Tag: microfiction

EXPEDIENT DEMENTIA

~ B.G. Smith

by B.G. Smith

Ant wheeled his oxygen tank into the recreation room of the Palm Valley Assisted Living Facility. A television blared from the wall, “Human remains were found in Lake Mead this morning. Police believe the remains are that of a man who died from a gunshot wound in the mid-1970s.” He chuckled, recalling how difficult it was to get Vincenzo’s legs to fit into the 55-gallon drum. An orderly appeared in the doorway with a dark-haired woman.

“Mr. Russo, your daughter is here to see you.”

As he’d done since the lake started to recede, Ant pretended not to recognize Sofia.

A CHANCE ENCOUNTER

~ B.G. Smith

by B.G. Smith

I sat in the boarding area, chewing on a breakfast biscuit before my flight. A young man wearing a ballcap backward said, “Thank you for being a pilot. I’m proud of you,” and disappeared. My “thank you” between bites was unsuccessful. I found “Chance” at another gate and thanked him for his kind words.

“My dad was a police officer and took his own life,” he said. “You never know if your words may make a difference to someone.”

We took a selfie and said goodbye.

“Maybe I’ll see you again in this life,” Chance said as I walked away.