The Exploding Candy Store

candy

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

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“Annoying,” Phil complained.

One of the tiny cameras he had hidden throughout the candy shop showed him the place wasn’t empty. The clerk was out front having a smoke, but the customer with the backpack was still shopping inside.

“Come on,” he whispered in the basement darkness, fingers poised on the toggle while his eyes scanned the monitors.

Pesky finally selected an ancient pack of Cherry Humps and headed for the register. The clerk was taking his final drag when Backpack went to get him.

“Boom.” Phil threw the switch. One more hated icon of his childhood blown to bits.

It’s Wednesday and time again to participate in Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ 22 September edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the image at the top as the inspiration for crafting a poem or short story no more than 100 words long. My word count is exactly 100.

I didn’t get much sleep last night and that, combined with the interior of a candy shop, became the story you just read. I’m not much of a candy eater, so I can’t imagine spending much time in such a place.

The idea of blowing the shop up just popped into my head. Then I noticed the customer in the mirror. Well, I don’t want to hurt anyone and I guess neither does Phil (although if they were that close to the front of the store…).

I also got the idea that this store caters to people who are looking for rare or out-of-production candies. I looked up Discontinued Candies and settled on Cherry Humps because it fit the word count and sounded a little comical. If the candy is that old, I don’t think it’s much good for eating, but maybe the nameless customer just collects the wrappers.

Apparently, Phil didn’t have a very good childhood and is dedicated to eradicating all physical traces of it. I shudder to think of what happened to his elementary school.

Oh, I think I found the store where the photo was taken.

To read other stories based on the prompt, visit inlinkz.

To read one of my published works of fiction, go see ICE.
ice
At the end of time, the world is hot and men travel the vast oceans in merchant sailing ships. Captain Ki-Moon Yong of the Star of Jindo has discovered a new horror at the bottom of the world. Can he and the Star escape disaster long enough to warn a disbelieving world?

Read the latest review of “Ice” HERE.

39 thoughts on “The Exploding Candy Store”

  16. Seems to me there’s more going on with him than history of trauma. The vast majority of those who have been traumatized – even VERY traumatized – don’t go to do what he’s doing. Better behind bars, this one … Oy.

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