Since word of mouth didn’t get through to her, the announcement in the paper offered final proof he was getting married. His eyes looked up at Harriet from the photo, gleaming. It wasn’t so much that she was seeing happiness as she was him laughing and calling her a fool. All the while they’d been together, Phillip was planning another life. No wonder he laid up with her only once a week toward the end. Where they used to rip each other’s clothes off soon after closing the front door, he started treating her like stale bread he had little use for. What she was worthy of was cooking a good meal. Washing underwear and shit. Feeding the damn dog.
“You still haven’t said anything to him?” her best friend asked.
How many times had she told Gina she didn’t have shit to say? Better yet, how many times had she told her ignorant ass to stop sitting at her kitchen table plucking those goddamn hairs from her chin? Instead of answering, Harriet ran her tongue along her teeth and burped. She tasted the collards she’d eaten an hour ago and thought she would throw up. She swallowed it back the way she did with the words she wanted to lay into Phillip after announcing to the world he was getting married quick-like and in a hurry. Everybody knew he and Harriet was a couple. Who the hell knew he was coupled up with somebody else?
“Wanna know what I’m thinking?” Gina grinned.
“I suspect you’ll bless me with your wisdom regardless.” Harriet rolled her neck and crossed her arms, waiting.
“I say we crash the hell outta that bitch.” Gina was calm and still plucking. “Shit, I ain’t got nothing else to do come that weekend and since that bastard’s outta your wedding picture, neither do you.”
Harriet got to smiling on the inside at the devilment of busting up his little wedded bliss. Funny how different things made folk happy. Him getting married and her fucking it up.
Come that hot June noonday, Harriet and Gina waited for everybody to walk down the aisle looking all pretty, like it was the happiest day in their little lives. Flower petals sprinkled along the aisles. Happy ass love songs. Blowing kisses and shit. Oh, if had it been somebody else’s wedding, Harriet might’ve been touched but crouching on her knees behind bushes pulled the anger from deep in her belly.
Then, she caught sight of Phillip standing before the little preacher man who was gonna tie up the knots and shit. She and Gina were good and ready but damn if they didn’t have to wait through another love ballad sung by some booted off American Idol. Just too damn happy for her.
Harriet looked off for a minute. Found herself getting teared up at being dumped ‘til Gina signaled for her to wipe away them damn tears. They heard the I dos. Then, preacher man asked his usual question – if anybody had doubts and questions, to raise their right hand or hold their peace or however it went. Harriet had plenty built up anger. Everything was a blur but she managed to pop her ass from them bushes when preacher man waited and looked to the guests.
“Hell naw, them bitches shouldn’t be marrying up!” Harriet screamed out, one hand riding her hip and the other pointing down the aisle at Phillip and his big ass bride. Him and Phillip, arm in arm, wearing matching pink bow ties and shit, frozen still when Gina’s fool ass ran screaming down the aisle toward them.
I'm an artist who's writing,mothering, blogging and doing a few other things under the sun. I buy toilet paper 99.9% of every trip I make to the grocery store. I'm a people watcher, so I know you're here but drop me a line anyway.
This is surprising and funny. I love the dialogue. I love your characters. I can see Harriet and Gina and want to know them better.
Hi Kelly,
So glad you enjoyed Harriet and Gina. I really struggled with ending on that one, although I had a general idea of how it should end.
Oh, those women were drama. I have to see if I want to deal with them anymore
I’m howling with laughter! Poor Harriett. Can’t wait to hear more of the before.
Yeah, poor Harriet
I’d really have to stretch my imagination for a precursor to this one. Glad you like it.
I can’t believe Harriet did that?!?!?! Is she based on the real character you might know?
What do you mean, Ariana? She was totally justified, don’t you think?
Harriet was real in my imagination
Dear Tots,
You have a VERY unique and fresh voice.
I enjoyed this…
what’s next? xxx
Thank you, Kim.
