Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers: Number 19

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers uses a picture prompt and asks for stories between 75-175 words. Click here to read all the stories for this week.

This picture

Inspired my story:

“Nineteen!” came the call from behind the lunch counter. “19!” Everyone looked around waiting to see who #19 was so they could figure out how much longer until they were called, but no one stepped forward.

“Sixteen!” The numbers were called in no particular order other than when their sandwiches were ready. 16 stepped up and looked at #19’s tray, waiting.

The sound of screeching tires and gravel from the parking lot made the patrons look out just as a pickup truck barreled away. A young woman stood staring at him go. She grabbed a handful of rocks and hurled them toward the pick-up but he was out of reach and the effort seemed to deplete her. She slumped to the ground, put her head to her knees and cried.

An older man watching the scene from the window said aloud to no one in particular “Who in the world was that?” The waitress stood beside him watching also and just as numbly answered “#19”.