Short Story #58: STAAR EOC

Texas has just released last year's state exams; the ninth graders had the following as their short story prompt: Write a story about taking care of something or someone (the prompt was accompanied with a black and white picture of a young boy with his arm around a calf's neck). The prompt was followed with: Be sure that your story is focused and complete and that it has an interesting plot and engaging characters. (Using the image as the source of the story is not required, and for my students, discouraged.) We'll see how I do. (Word Count: 257)

* * * * * “Hsssst!” Sidney Tuna nodded Vinnie the Mook over. “Got a job for ya, Vin.”

Despite his nickname, Vin was a good guy. Not bright, but usually reliable. When plausible deniability was key, Vinnie the Mook was your go-to guy.

“You know Two-Bills Tommy?” Sid asked. Vin did. “Need ya to take care of him. You know what I mean by ‘take care of,’ doncha?”

“Sure, sure. Taaaake caaaare offffffff.” Spittle sprayed from Vin’s lips as he over-pronounced the final word.

“He’s up at his place in Oyster Bay. Do the job tonight. I’ll drop by ten-fifteen.”

“Sure, sure, Sid. Thanks.”

Vin stopped at a Wal-Mart on his way out to Long Island. The items in his cart included an extension cord, duct tape, corkscrew, butane lighter, nine-inch knife. On impulse, he picked up a spatula, too. He laughed, setting the bags in the footwell of his Impala. Ol’ Two-Bills wouldn’t see this coming.

When Sid arrived at a quarter-after-ten, he was surprised to hear gunfire coming from the back of Two-Bills’ house. He was more surprised when he saw the Mook and Tommy sitting on the deck eating omelets, drinking champagne, and watching Cagney in White Heat on the TV that had been carted outdoors.

“Hsssst!” He called Vin into the house. “I told you to take care of him.”

“I did. Took care of him real good. He’d never seen the movie before.”

The six gunshots from Sid’s pistol blended perfectly with the film’s soundtrack.

–30–