Congrats to our Weekly Flash Fiction Winner, Dick Waters

Saving Her Bacon
by Dick WatersFunny all these years and I never gave that last meal a thought until now.

Things flashed through my mind; getting my step dad to kick my butt instead of Mom’s. Her leaving him, and my leaving school that same day headed in a different direction.

Years later on a long-haul, I met Sandy at the ‘Sanitary’ diner. She didn’t know it, but I would drive miles out of my way to see her face light up when I came in. I wanted to be with her forever, and I think she could sense it, but I loved her too much to burden her with me.

That last day she had two black eyes. She reminded me of my mom and what she endured. Her hands were shaking when she served me my hamburger. I asked what happened and she started crying.

Then she looked over my shoulder at the big dude who stormed in. The lights went out and there was a gunshot. When the lights came back on, the big dude was missing the back of his head. I had the gun in my hand and they arrested me.

I tried not to think about whether I was going to hell, but in my heart I knew I earned something better. My mom would be proud of me. I don’t have any regrets about taking the gun from Sandy’s shaking hand.

My only regret is I should have ordered bacon on that hamburger.