Rear Windowed
It had started with a skiing accident. Two days and a leg cast later, Phoebe was set up in a chair by her window, ready for some quasi-legal voyeurism. Some people had Netflix; Phoebe had young Mr. Miller washing windows across the street.
Two hours later, Phoebe saw him look over. He’d noticed her. A fearful look came over his face. He was mouthing something at her. Suddenly she understood.
Behind you.
She turned and screamed at the figure looming over her.
“Admit it,” her husband said, when she’d recovered. “You deserved that.”
Across the street, Mr. Miller was laughing.
September 3rd, 2015 at 8:26 pm
Trope subverted! Well done, sir!
September 3rd, 2015 at 9:08 pm
Thanks. You know I gotta mix it up, especially when murder is quite de rigeur at FF.
September 3rd, 2015 at 9:13 pm
Love that title, David, and the no-murder twist. Excellent as always.
janet
September 5th, 2015 at 8:42 pm
Thanks Janet!
September 4th, 2015 at 1:01 am
Nice misdirect! “Behind you” was a striking note of fear, which you nicely turned around. Great story.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:41 pm
Thanks Jan. I saw this playing out like a movie, which was hard to do in 100 words, so I’m glad it worked for you.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:03 am
Expertly mis-directed. Nicely executed.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:40 pm
Thanks, Sandra. 🙂
September 4th, 2015 at 3:19 am
Dear David,
I swallowed the bait. Laughing with her husband. Wonderful.
Shalom,
Rochelle
September 5th, 2015 at 8:40 pm
Thanks, Rochelle. Apparently I got everyone this time, which is always nice to know. Still, I’m sure after all this time, there aren’t many subjects that haven’t been covered by someone’s FF story. I’m up to 143 stories here myself. You must have at least 170 or more.
September 4th, 2015 at 4:17 am
Good prank!
September 4th, 2015 at 8:52 am
Good one! Although what does it say about us, that NOT murdering off our characters in 100 words is the twist? Agree with the previous comments — expertly misdirected.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:37 pm
I guess it’s like a double twist. Of course, later we find out that the husband was about to murder her but couldn’t because the neighbor was watching. Triple twist! 😉
September 4th, 2015 at 11:35 pm
I for one, appreciate a non-murder story. I like it.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:36 pm
Thanks Tracey.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:40 pm
Oh, no murder. Whew! She had no choice but to look, right? Mine is a little rear windowish. Nice job, David.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:35 pm
Well, there is a lot of murder in FF, but not this time. 🙂
September 5th, 2015 at 5:01 am
Very good. I was expecting horror, and you delivered a laugh.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:34 pm
You’re most welcome, Margaret.
September 5th, 2015 at 6:07 am
I loved the misdirection here, was expecting something gruesome and you gave me humour. Excellent writing as always.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:33 pm
Thanks Dee. Tropes are there to be subverted, right?
September 5th, 2015 at 4:59 pm
I love it, from beginning to end. Thanks for the suspense, and the chuckle.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:33 pm
Thanks. It was fun to write.
September 5th, 2015 at 5:01 pm
Nice conniving on her husband’s part. I’m not sure how long I’d take to forgive him, though….
September 5th, 2015 at 8:33 pm
Well, if he really was in on it, hopefully not long. I still think she deserved it. 🙂
September 5th, 2015 at 6:59 pm
That was fun!
September 5th, 2015 at 8:32 pm
Yeah, I thought so. 🙂
September 6th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
The non-murder. Perhaps he mooned her. HA!
September 8th, 2015 at 8:49 am
That was a great twist, David. Well done. 😀 — Suzanne
September 8th, 2015 at 7:45 pm
Thanks, Suzanne. 🙂
September 8th, 2015 at 11:02 am
serves her right! 😉
September 8th, 2015 at 7:45 pm
Hehe. 🙂