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Better Deep-Fried

May 13, 2022 16 Comments

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Castrating cattle is my specialty. I’m getting too old for it, but ranching’s in my blood. The bank doesn’t care, delivering the past-due notice in person. Frank’s hollering, “Bess, wait!” from across the corral, but I ignore him. The banker and I are busy.

After we’re done, I rest my hands on my thighs. I’m gonna need a wheelbarrow.

At supper, we eat without speaking. Frank dives into a plate of prairie oysters, my specialty. The trick is to deep fry so they don’t get tough. I pause mid-bite, savoring the chew. The banker’s are about as tender as they come.

By T.L. Tomljanovic

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Helen says

    May 13, 2022 at 7:44 am

    Brilliantly dark! I love this one.

    Reply
    • Tatiana says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:52 pm

      Thank you, Helen.

      Reply
  2. Beebles says

    May 13, 2022 at 8:08 am

    Fantastically ghastly and well constructed

    Reply
    • Tatiana says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:52 pm

      Thank you so much.

      Reply
  3. Coco says

    May 13, 2022 at 8:32 am

    Ooooh, nasty !
    Nicely done!

    Reply
    • Tatiana says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:52 pm

      Thanks, Coco.

      Reply
  4. Mary says

    May 13, 2022 at 9:14 am

    Dark pieces are difficult to write well, dark flash fiction even more so and you did a brilliant job. Well done!

    Reply
    • Tatiana says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:51 pm

      Thank you, Mary. Horror isn’t in my wheelhouse so that’s particularly gratifying to read.

      Reply
  5. Deanna Salser says

    May 13, 2022 at 12:11 pm

    Rarely do I read one that deserves comment. Yours is superb.

    Reply
    • Tatiana says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:48 pm

      I will take that as the highest of compliments.

      Reply
  6. Kathy Carroll says

    May 13, 2022 at 12:45 pm

    A ghoulish delight!

    Reply
    • Tatiana says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:48 pm

      Thank you Kathy.

      Reply
  7. Elisa says

    May 14, 2022 at 2:03 pm

    Hahaha, love it!

    Reply
    • Tatiana says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:50 pm

      Thanks, kiddo.

      Reply
  8. S. Webb says

    May 18, 2022 at 8:36 am

    Saw it coming but still couldn’t stop reading. Raised on a mini-farm so have heard my Mother threaten folks with just such a fate.

    Reply
    • Tatiana says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:48 pm

      Haha, your mom sounds like my kind of people.

      Reply

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