IntShoWriMo 2014: Day 6

Day 6: Capacity for Violence

Today’s Prompt: A basket floats down a stream, lodging on a rock in front of a child who runs crying to his parents about the contents.

— Courtesy: Writing.Com

Word Count: 1,171

Phillip and Marge Udra were puzzled by the single content of the picnic basket.

            “There’s gotta be some sort of explanation for this,” Phillip said.

            “I think it’s the kids upstream playing dirty pranks,” Marge said.

            “Don’t they know better than to mess with a child’s mindset?”

            “I say we ought to call the cops.”

And that’s what they did. The cops came, sirens blaring. When they arrived they combed the entire area for the pranksters but found none. The police car driver recalled seeing some kids running off into the distance as they turned into the park area.

            “That must have been our boys said the detective. Well, Ma’am, sir, you got nothing to worry about. I’m sure those troublemakers won’t make anymore trouble today, at least.”

            “Thanks, officer. I feel this was all for nothing. Sorry I brought you all the way down here for nothing.”

            “Any time. It’s my job, too.”

The officers left and the family was on their own again.

            “Why would anybody place such a grotesque object inside a picnic basket?” Marge asked.

I’ve lost my appetite, was all the reply Phillip gave.

The content of the basket had been handed over to the cops who recorded it as evidence. They took it away with them to Marge’s relief. She couldn’t shake the feeling there was more to the whole ordeal than kids playing pranks. Read more here: IntShoWriMo 2014

Eneh Akpan

June 6th, 2014