240 words

Keith's Ramblings

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Time to leave. I checked I had everything I needed. All present and correct.

I left the house making sure to close the door securely. 

I strode down the path to the gate, unlocked it, went through then locked it behind me. I looked up and down the street. There was noone about. I pulled up my hood and set off.

So far so good. I double checked I had everything, one can’t be too careful. 

No. It couldn’t be true. It was in my pocket when I left, I must have dropped it. How stupid. I had to retrace my steps.

I walked back along the street. I didn’t see it. I unlocked the gate, went through then locked it behind me. I strode up the path and there it was!

I  clutched it in my hand. There was no way I’d lose it again. I strode down the path to the gate,  unlocked it, went through then locked it behind me.

I made it in the nick of time, a minute later and the entrance would have been shut and bolted for the night.

Mission accomplished. 

I looked up and down the street. There was noone about. I adjusted my hood and headed for home.  I unlocked the gate, went through then locked it behind me. 

What was it I lost I hear you ask? It was the  shopping list my wife handed me. Thank goodness I found it!

 

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Thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E.AYR for hosting The Unicorn Challenge.

© Ayr/Gray

29 thoughts on “240 words”

  1. Suzette Benjamin's avatar Suzette Benjamin Mar 1, 2025 / 15:25

    Great storytelling Keith. I was not sure of the final outcome. And certainly did not think of the outcome that you provided. Awesome!

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      • Suzette Benjamin's avatar Suzette Benjamin Mar 2, 2025 / 16:57

        Oh great! That is even better storytelling Keith, you journeyed along the storylines as the reader would…awesome!

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  4. pensitivity101's avatar pensitivity101 Mar 1, 2025 / 18:05

    Haha Keith. Hubby likes to do some of the shopping so I give him a list with prices on so that he has a guide. I’m at the end of the phone and he ALWAYS rings me to ask something. I answer ‘Customer service, how may I help you?’ His response? ‘Di? Is that you?’

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  6. Prior...'s avatar Prior... Mar 1, 2025 / 19:31

    hahaha – yes – need that list!

    and I used to follow someone who shared shopping lists and then readers all commented about them – it was kind of fun

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  7. ceayr's avatar ceayr Mar 1, 2025 / 20:35

    I guess your good lady is a bit of a sweetheart, hmm, Keef?

    Fun as ever, sir!

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    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings Mar 2, 2025 / 17:54

      I’m currently ladyless, but one or two were quite sweet in the past, for a while at least!

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  10. jenne49's avatar jenne49 Mar 2, 2025 / 16:20

    Jeez, that was a near thing, Keith, I was shuddering to think of the consequences even before I knew it was that most precious of all things – the wife’s shopping list!
    And the repetition works really well in creating the weight of the reponsibility.

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    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings Mar 2, 2025 / 18:03

      Thanks, Jenne. That was partly based on an actual experience. I still have nightmares about it!

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  11. clark's avatar clark Mar 2, 2025 / 22:28

    Dude! Way to wrap a horror story in a smile!

    (no, serially, maybe its just me but on the second and (thank god) final:

    I looked up and down the street. There was noone about. 

    my stomach dropped, thinking there was a trapped in a time-loop ending or worse, a tale of dementia

    like your ending (after my second read) better than mine

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  12. Sally's avatar Sally Mar 2, 2025 / 23:36

    Hahahahaha! Great story! I would not have guessed the missing item — but what a great story!

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  15. Liz H-H's avatar Liz H-H Mar 10, 2025 / 17:23

    Perfect, and it ended with a bit of your signature humor. Really like what you did with the prompt image!

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