Photo – Luther Siler
‘I hate you, Dad.’
‘I needed a job, Ella.’
‘There are loads of other jobs.’
‘There aren’t. And it’s Christmas. We need the money.’
‘I don’t care about Christmas. I care about the poor animals being tortured.’
‘They’re not tortured. They’re helping us find cures. They’re very well looked after.’
‘How could you hurt them?’
‘I don’t. I’m just security.’
‘Just a puppet. Don’t you have any morals?’
I think of the plan. The welfare group will arrive at midnight. I’ll leave the door unlocked. I wish I could tell her, but it’s better she doesn’t know. Safer.
‘I’m sorry.’ I whisper as she turns away.
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 word story inspired by a photo prompt. Read the other entries here.
fabricating fiction 
Excellent take on the prompt. Very well done, Louise.
Thanks very much Sandra.
Dear Louise,
I love where you went with this prompt. Well written and thought provoking.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle. It was a great photo.
Awesome story. Great message. Jx
Thanks Jodine.
A thought-provoking and well-written story, Louise. It went well with the prompt. — Suzanne
Thanks Suzanne.
Great piece of writing with a strong moral.
Well done.
Thank you very much.
Sometimes we judge people harshly without knowing the full story.
We do indeed. Thanks for reading.
A creative and thoughtful take on the prompt.
Thanks very much.
Is the welfare group coming to take his daughter away? That’s how I interpret this but wanted to make sure.
Sad story – well written.
No, the father is going to allow some group access to where he works as security i.e. let them release the animals.
That makes sense. Nice story!
I needed more words! Thanks.
Thanks Paul.
Maybe dad will be able to tell her some day.
And she’ll learn one day that security guards mostly aren’t puppets – it’s an entry level crap job for the needy.
Nicely told.
Thanks Patrick. She’ll know his secret when he gets arrested! But that’s another story…
sometimes we’re confronted with an issue like this where there are no right or wrong answers. it’s a tough situation to be in.
It must be. Thanks for reading.
It took two reads, but I got it in the end. Well done!
I’m glad you did! Thanks Alicia.
P.S. A great story in the end. I forgot to tell you that. My bad.
🙂
It would be hard to work in a place like that. Interesting take on the prompt. That poor mangy toy bird did not inspire me very much I am afraid. 🙂
Thanks Deborah. Maybe next week.
Alas the contempt from the daughter cannot be bridged… maybe much later.. but for now there is a barrier… I hope it works out.
I think it will. Thanks for reading.
Nice take on the prompt. Sounds like she is going to need to apologize to dad if he makes it through the breakout.
Thanks Joseph. I think she owes him an apology.
Nice piece, and I like the message. I hop he can tell her one day that they’re on the same side.
They will unit eventually. Thanks Ali.
Maybe later he will tell her.
in the meanwhile, he can sleep well tonight knowing he has performed a good deed.
Randy
She’ll find out. Thanks Randy.
Good on Dad. Took the right action despite knowing his daughter was going to despise him for what she thought he was condoning. At least he will be able to make ammends when the save has been made.
He’s a strong man! Thanks Irene.
I loved the direction you took with the prompt! And the story is very well-told within the 100 words! An absolute delight to read! 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind comments Ankita.
The urge is heightening and the tension thickening. Lovely writing, Louise!
Matthew
Thanks so much Matthew.
Aaahh the apple doesn’t fall to far from the tree.
It doesn’t 🙂