This week’s flash fiction post is a “Promptly Penned.” All of the bloggers use the same phrase(s) to inspire them, the phrases that inspired this are in bold.

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“Why are you glaring at me?”

“I’m hoping you’ll spontaneously combust. Or at least end up with a terrible headache.”

“Geez, who peed in your cornflakes this morning?”

“You did, Maggie! Don’t you remember?” Reaching the end of my rope, I threw my pen across my desk and stood up. “You want a list of everything you’ve done today, and just today, to make me want to inflict harm on you?” Advancing on her, I was satisfied to see Maggie cringe away from me. Good, I was done putting up with her crap.

“First, I’ve had to hear three, count them three, times about your phone call with your brother this weekend. And let me tell you, it wasn’t that interesting the first time around. Then, you used the last of MY creamer that was in the fridge, with MY name on it. You opened MY mail. And then you told our boss that I was the reason your report was late. Which makes no sense. I have nothing to do with that project!” At this point, I was breathing hard, having really gotten into the ranting frame of mind.

Maggie’s lips had taken on that pucker she gets, that looks like she’s sucking on a lemon. “Well, if you were to just focus on your job and not other people’s business, then maybe these things wouldn’t bother you so much.”

I was speechless, she was completely unaware of how much of a hypocrite she was. Not to mention how annoying.

“Well, Maggie, if you weren’t such a bitch, we wouldn’t have to talk at all.”

With that, I sat down and went back to glaring at Maggie with all the force I could muster. She tried to ignore me, but she kept glancing up and meeting my eyes. Each time she looked a little more frightened. Finally, I felt it. That little spark in my brain that meant I had reached my goal.

Before my eyes, Maggie was engulfed in a huge flame that reached the ceiling. As quickly as it had appeared, it was gone, leaving no trace behind.

As I was silently congratulating myself, by boss walked up.

“Jules, have you seen Maggie? I need to ask her some questions.”

Using my most innocent, wide-eyed stare I shook my head. “No Nolan, I haven’t seen her. Not since you stopped by earlier.”

And just like that, no more Maggie in my life. I breathed a contented sigh of relief, wondering who I should teach a lesson to next.

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Jess Jarman | Siobhan Muir | Kris Norris | Bronwyn Green |