I haven’t played “Friday Fictioneers” in a long time, but today when I saw the picture I couldn’t help myself. I take no responsibility for the subject matter. It was the jacket hanging on the end of the banister that did it. Honestly — I couldn’t help it. 🙂 And the weirdest thing is that it came out at exactly 99 words without any editing. Go figure.
Here’s the picture prompt courtesy of Ceayr
HOUSE OF FLAWED FLOWERS
It was a unique little operation. Nothing like the “red-light” districts Derek had been used to. No money actually changed hands here. Men who used the service hung their jackets on the end of the stair banister with the fee in the pocket. Once they were ensconced upstairs, Madam Beatrice relieved the jacket of its contents, and replaced it for the client to retrieve when finished. She even included an innocuous receipt for tax purposes: “One House Special – $100.” Derek had a desk drawer full of those receipts, but he couldn’t use them. His wife was his accountant.
The Happy Wordcrafter 
Genius take! 🙂
Thanks so much Sandra. It was definitely fun.
That made me smile
I’m glad. It did me too — well it actually made me laugh out loud.
Ha, I hope the house specials were worth the cost and the tax he had to pay 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and reading.
What a waste if it can’t written off… lol, I wonder how many people do find ways to write off such “encounters”.
I figure there are lots of people who do. And so help me, I don’t know where this idea came from — except that when I saw that jacket, it just all seemed to fit together.
Dear Sandra,
Unique little operation they have going on there. Clever and imaginative. And nice to see you back in the neighborhood. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks, Rochelle. My first shock was when the idea came to me, but my biggest shock was when I discovered it came out right at 99 words. For me that’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime event. 🙂
Funny story. All neat and tidy until we get to the last line.
I suspect his accountant will eventually discover funds missing from their mutual treasury?
No doubt — unless he’s smarter than that — which I seriously doubt, considering his habitual “indiscretions.” He doesn’t sound like a particularly intelligent man to me.
Oh, Sandra! That made me laugh! Lovely twist indeed!
I’m so glad. It made me laugh too.
I enjoyed your story.
I’m glad. Thanks for letting me know.
You are welcome, Sandra.
Fantastic – made me smile!!
Thank you so much. It was fun to write.
This is hilarious. What a great story for such a little detail!
Thank you. You just never know what tiny little thing will spark creativity. I’ll probably be using this example in my creative writing classes this next term because I’m always trying to impress my students with how important it is to notice and record any details that catch your attention — because they may be the spark they’ll need down the road. So this little story will serve two purposes for me.
Thanks for liking the story and for becoming a follower.
Seems that Derek needs a new accountant.
Or a new wife!
I will look at that house differently now…
I do hope my story doesn’t interfere with other more positive memories of that house. 🙂
Absolutely brilliant! Not sure such services would be tax-deductible anyway so best just ditch them, Derek!
My go at Friday Fictioneers!
My original thought was the possibility of his trying to pass them off as “business lunches,” but, of course, that’s a stretch. But, then again, we’re working with fiction here, so maybe …..
Thanks for the encouraging review.
A good story and well written, Sandra. That was an efficient operation. I wonder how many men used those receipts for “House Specials”. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you, and, yes, it gives one food for thought.
Can I just stay here – and figure? 🙄
Haha – what a wonderfully fresh take on the prompt. Maybe he should show those receipts to his wife, open up a conversation with her that he isn’t happy. Maybe.
Thank you for the encouraging comment. And yes, it might be okay to show the receipts to his wife — but, then again — it could possibly lead to his coming to the same kind of end that Rochelle’s main character experienced.
That is so sad. From both sides of the coin.
Haha. A house special indeed. A very creative take on the prompt
Thank you. I can’t even really take credit for it because the thought just came out of nowhere — but I blamed the jacket hanging there.
Moral of the story, don’t have your wife as your accountant. Poor Derek!
I’m sure he wishes he had someone else for sure — both as an accountant and as a wife.
Oh dear. How’s he going to explain all that money when his wife discovers several hundred dollars unaccounted for?
Thank goodness we were limited to 100 words, so I don’t have to account for that circumstance.
🙂
🙂
That made me smile. Very creative take on the prompt. I didn’t notice the jacket. Well done! 🙂
Thank you so much.
I burst out laughing at the end.
Excellent and way out-of-the box take! Love it.
Thank you so much. I did have fun writing it.
It shows!
Haha…love this!
Thank you!
I had a chuckle from your ending. But then, I hated this cad.
That’s a good story if it can stir one with two different emotions.
Well done …
Isadora 😎
Thank you, Isadora. The idea just popped into my head, and it was too much fun to pass up.