Everyone knows that the squeaky wheel gets the grease and a pirate that doesn’t yell “Avast!” every now and then, or at least swing his cutlass around, is likely going to be ignored.
It was a busy day at the tire garage to begin with. Pete called in sick again, one of the machines broke and the customers just kept coming. Around 10, the guy walked in, dressed like an extra from Pirates of the Carribbean 6: Jack Sparrow Takes Manhattan.
“I need new tires for my ship,” he said.
I frowned. “Ships don’t have tires.”
“Mine does.”
“Well, okay then.” I pulled out a form. “What’s the make, model and year?”
“Make?”
“Who made it,” I said slowly.
He wrinkled his brows, thinking. “Spain?”
“Okay . . . Model and year.”
“A brigantine, around 1802.”
“Gotcha. Your name?”
“Alec Greenbeard.”
“Okay, just have a seat, Mr. Greenbeard. We’ll get right on that.” Just then I got a call and I put the form on the desk.
I did look once but the manufacturer laughed at me when I asked for a lookup on tires for an 1802 Spanish brigantine. After that, I was too busy to worry about it and Mr. Greenbeard just sat there, waiting patiently. It was easy enough to ignore him. Soon he just seemed to fade into the décor.
A couple months later, the janitor found me. “You remember that pirate?”
“No.”
“The one who wanted the tires for his ship.”
“Oh crap! I forgot about him. Where is he?”
“Maybe you should come into the waiting room.”
February 2nd, 2015 at 3:22 pm
Nice. I didn’t see the pirate connection that everyone else saw.
But I did like the skeleton – even named it.
Sunday Photo Fiction : Posed skeleton in a shed
February 2nd, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Think I gave you the wrong link:
https://julesinflashyfiction.wordpress.com/2015/02/02/dead-weight-live-rewards-2-1/
February 2nd, 2015 at 5:59 pm
Hahaha! I love it!!
February 2nd, 2015 at 8:35 pm
Thanks. 🙂
February 7th, 2015 at 10:30 am
Poor pirate, David. And all he wanted were tires for his ship. That wasn’t much to ask. Funny piece. 😀 Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
February 7th, 2015 at 9:19 pm
I know, right? I’ve had some long waits in places like that, but I don’t think I’m that patient.
March 17th, 2015 at 2:04 am
fantastic story david!
March 17th, 2015 at 5:29 pm
Thanks! 🙂