Path


“Much of your life is handed to you upon a plate of destiny.” Steve gave Alicia a pen and watched her sign.

“Destiny. Bosh.” She scribbled her name at the bottom of the document and lit a cigarette. “You choose your destiny. You make your destiny.” She inhaled and curled her lips in a sneer. Her next words floated out upon a bed of smoke: “That is why I am rich and you are not.”


“You can't choose the path your life takes. Not completely. Yeah, you can steer, try to keep your life on track: Marry the right guy, like you did. Work hard. Meet the right people. But in the end...”

“Excuses, little brother.” She stood and walked to the window.

“Rich or poor. Tall or short. Fat or thin. Genetics and fate. You just can't control everything, Alicia.”

She turned and smiled at her attorney. “I can.”

He shrugged. There was not point in arguing with his sister.

“Are we finished?”

He nodded. “Yes. I'll file...”

“Don't tell my children.”

“I won't.”

“I've always told them that my money would go to charity. But...” She smiled. “They've learned to work hard. Why not reward them when I'm gone?”

He grinned. “Can't take it with you.”

“Oh, I wish I could. Buy my way straight into heaven. How much do I owe you?”

“On the house. It was a quick job.”

“You're too honest. That's why you're always broke.” She waved and left his office, a dingy building, by all accounts. Steve was lazy. He knew it. His father had told him enough times. Lazy and unimaginative.

“Goodbye, Alicia.” He watched his sister her pull from the curb and steer towards the tragic accident he knew was waiting to happen, the accident that he had arranged.

He examined the modified will sitting upon his desk.

Good thing his sister wasn't a stickler for details: Steve would inherit everything.


This was written for this week's Trifecta Writing Challenge. The word was path.

Labels:

Writing in the Margins, Bursting at the Seams: Path

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Path


“Much of your life is handed to you upon a plate of destiny.” Steve gave Alicia a pen and watched her sign.

“Destiny. Bosh.” She scribbled her name at the bottom of the document and lit a cigarette. “You choose your destiny. You make your destiny.” She inhaled and curled her lips in a sneer. Her next words floated out upon a bed of smoke: “That is why I am rich and you are not.”


“You can't choose the path your life takes. Not completely. Yeah, you can steer, try to keep your life on track: Marry the right guy, like you did. Work hard. Meet the right people. But in the end...”

“Excuses, little brother.” She stood and walked to the window.

“Rich or poor. Tall or short. Fat or thin. Genetics and fate. You just can't control everything, Alicia.”

She turned and smiled at her attorney. “I can.”

He shrugged. There was not point in arguing with his sister.

“Are we finished?”

He nodded. “Yes. I'll file...”

“Don't tell my children.”

“I won't.”

“I've always told them that my money would go to charity. But...” She smiled. “They've learned to work hard. Why not reward them when I'm gone?”

He grinned. “Can't take it with you.”

“Oh, I wish I could. Buy my way straight into heaven. How much do I owe you?”

“On the house. It was a quick job.”

“You're too honest. That's why you're always broke.” She waved and left his office, a dingy building, by all accounts. Steve was lazy. He knew it. His father had told him enough times. Lazy and unimaginative.

“Goodbye, Alicia.” He watched his sister her pull from the curb and steer towards the tragic accident he knew was waiting to happen, the accident that he had arranged.

He examined the modified will sitting upon his desk.

Good thing his sister wasn't a stickler for details: Steve would inherit everything.


This was written for this week's Trifecta Writing Challenge. The word was path.

Labels:

21 Comments:

At February 5, 2013 at 11:26 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I really thought Steve was the sensible hero of the tale until the last few paragraphs -- but I'm not sure Alicia doesn't deserve him!

I strongly suspect, however, that a will leaving everything to the attorney who drafted it would raise both legal issues and red flags for the police.

 
At February 5, 2013 at 12:14 PM , Blogger PirateGunn said...

A nice little thriller there, I must say..

 
At February 5, 2013 at 12:21 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, sneaky, conniving brother! Steering destiny indeed. Great little story!

 
At February 5, 2013 at 1:02 PM , Anonymous steph said...

Oh my, a wonderful little snippet of darkness. Nicely told. 'Steer' your destiny - nice touch in light of the accident waiting to happen. Great dialog - tells us all we need to know about her character.

 
At February 5, 2013 at 3:11 PM , Blogger Tara R. said...

She didn't see that destiny coming. Nice twist at the end.

 
At February 5, 2013 at 4:27 PM , Blogger Barb said...

I didn't see that coming. I guess Alicia didn't, either. Nice story!

 
At February 5, 2013 at 8:13 PM , Blogger Draug said...

Crafty Steve! Love that twist.

 
At February 5, 2013 at 10:15 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

What! A cheating lawyer! Whatever will the world come to?

 
At February 5, 2013 at 10:36 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

sneaky steve... not so unimaginative after all :) awesome twist to your story!

 
At February 6, 2013 at 6:13 AM , Blogger katie eggeman said...

They desereve each other.

 
At February 6, 2013 at 4:02 PM , Blogger Libby said...

She thinks she is so smart, buut she is an idiot for insulting her partner in crime. Nice story!!!

 
At February 6, 2013 at 5:52 PM , Blogger Bo said...

Nice! I really like how you ended this.

 
At February 6, 2013 at 6:49 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

The last line brought it all home for me. Great job on this story.

 
At February 6, 2013 at 7:01 PM , Blogger Lance said...

Yeah, Steve kind of a doosh, isn't he? Alicia needs to be stronger with him.

BTW, downloading your book tomorrow. Can't wait.

great job with this 333. Your writing can get any donkey out of any bathtub.

 
At February 6, 2013 at 7:35 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

Yes, I liked Steve at first, too, but then the bugger went and changed on me.

 
At February 6, 2013 at 7:38 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

Thanks for reading! I enjoyed your piece as well.

 
At February 6, 2013 at 7:39 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

Thanks so much! Looking forward to getting back into writing now that it's out.

 
At February 6, 2013 at 9:24 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

He might be lazy, but he sure is sneaky. And apparently, will be rich.

 
At February 7, 2013 at 6:19 AM , Blogger kymm said...

Naughty Steve... and you got us to dislike her first!

 
At February 7, 2013 at 11:20 AM , Blogger Atreyee said...

Wily fellow-never trust lazy liars-oops I mean lawyers;-)Well,at least the children won't be disappointed though may be surprised & may even contest the will,knowing how their mom felt about her brother.Loved the way the story unfolded & took the reader by surprise at the sudden turn of events:-)

 
At February 7, 2013 at 7:26 PM , Anonymous Kitty said...

I did not see that ending coming!

 

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