Friday Fictioneers is a weekly challenge to write a complete story in 100 words or less based on a photo prompt. Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting this challenge and Douglas M. MacIlroy for this week’s prompt.
Everyone in the small Texas town loved J.D. McCaskill.
J.D. was what you’d call a good-old boy. Whenever a neighbor needed a hand, J.D. was first to offer his. Once he loaned his brand-new truck to a stranger who needed to haul some hay. And if you ever crossed one of his friends; well, you’d better watch out.
J. D’s life was an open book. Married 30 years to wife Elaine, father of five fine boys. No surprises.
Yep, everyone loved J.D. Everyone except that 17-year old girl chained up in his cellar. She might have different story to tell.
As the Bard says, men can smlle and smile and still be villains
The scariest monsters are often the most pleasing to the eye. Thanks Neil.
Now that’s what I call a twist in the tail.
Thanks Sandra.
Yes, I rather suspect she would! 😊
Thanks George!
Now, that turned majorly creepy at the end there. Like the contrast between the good old boy, easy tone through his positive points and the plain prose at the end. This is the truth of it though – you can’t pick out a psychopath in the street. Well done
Thanks Lynn. I’m glad you liked it. That is exactly the direction I wanted the reader to take.
It worked very well 🙂
Isn’t that so often how it goes? The “boy-next-door” is at heart, a horrible psychopath…
Well done, Susan. Now I need a neck massage from that twist 😉
LOL. I was hoping for that reaction. Thanks for your comments Dale. Much appreciated
Whoa! I wasn’t expecting that!! Thanks for surprising me.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
You are more than welcome! Thanks for taking time to comment
Eek, I imagine she has quite a nightmare to tell!
Hopefully she will be able to tell it. Eek indeed! Thanks Iain
Oh, horrors. The tempo that built up to the last sentence was perfect. Such things have happened in real life, and the horror is just overwhelming.
Thanks Linda. Unfortunately there are too many real cases of this kind of thing
A different story indeed. Good playout on this one!
I’m glad you liked it Jelli.
You tell the tale well. When I stop to think of the implications, they’re horrific. JD’s wife must have known – the girl would have needed food. His boys quite possibly knew, or guessed something. The psychological state of that family must have been appalling.
They might have none, or not. After I write it, however, I thought of the implications of five sons following in dad’s footsteps. Thanks for your comments Penny. Much appreciated.
Brilliant twist and best of all, the clarity of the writing is sheer perfection from beginning to end.
You are very kind, Jill. Thank you
Reminds me of in To Kill A Mocking Bird, house devil, gentleman in the street. Great story.
I’m glad you like it, Lisa. Thanks!
Well written and good build-up. Not sure how realistic; from what I’ve read in the news, psychos can be “decent neighbours” but do tend to be loners rather than good spouses and fathers. Be that as it may, still well told.
I think people can keep all manner of secrets when motivated to do so. I’m glad you enjoyed the story, Christine. Thanks for your comments.
Quite a twist. Lovely read.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!
She just might. Excellent twist there Susan.
To quote the bard again, ‘there’s no art to find the mind’s construction i’the face.’ Some people are masters of hiding a double life. Great piece
Thank you Michael. I appreciate your kind words
You’re welcome
it looks like this is a guy living a double life. hopefully, he’ll get exposed soon.
What goes around, comes around. He will be found out one day. Thanks for stopping by!
You lure us in with a warm and friendly tale and then that twist. Masterfully told.
Thank you. I appreciate your comments
Dear Susan,
Talk about a magnificent bait and switch. I didn’t see that coming. Well done!
Shalom,
Rochelle
Coming from you, that is high praise. Thank you!