[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”short-stories” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#8DF96C” min_height=”100px” height=”100px” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”88%” max_width=”2560px” module_alignment=”center” min_height=”100px” height=”100px” max_height=”551px” custom_margin=”-52px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ text_font=”Trade Winds|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”32px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Trade Winds|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#8300E9″ header_font_size=”52px” header_2_font=”Trade Winds||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#8300E9″ header_2_font_size=”48px” header_3_font=”Trade Winds||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#8300E9″ header_3_font_size=”26px” header_5_font=”Trade Winds||||||||” background_color=”#8DF96C” custom_margin=”||-16px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”0%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” header_text_shadow_style=”preset5″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ text_font=”Trade Winds|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”35px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Trade Winds|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”11px” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_5_font=”Trade Winds||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”0%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”2560px” custom_margin=”-36px||-23px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Bad Script||||||||” header_font=”Arbutus|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#ff5757″ header_font_size=”75px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Alike|700|||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.8em” text_orientation=”justified” width=”61%” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
The newness of Carl\u2019s satin-lapelled tux was his only differentiating quality. He shifted his gaze from one dignitary to the next. The Governor\u2019s ball, a black and white event, blurred the lot into a semblance of strict sameness. Indistinguishable in their conformity, the same whitened teeth and clownish smiles advertised their insincerity.<\/p>\n
He turned to his wife. \u201cIf I ever exhibit the disingenuous attitude of these clones, just shoot me.\u201d Carl tugged on his black bow tie, ripping it from the wing collar of his sophisticated tuxedo shirt. \u201cLet\u2019s get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heads turned at the click of Sheila\u2019s heels as he led her past the Governor\u2019s table, where the most polished clownlike grins faded into mumbles. Carl mimicked the grin and nodded in passing.<\/p>\n
The parking valet\u2019s smile radiated with envy as he climbed down from a lifted F350 King Ranch pickup truck and handed Carl the keys. \u201cI\u2019d trade the Gov\u2019s Mercedes for this beauty. Of course, I\u2019d have to buy me a cowboy hat like that one in the backseat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carl flipped a twenty to the valet. \u201cHere\u2019s to getting that Stetson.\u201d He offered an elbow to Sheila, and guided her to the passenger door where he placed work-weathered rancher\u2019s hands on the narrow waist of her black sequin dress, and lifted her to the leather seat. Red manicured nails ran through his thick copper-brown hair. She pulled him close, kissed his square jaw, and reached for the felt hat.<\/p>\n
Sheila pressed the pecan Stetson onto her husband\u2019s head. \u201cGod didn\u2019t make but one Carl Dean Wyatt. If you go cloning yourself, I\u2019ll shoot one and divorce the other.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The next morning, a tuxedo clad waiter reminiscent of the ball delivered a complimentary breakfast to their room at the Hyatt Regency. Fresh fruits, bacon, sausage, Belgian waffles, and maple syrup wafted their aromas as the waiter removed silver domes. He accepted a generous tip, bowed and left the room, leaving one shiny silver cover concealing its contents.<\/p>\n
Carl grabbed Sheila\u2019s wrist as she reached for the suspicious dome. \u201cWait! What do you suppose is under there?\u201d He cocked an eyebrow and pulled her to his side, his thumb caressing the back of her hand.<\/p>\n
She huffed. \u201cI don\u2019t know. Maybe it\u2019s a miniature horse’s head.\u201d With her free hand, she reached out and lifted the cover. A small scroll tied with black ribbon lay on the silver disc. Sheila laughed. \u201cGuess not.\u201d She replaced the dome. \u201cLet\u2019s eat. We can read the bill later.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carl slid a chair out for his wife, pulled her long blonde hair over one shoulder, kissed her on the cheek and settled across the table. He eyed the impressive gourmet offering, but the dome\u2019s mysterious contents, like a magnet, drew his attention and squelched his appetite. \u201cI gotta know what\u2019s on that paper.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheila plucked a strawberry from the fruit platter and leaned back. \u201cWell, get it over with. I\u2019m hungry.\u201d Nectar burst from the ripe berry as she bit into it.<\/p>\n
Carl stood up and leaned across the table. He licked the red juice that trickled down her chin. \u201cI love ya, babe.\u201d She lifted the silver dome, and he grabbed the scroll and sat down.<\/p>\n
The black ribbon slid to the floor as he pushed his plate back and unfurled the paper on a gilded place mat. He read the message out loud. \u201cDid you think this room was free? I paid for it. Just like I paid for you. You wanted my most treasured possession, and I<\/em>\u2026\u201d Carl\u2019s eyes skimmed over the rest of the note, and as if the paper were electrified, he jerked away, letting it curl and roll across the table. He jumped up and clamped his hands around his head. \u201cOh, damn!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Sheila snatched the scrolled paper and read the rest of the message. \u201cYou wanted my most treasured possession, and I gave her to you<\/em>.\u201d As his wife continued reading, her face paled. \u201cI can take her back just as easy<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence divided the room like a bundling board. Carl clenched his fists, wishing he could wrap his arms around the governor\u2019s daughter and tell her he\u2019d conceded his life just to be with her. But Sheila tugged the plush terry robe around her body and snugged the collar up under her chin like a chastity bag.<\/p>\n Breakfast aromas permeated the room, becoming noxious as the minutes ticked by. Carl paced the length of the view windows and Sheila curled up on the sofa, hugging her knees.<\/p>\n Carl stopped and knelt in front of his wife, one hand hesitantly touching her forearm. \u201cI\u2019ve got two choices. I can refuse to go along with the governor and risk losing you, or I can paste on a clownish grin and follow your father\u2019s orders, becoming just another insincere clone with a beautiful wife.\u201d<\/p>\n Sheila looked into Carl\u2019s eyes. \u201cYah, but then I would have to shoot you and<\/em> divorce you. I don\u2019t plan to do either.\u201d<\/p>\n Carl slid his hands inside her robe, breaking the chastity barrier. \u201cOh good, because I was leaning toward choice number three.\u201d<\/p>\n She pressed a hand to his chest. \u201cWere you planning to shoot my\u2014\u201d Carl stifled the words with a kiss.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A Story Written in a FLASH! Inspired by Flash Fiction Friday prompt words.Just Shoot MeThe newness of Carl\u2019s satin-lapelled tux was his only differentiating quality. He shifted his gaze from one dignitary to the next. The Governor\u2019s ball, a black and white event, blurred the lot into a semblance of strict sameness. Indistinguishable in their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_ti_tpc_template_sync":false,"_ti_tpc_template_id":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1292","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandyjuker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandyjuker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandyjuker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandyjuker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandyjuker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1292"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sandyjuker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1296,"href":"https:\/\/sandyjuker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1292\/revisions\/1296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandyjuker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}