Fiction: Such a Nice Girl

The bell over the door jangled as the young, snub-nosed blonde woman walked into the candy shop.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Frankel,” she said cheerily.

“Good afternoon, Miss Gabriela. And how are you today?”

“I’m doing very well, thank you. Oh, and those chocolate mints I got from you last week were so wonderful. I loved them.”

“I’m so glad, Miss. Perhaps you would like another pound. On the house, of course.”

“Well, I would like some more, Mr. Frankel. But just half a pound, and I insist on paying for them. No wonder you own a candy store; you’re so sweet.”

They exchanged more pleasantries, and Mr. Frankel handed Gabriela her candy and an envelope.

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Fiction: Stringing Him Along

Ed had been keeping a loose eye on the young black man outside his store for nearly an hour.

The man was maybe in his mid-20s and was dressed casually: tattered blue jeans, a dark purple shirt, and an old jean jacket. He was standing near the public bench on the sidewalk as though he were waiting for someone. And while he waited, he was giving a quietly impressive display of his abilities with a yo-yo.

He checked his space before doing an Around the World, making sure he wouldn’t hit anyone or anything. He Walked the Dog in a little circle around himself, and even walked it around a bored collie tied up at the other end of the bench. Then a Pinwheel and a Skin the Cat.

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