Well, this week I’m on the road again, hiking by myself in rural Korea. I was planning to write this one on my phone, like last week, until I walked into my hotel and saw a computer. Nice serendipity.
copyright Bjorn Rudberg
Just One Step Ahead
Bankruptcy is for losers, even when you owe Visa $153,221.
“We just gotta stay one step ahead,” I told my wife. “I know this place in Sweden. The rent’s peanuts.”
“Run away?”
“Escape.” I grinned, all Prince Charming. “Just one step ahead.”
“If you take that step, you’ll do it without me.”
I called her bluff. And she . . . well, it was probably for the best. We only had enough money for one ticket anyway.
I survived, somehow, until the landlady came knocking. Peanuts are still more than nothing.
“Is a check okay?” Full-on Prince Charming.
Just stay one step ahead.
The Green-Walled Tower 
January 23rd, 2014 at 12:21 am
I can’t help but love this character. He’s terrible with money and a liar, but I can’t help but like the guy for some weird reason. Probably how he racked up so much debt.
January 23rd, 2014 at 1:58 am
Ahh.. this was excellent… I can tell you that peanuts are incredibly expensive here in Sweden 🙂
January 23rd, 2014 at 2:08 am
Adam’s right; he sounds eminently likeable. Not that I’d want to have anything to do with him…
January 23rd, 2014 at 2:29 am
Wow this is stunning.
http://www.awordofsubstance.wordpress.com
January 23rd, 2014 at 4:12 am
Ha!ha!Have to love this wicked PC characters,eh?A fun read through and through David 🙂
January 23rd, 2014 at 7:05 am
A new place, no people and new debt. Good stuff.
January 23rd, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Nice guy….
January 23rd, 2014 at 8:29 pm
Dear David,
I dub this man Prince Not-So-Charming. Debt, the bind that unties. Nice one as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
January 23rd, 2014 at 8:30 pm
I like this guy, he’s smart and suave. I only wonder how long it is that he can keep running and is no longer a step ahead! 😀
January 23rd, 2014 at 10:10 pm
As always, I love the way you bring your characters to life, David!
January 23rd, 2014 at 11:50 pm
Reblogged this on giselaanggita.
January 24th, 2014 at 12:22 am
Always a pleasure to read you.
January 24th, 2014 at 7:06 am
A lazy scoundrel!
January 24th, 2014 at 8:48 am
Good luck to him. I think he’s going to need it. Hopefully life will catch up with him and teach him a lesson. Charm only goes so far.
janet
January 24th, 2014 at 10:06 am
A ‘moon-light flit’. I’m with him
January 24th, 2014 at 12:11 pm
Now there’s a guy who knows how to stay ahead of the game. A fine skill when the game is chasing you! A very entertaining story. This was fun to read.
January 24th, 2014 at 12:36 pm
Fun story, David. You always have such a creative take. Peanuts aren’t nothing anymore!
January 26th, 2014 at 10:39 pm
🙂 He needs somewhere that’s totally free, and even then he’d probably rack up debt somehow.
January 24th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
How do you get a credit card limit above $150,000.00. Your story is great and a real eye-opener. Always one step ahead of the law. Good read! Thanks, Nan
January 26th, 2014 at 10:37 pm
I have no idea how you get a credit card debt that high, but I wanted to make it almost unrealistically high, since he has no way of paying it off and this has been going on for a long time.
January 24th, 2014 at 6:47 pm
I see trouble ahead. You can’t hide away in the long run.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:37 pm
He’s not one for thinking of the long term. It’s all going to come down hard on him pretty soon, I think.
January 24th, 2014 at 6:59 pm
for how long will he run?
January 26th, 2014 at 10:36 pm
I don’t think he can run much longer. When his check bounces, he’ll be in deep trouble.
January 24th, 2014 at 10:32 pm
David, you painted a guy whom one can ‘dearly’ detest. A nice write indeed!
January 26th, 2014 at 10:35 pm
That was my intent: to make a character both likeable and detestable. He’s a charmer but a scoundrel too.
January 24th, 2014 at 11:33 pm
Well, all your own personal adventure has made you rather feisty! Great story.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:34 pm
🙂 Thanks.
January 25th, 2014 at 12:24 pm
Makes me anxious just reading your story about…full-on Prince Charming.
January 26th, 2014 at 11:18 am
Hahaha! Very humorous. Seems people will do anything to get out out paying the debt.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:33 pm
He’ll do his best, but I think things are going to catch up with him at last.