Theodore Jerome Cohen 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:
Cactus
by Theodore Jerome Cohen
“Then Crystal says, ‘As long as we’re this close to Phoenix, let’s stop and see my Mama.’
“And I say, ‘No way! You know your Mama and me get along like oil and water. I’m not taking you there. You want to see your Mama? Okay, I’ll take you to the airport in Tucson, and you can fly to Phoenix.’
“Well, sir, that set her off bigtime. She unloaded on me with both barrels, and when she was done, we didn’t say a word to each other for the next 30 miles.
“Then, out of the blue, she says in the sweetest little voice, ‘Harold, darling, do ya think I could drive your beautiful new luxury sedan?’
“And I figure, the car’s my ‘baby,’ but if it’ll make peace between us, why not? So, I say ‘Sure’ and pull over—right here, officer, among this field of organ pipe cactus—leave the engine running, and get out, planning to go around the back of the car and trade places with her.
“But I’m no sooner outta the car when she jumps over the console, puts the car in gear, and takes off toward Phoenix!”
“And that’s the last you saw of her?”
“Yes, sir. If it hadn’t been for those good Samaritans over there who let me wait in their car until you got here, the 120-degree heat would’ve killed me.
“So, whaddaya think?”
“Well, for starters, I think your relationship with this Crystal woman is definitely on the fritz.”
Hooray for you! Congratualtions on another win.