I’m really challenged to say what’s next. I kind of wanted my flash fiction pieces to touch on hot topic. Living on the down-low was one such topic in a subtle way.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Hugs from Atlanta
Love it! This totally sounds like what me and a couple of friends would do!
Thank you, Tangela.
I knew there was a Harriet and Gina out there, somewhere
See I told you Harriette is a real character according to Tangela
Great writing. Love Harriet and Gina. These two ladies have to be brought back for an encore!
Thanks, Annie.
You want more of these women? But they’re so angry
Still want more! They are great!
I was hooked from the first sentence! I love Harriet!
Glad you enjoyed the story!
Totally surprised me with the ending. What I liked in this story is the use of dialogue and the descriptions, especially those. They are subtle but the provide context for setting and the characters. You might want to check this out. Feel free to edit it out of my comment, but here is the link to a FF 300 word contest.
NANO FICTION CONTEST
http://nanofiction.org/?page_id=88
Thank you for the comment and the link, Brenda.
Loved it, awesome ending!
Thanks! Struggled a bit with the ending and finally got it
Wow! What I liked about this story was two women who stuck by each other thick or thin…the language was gritty and a little too realistic, but I just HAD to read it to the end….
I, Like many of the other posters think the ending is perfect!
Thanks!
Thanks, Ann. Yes, they are like Thelma and Louise
So glad you enjoyed the post.
Ok … so I wanted to read what happend after they got their selves up in there yellin’ …. Dang girl … teasin’ me!
Oh, no! Saying more would spoil it
Now, what could those guys possibly do or say with those two women is anybody’s guess 
You make it look like you did not struggle at all with the ending. I was hooked from the word go. Love Harriet! Love the ending! Love it all. Do we get more?
Yes, there will be more. I’ve been thinking though, and I know I just started, but I’ve been wondering how long to continue with it. Maybe until the end of the year.
Glad you liked Harriet. Those are some high-spirited women. Could’ve easily been you and me bustin’ up that wedding. LOL!
I like being surprised by an ending and that was a surprise. Nice.
So glad you enjoyed the story
Drop by anytime. Friday is flash fiction day.
That was unexpected! Nicely set up
Thank you. I knew how I wanted it to go but I had the darnest time concluding the story. I hope my short stories go that way since this is sorta prepping me for that.
Ha! That’s great!
Nice to meet you!
Nice meeting you too, Kelley. I’m encouraged to read a Harry Potter book after visiting you
Lovely story!
Just one question though, because I’m ignorant, but doesn’t flash fiction tend to be super short?
There are some really short ones that are 55 words in length. Though flash fiction, from my reading about it, goes up to 1000 words. My stories are no more than 600 words. I usually keep them in the 500 or so range.
Glad you liked it
I’ve always had this secret evil desire to see someone speak now instead of forever holding their piece; thank you for shushing that little demon inside me before I became the fool someone
Did you really, Shelley? Well, I have to confess that I was always curious about what happened when someone did object. But I’m so glad you let Gina do it for you
Ths is excellent. Great dialogue, funny yet realistic characters. They remind me of some of the things my Mom and her best friend used to do – not the same situation, but I believe the two of them did crouch behind a bush or two on some of theri adventures. Characters in stories get to really do the extreme stuff we fantasize about doing.
Thank you. Yes, it is a fantasy world fiction writers live in. I like it too
Well done, Totsy. A great read and a surprise ending. Thoroughly enjoyable. Glad I found the link to this story on She Writes blog hopper!
Muchos gracias, Monica
I agree with your earlier comment – saying more would spoil it. I love the freeze-action ending. The artwork is just great, too…the expression on that woman’s face!
Thanks so much, Deborah. I like the element of leaving the reader to assume what will happen next.
I really got into this immediately…seemed like something out of my past until the end. Never thought about the possibility of same sex wedding. It made the physical reactions described earlier even more meaningful. Great stuf!!!
Thank you, Aza.
I’m learning what it means to capture the reader and I’m glad I was to hold your attention immediately. Your comments are encouraging.