Worst job I ever had?
That’d be when I was a rent collector in Detroit. Also the last job I ever had, come to think of it. I quit pretty quick.
Nah, quit ain’t the right word. My employer explained it better: “Our rent collector was shot at point-blank range through the chest whilst out collecting rent late one night and, whilst he lay there dying, the rent money he was carrying was stolen.”
Figures. Like I said, worst job I ever had.
After that, I took possession. Seemed fair. ‘Sides, who should own all your old ghost towns if not ghosts.
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This piece of flash fiction was written for Friday Fictioneers: a story in 100 words prompted by a picture that Rochelle Wisoff-Fields posts every Wednesday. Here’s the link to the stories and this week’s picture is below, copyright Björn Rudberg.
Sweet FA by Blake 
Dear Sue,
Now that took an interesting turn. I never thought about ghosts being on a payroll. Nicely done.
shalom,
Rochelle
Wonder if the narrator would haunt the slumlords or the tenants… A job like that is more like you a hotel California job.. you can start anytime you like but you can never leave.
I think you’re right – somehow the ideas of Purgatory and listening to the Eagles just seem like a natural fit…
Imaginative! I just looked at the photo and scratched my head. 😛
Yep, I did the head scratching, too 🙂 Then the photo got me thinking about a newspaper story I read over breakfast, about Detroit – that led me to thinking about a chat I’d had with another blogger about some ghostly poems she’d written – then it all started to coalesce. Glad you enjoyed it.
As long as my collector doesn’t show up with a burning skull. That is one ghost I couldn’t handle. Nice story, interesting take.
Oh, I dunno… If I ever met a ghost I think I’d prefer him to look a bit dramatic. And the Ghost Rider look is pretty cool 🙂
I wonder how the slumlord will feel about not getting any rent from the ghosts?
Fantastic twist in this tale!
Well, there are always slums and always people ripe to be fleeced, unfortunately, so…
Loved the tone of this.
Thanks, the tone was partly borrowed from a newspaper story (not the ghost parts, of course) 🙂
Well … it *is* hard to sell or rent a place after a murder’s taken place there … seems fair enough to let the ghosts inhabit them!
“Love what you’ve done with the place.”
Seriously — I did enjoy this — I’ve been trying to sort out this photo and can’t quite decide what to do with it. Your take is brilliant!
Well, your poem with the playful ghosts got me looking at them in a different light, i.e. instead of being unwelcome intruders they might come into a property by right because they belonged there more than the living, by virtue of bloodshed or because the city itself had died.
And I think you’re right – ghosts would have impeccable decor. If you’re chained to a property for all eternity it’s got to make you a little house-proud, right? 🙂
Absolutely! 😉
You should read some of my friend Georgia’s “Crystal Payne” stories. They’re humorous tales about a witch and her cat (Caesar) to “exorcise” troublesome ghosts – but usually the ghosts have a reason to be troubled. http://bastetandsekhmet.wordpress.com/tag/crystal-payne/
Oh I kind of feel like I know Georgia slightly already – I’ve “overheard” so many of your not-at-all-rambling chats that often follow the haiku 🙂
So, I think I will pop over there when I get the chance…
…yes … we do sort of ramble! 😉
Clever story and a great voice.
Thanks. To an extent, it was a “found story,” inspired by a newspaper article (with the addition of the ghostly elements, of course) and the voice simply grew out of it. Glad you enjoyed it.
Nicely done. Good twist. I like the use of an accent in this.
The accent sounded a bit English to me, so I wasn’t sure if it fitted for an American-based story. So, I’m glad you liked it 🙂
Really imaginative take on the prompt. Nicely done!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Clever! A great read.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
This is a great story. Imaginative, funny and clever! I’m always a sucker for a ghost story, I enjoyed reading.
Sue, Creative and well-written story for the prompt. Those houses seem the perfect places for ghosts. Well done. 🙂 —Susan