I’m a bit weird when it comes to Friday Fictioneers. I look at the picture, try to find the most likely story, then do something completely different. To me, this picture has the look of fantasy, so I avoided that. That’s just me though; I look forward to seeing what everyone else comes up with.
copyright Kent Bonham
Demon in the Light
“The book’s published.”
With those words, everything I had worked for started slipping away.
“Why do you think Walt did it?” I asked. “Why did he ruin his legacy and put our whole organization in jeopardy?”
“I guess he wanted a clear conscience.”
“But at what expense?”
Demon in the Light was a bestseller. The autobiography of Walt Brody, the founder of Asian Mercy, meticulously detailed his life of secret crime.
Now our donations are in freefall and I’m desperately trying to convince people to keep giving, for the children. And I keep wishing Walt had kept his veneer intact.
The Green-Walled Tower 
April 2nd, 2014 at 7:01 pm
I wonder why he did do it? A different take on the prompt David. I think we approach the prompt in the same way – trying not to go the obvious route. Well done.
April 2nd, 2014 at 10:22 pm
Who knows why he did it. Maybe through some sense of misplaced guilt. You can decide. 🙂
April 2nd, 2014 at 7:07 pm
Dear David,
I’m smiling so hard my mouth hurts. I do the very same thing with the prompts. (At least most of the time;) )
You had me with the title. I won’t tell you what I thought, but you can guess in that I was pleasantly surprised.
At first I thought you meant Walt Disney. And I also think of Julie Andrews when she shocked us with “Victor, Victoria”. At any rate, I’ll stop rambling and tell you how much I enjoyed your unique take on the prompt.
Thank you for your continued support and stellar writing.
shalom,
Rochelle
April 2nd, 2014 at 10:24 pm
Thanks, Rochelle. I’m sure this sort of story could apply to various people, but I wasn’t thinking of anyone in particular. I was trying to think of someone who would be held up as a paradigm of goodness, and I decided not to go with a religious figure to avoid controversy or a politician since it seemed too much like The Dark Knight. 🙂
April 2nd, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Dear David,
Echoing Rochelle’s well said comments here. A pleasant departure from the usual, as usual.
Aloha,
Doug
April 2nd, 2014 at 10:25 pm
Thank you, Doug. I always appreciate your comments. 🙂
April 2nd, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Hey, THERE you go! It IS a better story. I love the concept as well. The idea of people who do good for others and yet finding out later … wow! This gets the originality prize this week (OK, there isn’t one, but if there WERE, you’d get it). Bravo, Dave!
April 2nd, 2014 at 10:27 pm
Thanks Ken. I’m glad you liked it. I’d be happy even to be nominated for the originality prize. 🙂
April 2nd, 2014 at 9:24 pm
Where are the spin doctors?!!
April 2nd, 2014 at 10:11 pm
I’m not sure if non-profits usually have many, but you’re right, they need to hire a good PR team for this one, I think.
April 2nd, 2014 at 9:44 pm
The selfish demon! God one David 🙂
April 2nd, 2014 at 10:12 pm
Thanks, Madhu. 🙂 Some people can do a lot of good but still be terrible people inside. He should have kept it all to himself.
April 2nd, 2014 at 10:01 pm
I wish this story were never true, David, but sadly, it is. I’ve said to Rochelle before that in FF, the twist ending may now be one with no twist and in the same way, the unusual story is the everyday one. I’m so confused now that I think I’ll have some breakfast. Excellent story,”
janet
April 2nd, 2014 at 10:13 pm
That’s a great way to put it, Janet. 🙂 The twist that isn’t, because it’s already happened in real life.
April 2nd, 2014 at 11:28 pm
Oh, wow, David — what an interesting take on this — the metaphor of the Demon in the light — I shudder to think what he detailed in his book.
April 2nd, 2014 at 11:53 pm
Hopefully it wasn’t embezzling the donations, at least for the sake of the new director. Whatever it was, it’s probably enough to tarnish his reputation forever.
April 3rd, 2014 at 12:21 am
Thanks for not taking the well known route.
April 3rd, 2014 at 12:27 am
Yikers. Sometimes those that bear the worst of sins pay penance with the greatest of gifts. Things like this happen often. Very well written. I enjoyed this. 🙂
April 3rd, 2014 at 12:29 am
You’ve definitely succeeded at creating a different story here, well done.
April 3rd, 2014 at 2:07 am
i can always expect a great story from you, David, no matter what genre.
April 3rd, 2014 at 4:58 am
Well written. That was an interesting take on the prompt and a creative story that developed from it.
April 3rd, 2014 at 5:25 am
Great story, great title, and intriguing comment on human beings. Terrific metaphorical use of the prompt.
