here to read stories from the other Fictioneers.
July 12th, 2017 at 8:45 PM
Hahahahaha! That’s hilarious, Adam! Sure brings home the adult attitude of “Get outta here, kid, ya bother me.”
My story is a little on the bizarre side, too. Come read!
July 13th, 2017 at 6:43 AM
I think he’s just trying to spice up his day a bit, rather than the kid bothering him.
July 13th, 2017 at 2:29 AM
Another good story, but sad. The man is really not making any money and the trolls are deprived of another boy. Oh, well …
July 13th, 2017 at 6:45 AM
You’re right. That poor man had to put his own money in the jar. How sad.
July 13th, 2017 at 4:07 AM
I love the imagination in this.
July 13th, 2017 at 6:46 AM
Thanks. Imagination has always been one of my favorite things.
July 13th, 2017 at 5:50 AM
Dear Adam,
That man has a mean streak, doesn’t he? I could picture this. Very funny and well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
July 13th, 2017 at 6:48 AM
Some might call it a mean streak. He’d say he’s just having a bit of fun.
July 13th, 2017 at 8:00 AM
Ooh, what a naughty man, scaring the kids so. Ha ha 🙂
July 13th, 2017 at 8:46 AM
Haha, made me smile. I am glad he didn’t actually sell the kid to trolls. (And only for a penny? How cheap!)
July 13th, 2017 at 8:53 AM
This is just brilliant - I’m sitting here with a grin on my face!
Please click to read my FriFic
July 13th, 2017 at 4:05 PM
Ha… and I guess that none of the kids are coming back.
July 13th, 2017 at 5:34 PM
Great fun. I can really believe this is a true story.
July 13th, 2017 at 6:40 PM
Lovely story, over the years, even my older dogs did the same with young tear away puppies. .
July 13th, 2017 at 7:37 PM
Oh, my! This is so delightful! Thanks for a smile and a bit of a chuckle
July 13th, 2017 at 8:44 PM
Hmmm! A mean little fella, the shop owner is. Having fun at little kids’ expense. Oh well, I would have done the same 😀
July 13th, 2017 at 11:17 PM
Teaching a child a little wariness can do no harm. A fun micro drama.
July 15th, 2017 at 4:35 AM
This made me 😃
July 17th, 2017 at 1:24 AM
THAT was hilarious!
July 17th, 2017 at 7:24 AM
Hey, I know that guy. He was my neighbor! Well done! 😀
July 18th, 2017 at 9:08 AM
It might not be scary but what a nasty man. Maybe the trolls will come for him someday for scaring so many children. Good writing, Adam. 🙂 — Suzanne
July 18th, 2017 at 5:41 PM
I’m still chuckling. Good story.