Flash Fiction: The Fruitcake by Cathy MacKenzie
Welcome to the Spot Writers. As the year ends, we’ll focus on the topic of “Endings and New Beginnings.” In keeping with the December theme, a FRUITCAKE must also appear.
Today’s post comes from Cathy MacKenzie. Check out her anthology, OUT OF THE CAVE, horror stories for 13+. Great for youth AND adults. Twenty-one stories by twenty-one authors. Available on Amazon and Smashwords. Makes a GREAT Christmas gift!
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The Fruitcake
by Cathy MacKenzie
Barb often wished her life was better though she shouldn’t complain; life could definitely be worse. But, as every year, the approaching holidays depressed her.
The other day she wondered if she might be manic depressive or perhaps she suffered from SAD. SAD: what apropos initials. Had someone picked the words “seasonal affective disorder” on purpose?
No, she reconsidered; she wasn’t depressed due to illnesses, physical or mental. She simply suffered from loneliness, and the holidays made it doubly worse. And Nick, her wanna-be boyfriend, didn’t cut it. She felt lonelier with him than without. She sighed and ran her fingers through her unruly hair.
She needed more—more than Nick could give her. What that “more” entailed, she wasn’t sure, but with the year soon ending, she had made up her mind: Nick would be history before the start of the new year.
And speak of the devil: there he was, the fruitcake himself. On her doorstep!
“Hey, Nick.”
“Hello, gorgeous.”
She loved that he thought her attractive, but he was a nerd—and a dumb one at that. Thus his name though she’d never used it to his face. She wasn’t that nasty! “You been stalking me?”
His face fell. “Of course not. Just waiting for you to come home.”
She eyed the gift-wrapped package under his arm. No, not a present. Looking at it spurred her on. She must let him down gently before Christmas—not after. She wouldn’t waiver this time.
He thrust the gaily wrapped package at her. “Here.”
“For me?” Why am I acting surprised? she wondered. ‘Cause that’s what females do. But I am surprised, just not in a good way.
“It’s nothing much. I’ve been sensing you’re down lately. Thought this might cheer you up.”
“Do I open it now?”
“Yes. It’s not a Christmas present. Just a cheering up gift.” He giggled.
She must get rid of him, sooner than later. Despite that, she dug into the small but somewhat heavy, rectangular package, ripping off paper like an eager child.
She stared. Stunned. “What’s this?” What a stupid question. Of course she knew what it was. Who wouldn’t? Fruitcake!
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The Spot Writers—Our Members:
Val Muller: https://valmuller.com/blog/
Catherine A. MacKenzie: https://writingwicket.wordpress.com/wicker-chitter/
Dorothy Colinco: www.dorothycolinco.com
CaraMarie Christy: https://calamariwriting.wordpress.com/
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