Posted Wednesday August 3
I clanged the bell.
‘Time gentlemen please’ I yelled.
‘What about the ladies?’ chortled Annie as she coughed, spluttered and stumbled into the steet.
‘What about the ladies?’ chortled Annie as she coughed, spluttered and stumbled into the steet.
I’d been landlord
of the Brewers for thirty years but night after night, year in
year out, it was at closing time I felt my loneliest.
The banter and
merry laughter of minutes ago rang in my ears as
I turned the key in the lock.
My finger lingered over the light switch. It always did. I
hated turning out the lights.
It was then I thought I saw Annie,
sitting in the corner. She raised a glass to me. ‘Cheers’ she
whispered.
'Have one last drink with me Annie. Please?' I begged as I flicked the switch.
.
Thanks Rochelle at Friday Fictioneers for hosting and Ted Strutz for the photo prompt
Very nice. I adore your vignettes.
ReplyDeleteThis was very good. I enjoyed it, well done.
ReplyDeleteDear Keith,
ReplyDeleteA sweet and poignant tale. The atmosphere is tangible. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Another cleverly crafted little story - very nicely done, Keith.
ReplyDeleteSusan at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
A ghostly memory underlines his loneliness. Beautifully told.
ReplyDeleteAww...you touched my heart
ReplyDeleteI got goosebumps reading this. So simple, but so very effective!
ReplyDeleteI loved this, Keith! I think so often people in very public roles like this find themselves more alone and lonely at times than any of us would guess. I smiled to think of Annie there waiting. :-)
ReplyDeletethis one left me confused
ReplyDeletehttp://obliqview.blogspot.in/2016/08/icon-grill-prompt-ted-strutz-he-was-too.html
His loneliness and longing for the lost Annie come through so powerfully, and I love how you've described the details of his nightly ritual and how hard he finds it all. Well told.
ReplyDelete