Flash Fictions

1. Jack And The Old Man

Little Jack was enjoying every bite of his muffin. He felt like the richest kid while savouring the sweet taste. With father long dead, and mother working as a maid, it indeed limited him to spend money. He swang his legs happily while sitting on the park's bench.

While he was still munching the second bite, he heard footsteps behind him making him turn around swiftly. He wasn't ready for the sight infront of him.

     An ugly looking old man with hollow eyes and big teeth had his sharp weapon raised high in sky, ready to strike on him.

      Jack gasped looking at it and was about to scream, but old man's weapon had stopped midway. Jack took this as an opportunity to get away from the bench and stand at a good distance. His heart broke when he saw his muffins laying at the table. He forgot to carry them and didn't have the guts to go closer. A tear trickled down his eyes. He dared to look at the ugly man, but was highly surprised when he saw him frowning while looking at the muffin.

' Maybe, he is hungry and wanted me to share it with him. '

Little Jack's brain concluded and approved of this theory. He looked all around to detect any human presence, but no-one was there.

   Gulping down his fears, he asked him in fear struck voice, " You want them? "

He pointed his index finger at his dessert ,hoping an answer from him, but the old guy didn't reply. He was still frowning hard.

     Jack couldn't grasp anything, still he stood there. In a way, old man had intrigued him.

'He's so thin that I can see his bones. He must be hungry since many days. '

Jack really felt bad for him as he was very well aware of hungry and painful stomach. He himself has spent many nights like that.

When sympathy overtook his fears, cautiously he took two steps forward, and directed his question once again at the old man again, " Are you hungry? "

    Jack sighed when instead of replying to him, he simply kept staring at him.

' He's shy. '

   He smiled at the thought and went near him. Though he was scared seeing his weird palms, yet he held them in his soft little ones and made him sit on the bench. With a smile as bright as sun, he carefully picked up his muffins and held them near the old man's mouth.

             He giggled loudly when finally, the old man opened his mouth and galloped all of it in a go. One by one, he ate all three of Jack's muffin. Instead of feeling bad, little boy was rather happy. He was overjoyed with the fact that he could subside down old man's hunger, but then he was struck by a thought.

  His muffins couldn't satisfy his hunger and the very thought made him pout sadly. His mind ran in every direction to fetch ideas in order to feed him.

' Mother's lasagna which she got from where she works. '

  Beaming at his smart brain, he enthusiastically asked the old man, " Wait here. I'm going home to bring more food. It's not very tasty but it'll help you in sleeping well tonight. "
Saying so, he ran away.

Grim Reaper saw the young boy running merrily towards his home. He wondered, how could he see him or why did his scythe cease to work? He was here to take his soul, but it seems that universe has just broken a law.