Flash! Fiction 3 by Peter McMillan - HTML preview

67

"I knew my parents would never go along, but I thought yours were more open-minded."

"About some things, like business, yes, they can be quite modern, but not when it comes to family relationships."

"Well, they drew the line—"

"That's their generation-speak. Ours says if they cross the line, we'll welcome them. Right?"

But what the taller of the two men added in a lower voice—

something about a forfeited inheritance—wasn't noticed by his partner.

A young, stern-looking Army private dropped his duffel bag on my outstretched shoe as he reached down to hug his aunt.

"Sorry mister," he said.

"No worries," I answered.

"Your Momma passed away this morning. She knew you was coming, but she couldn't hold on no longer," said the aunt tearfully.

"Did she suffer real bad at the end?" asked the soldier, repressing a yawn of … exhaustion.

"I'm sure you coulda come before now if you'd really cared," she whispered voicelessly.

"Now, I can finally sell that damn house—" and, as if hearing his subvocalized relief, she added "But the government done claimed 68

eminent domain and that house ain't gonna fetch near what it's worth."

“Excuse me, are you listening to my conversation?” a thickset man with a brush cut and a well-tailored suit beside me asked.

“No, no, no. Of course not!” I insisted, though I guess I was leaning towards him and I suppose I did hear … accidentally.

“Aren't you going to tell her?”

“Excuse me?”

“About the FBI, the search warrant?”

“Look buddy, you've got a very active imagination, but I'd appreciate it if you'd leave me out of it. Otherwise … slander, you do know what that is? If not, I can have my lawyer bring you up to speed.

Would you like that?”

“Please accept my apologies. I really didn't mean to offend. I mean, I had no intention of upsetting you … or your plans—“

“What plans?”

“Oh, nothing. Just plans. You know, everybody has plans.”

“You seem to know more than you're saying. Why don't we go outside and talk about what you think you heard. I still have 10

minutes, don't you?”

“Uhhh.”

“Good. Let's go.”