By Alan Barker
She wasn’t called Dizzy Lizzie for nothing. Some said she couldn’t organize a tea party in her own vicarage.
So when the news broke that she had given a ‘Congratulations’ card to Mrs. Quinn next door following the sudden passing of Mr. Quinn, nobody was surprised.
Only Lizzie, who spent her spare time gardening and listening to the rows, knew how Mr. Quinn had fallen from his ladder.
Lizzie’s own downfall was to suggest that Mrs. Quinn’s sins would be forgiven on payment of a suitable monetary donation.
Instead, Mrs. Quinn found a new home for Lizzie in her own graveyard.
Thus the wages of sin were never paid. — at least not in any monetary manner. Well, perhaps in the next life. Good work, and may God be with you, as She works her mysterious way. Jerry
Thanks Jerry. Much appreciated.
Good story.Calling the vicar Dizzy Lizzie in the beginning sets us up to believe that Mrs Quinn was cleverer than Lizzie. That was a good point. But I am left with questions because we don’t know how Mrs. Q manages to get rid of Lizzie. With Mrs. Q’s husband there’s the important detail about the ladder and we can guess a broken step or a push. I think this needs some hint as to how Mrs. Q gets rid of Lizzie.
Ah, but that’s the 1000-word story…
Many thanks Adelaide. I completely take your point, but sadly there is only so much detail you can include in a 100 word story. On reflection it may be this story could have been written as a 500 worder, but hopefully it didn’t spoil your enjoyment too much!
A crisp little crime story, well written.
Many thanks Vaida.
Brill!! Very difficult to write crime as flash, but you’ve done it!
Ah, thanks Rosemary, that’s very encouraging!
There’s a lot more in there than the usual hundred-worder. Well done!
Many thanks Cathy. It’s very satisfying when you can squeeze a lot of detail into 100 words. Sometimes there are things you can’t include which have to be left to the reader’s imagination.
Much left to the imagination concerning Lizzies fall from grace to compost! Well written!
Thanks Debbie. Love your comment!
Oh, it is does leave me to ponder how Dizzy Lizzy dies. Maybe a little tea party, she suddenly feels a bit unsteady on her feet, who knows… Nicely done!
Yes, there are many possibilities, aren’t there? I doubt Mrs Quinn would have been subtle about it, so perhaps she killed a Lizzie with a spade while Lizzie was weeding the graveyard? Thanks for your input!
Love it! Such a fun, playful voice that told us so much — not just about these characters, but about their larger community. Well done!
Ah thanks John, that’s very kind of you. I must admit I enjoyed writing this story very much. And congratulations on your excellent story also!
Nice.