April 3rd, 2014 at 5:55 am
The prompt this week has me bouncing about from science fiction ideas to fantasy to dark tales about stage life and beyond. While considering the many options, I’m reading what others have struck upon. This is a unique take–loosely based on the prompt but nicely told. Good work.
Cheers!
MG
April 3rd, 2014 at 5:57 am
I really think this of not going the obvious way was a great choice.. and sometimes a clear conscienec have consequences far worse…. there is wisdom in this story.
April 3rd, 2014 at 6:26 am
You really hint at the larger backstory (and following story) well with this snapshot in time. I feel the narrator’s two-edged regret.
April 3rd, 2014 at 6:43 am
I like the way you’ve come up with a complete curve ball but managed to make it fit. Well done.
April 3rd, 2014 at 2:18 pm
Good for others 🙂
April 3rd, 2014 at 7:18 pm
Interest story here. I’d be interested to know if the two speakers also have something to Jekyll and Hyde (sorry, poor combination of pun and rhyming slang).
April 3rd, 2014 at 8:17 pm
Well, the main character is the new director of the charity, trying to clean up things after the founder quit. The other guy is an assistant, but in 100 words there wasn’t much of a way to make that clear.
April 3rd, 2014 at 10:16 pm
Deep, really makes you think about organized charities and what could be happening behind the scenes. I like it.
April 3rd, 2014 at 10:55 pm
I’m glad you liked it. I didn’t take this from anything in real life, but you’re right that anywhere there is a lot of money flowing in and out, there is always room for corruption. There have been problems with some charities before, I know.
April 3rd, 2014 at 10:36 pm
Great story and a very different path from the prompt. The title is brilliant.
April 3rd, 2014 at 10:54 pm
Thanks. I was kind of doing a fake-out with the title; making people think it was a supernatural story, then changing directions. 🙂
April 4th, 2014 at 2:41 am
Damn…clearing one’s conscience indeed. Can’t say I don’t admire that! I guess everyone’s gotta deal with the consequences sooner or later. I like your take on the prompt! I think I’ll take a stab at trying your method next time…
April 4th, 2014 at 3:54 am
Think I was a bit slow on the uptake. Had to read it twice, but the second time was much better. Nicely written story
April 4th, 2014 at 7:13 am
Sounds like Walt used the donations for something other than the children–just hope he didn’t use the….Good story, what with all the information circulating about the percentage of donations that go to administration rather than to the cause the donor wants to support.
April 4th, 2014 at 6:50 pm
Very interesting take. I also try to avoid the obvious, and I thought you’d gone with the obvious this time when I saw the title, but you fooled me!
April 7th, 2014 at 10:53 am
Yep, faked you out. 🙂
April 5th, 2014 at 12:40 am
I liked your intro and your ability to avoid the obvious, perhaps I should try and bit more ‘out-of-the-box ‘ thinking.
Great take on the prompt David, wondered where you were taking us, but thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Dee
April 7th, 2014 at 10:52 am
Dee, I’m glad you liked it. I think there is room for all kinds of stories, which is good.
April 5th, 2014 at 3:35 am
I like your strategy!
April 7th, 2014 at 10:51 am
🙂
April 5th, 2014 at 3:56 am
There are a few high profile scandals going on here in Ireland at the moment regarding charity bosses, mainly to do with salaries being topped up with bonuses. One chief exec has just resigned because of the stress that being asked to justify her salary has put on her family. Needless to say, sympathy is sparse. The charities in question help people with disabilities in various ways and had previously generated a lot of good will in terms of fundraising. ‘Think of the children’ echoes very loudly over here.
I really love your title – it works at a lot of levels and sets the theme for the story nicely.
April 7th, 2014 at 10:51 am
That’s one problem with charities, that people give sometimes without finding out about the charity. They’re concerned for the people in need and other people exploit that concern. Glad you liked the story.
April 5th, 2014 at 8:09 am
Very intricate writing, David. I definitely think you get the prize for most original take on the prompt! They need a PR team to save the day.
April 7th, 2014 at 10:50 am
Thanks, Amy. 🙂
April 6th, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Writing an autobiography is sort of selfish, if you are hurting others as you do it and especially if you are making money writing the darn book. At least I KNOW I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING INTERESTING ENOUGH TO BLACKMAIL ME WITH. Now I said it. And, I think it’s true – but there was this one time . . . Nan 🙂
April 7th, 2014 at 10:45 am
Yeah, it would be selfish, especially if he was profiting off it. Maybe he should donate the proceeds to the charity.
April 7th, 2014 at 12:44 pm
Well darn his hide, he should at least give some to the children! I liked where you took this, takes some imagination. 🙂
April 7th, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Thanks. I guess bad men can be anywhere.