Ken Talley is the Readers’ Choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. The winning entry is decided by the popular vote and rewarded with a special feature here today. (In case of a tie, the writer who submitted an entry first is the winner per our rules.) Without further ado, here’s the winning story:
Infinity
by Ken Talley
The round boy, seven years old, was wearing blue shorts, a red and white t-shirt, brown oxfords, and a red and white cap with a small bill and a propeller on top, spinning in the afternoon heat. He stood rocking back and forth on his heels, hands in his pockets.
“Gosh, mister,” said the boy to the old man stacking the wall blocks, “Whatcha doing?”
The old man, dressed in a sweat-stained grey t-shirt, khaki shorts, and wearing brown sandals, glanced at the round boy and kept piling blocks, one on top of another. The wall went on forever, jutting at right-angles, heading down to the next corner and the next and the next.
The round boy squinted in the sun. “You been doing this long?” he asked.
“Not long enough,” said the old man, not stopping his work.
“Golly, it sure looks hard,” said the boy, gazing at the waist-high walls that covered the plateau.
The old man stopped and looked down at the boy. “You sure ask a lot of questions.”
“Just want to know what you’re doing,” said the boy.
“I’m building something,” said the man as he went back to the blocks piled nearby.
“You out here all by yourself?” asked the boy.
“No,” said the old man. “My wife is over yonder doing her part.”
“Won’t you tell me what you two are making?” asked the boy, rocking on his heels.
“A fifty-year marriage,” said the old man. “One block at a time.”
Wow, what a beautiful story! The ending was so surprising, but profound. Congratulations, Ken.
Thanks. I appreciate it.
You’re welcome, Ken.
I loved this story.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Well done. A great story concept, written exceptionally well. Bravo!