Joe worked at the local bar, doing anything that was asked. He lived upstairs in a makeshift apartment, a bed and a hot plate. He never had much money, most of his pay went for his rent and his tab.
He’d do anything for you, but you had to get him early enough, he got sloppier as the night went on.
Joe couldn’t keep a girlfriend, hell he couldn’t keep a friend, but everyone said he was a good guy.
He was found in the alley one morning, one shot to the head. There were no suspects and the killer was never found.
This week’s photo: © Amanda Forestwood
You might be wondering what this has to do with the picture. I wasn’t sure what the picture was so I did some research on the internet. It’s a rabbit hole, but long story short I came across a song called Old Joe Clark. I would include the song but the only things my story have in common with the song are the man’s name is Joe, he drank a lot and he was murdered.
Friday Fictioneers is a weekly 100 word writing challenge inspired by a picture prompt. Click here to read other stories.
The Day After 
At least one person didn’t think he was a good guy, then
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Haha, right?
Thanks Neil.
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I am left wondering what secrets Joe had. It explains why he had no friends, and perhaps was in hiding from the past, and looks like it found him. Poor Old Joe.
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Poor Old Joe.
Thanks James.
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Poor Old Joe – always the little guy that gets it!
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He weren’t hurtin nobody! 🙂
Thanks Iain.
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I imagine that Old Joe stood on a stage in front of royalty once, playing his violin. Demon alcohol has taken down the best. May he rest in peace and play in the heavenly orchestra.
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Haha..maybe in his dreams.
Thank you.
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You’re welcome, Dawn 🙂
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Interesting character sketch. Poor Joe…
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Thanks Trent. And thanks for your research. I haven’t read your story yet but I skimmed it and found out this was a Norwegian fiddle.
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As soon as I saw it, I knew it was different. Hope you enjoy the story when you get there 🙂
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Dear Dawn,
Apparently someone didn’t think he was a good guy. Good story though.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle.
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What!?! No, I was just starting to like Old Joe.
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LOL..sad, isn’t it?
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A simple life and a not so simple death.
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Truth.
Thank you.
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Perhaps there was another side to Joe, a side he kept to himself. Intriguing!
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Perhaps.
Thanks Keith.
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Interesting story (and back story — and yes to the rabbit hole — me too). It is amazing that more have not ended up like Joe. Charles Bukowski comes to mind.
Rereading, I am now wondering if Joe’s killer was not Joe, himself.
Well done, Dawn.
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I’m not familiar with Charles Bukowski, but from Wikipedia he sounds like that George Carlin of literature. I look forward to reading some of his work.
Thanks Bill.
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Bukowski was the character’s character. X-rated, for certain. 🙂
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X rated? I didn’t get that from a few poems I read or from Wikipedia.
Hmm..I shall proceed with caution.
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Try ‘trying to get even:’ from his book, “LOVE IS A DOG FROM HELL.” I have had many (men and women) confess to me how much they loved his work. But, oh lordy, — I do enjoy his poems. 🙂
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Interesting reviews for that, and his writing in general on Amazon. I think, and this is just my general observation, considering I never even heard of him before this conversation began, that maybe the time he wrote, in the 70’s, influenced a lot of that. Again, I have no real reference. I was a child in the 70’s and can only relate to the decade through my peripheral.
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I would say the 30’s, 40s, and 50s influenced his dark side more than the 70s (when he was in his 5th decade). He was more popular in Europe than the US.
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and this heart breaker….
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Well I dunno about X rated but certainly depressing.
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Yes. Very.
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I love stories about people that have a history found through the internet. You got a lot of Joe’s history in!
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I had a hard time with this one. Once the story started I began typing away, then the daunting task of cutting it down to 100 words. But maybe now that I have a character sketch it will be helpful later. IDK..
Thanks Alicia.
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Oh no, I just warmed up to old Joe… maybe he had something someone wanted, or ran away from someone and was found. Great writing, Dawn.
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Thank you.
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Poor fellow. Such a miserable end.
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Yes.
Thank you.
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it looks like he got played for the wrong reason.
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It does.
Thank you
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What a sketch.
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Thank you.
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Dawn, your story had a sadly realistic feel to it, so I was surprised to read your explanation. Perfectly told.
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Thank you.
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