Prompt: In a small town, there’s a dog that keeps getting into a chicken coop and eating the chickens. The owner of the chicken coop is threatening to shoot the dog.

That Damn Dog

“Damn it, that neighbors dog is in the chick coop again” Mike yelled to his wife as he ran out the door with his shotgun, I’m going to kill that fucking dog he told himself as he headed out the door. “Don’t do anything stupid honey” his wife yelled after him. His neighbor Ed’s dog had been eating his chickens and it was pissing him off.

Just as Mike got to the coop and was about to raise his gun Ed came running over waving his arms and yelling “Don’t you fucking shoot my dog you asshole.” Ed and Mike use to be the best of friends until Mike put up that chicken coop and got chickens, but this had ruined their friendship because Wilbur, Ed’s basset hound, had already eaten two of the chickens and they had been fighting about it the last month.

“Those chickens are my livestock, and part of my lively hood Ed now, this is the last time he eats my property.” Mike yelled back. Ed took between Mike and his dog, “You’ll have to shoot me first, and I don’t think you want to go to jail for murder.” Ed continued to stand there trying to convince Mike to put the gun down, but Mike wasn’t doing it and the anger just built up inside.

Mikes wife Mary was just about to go outside when she heard the two men yelling when all of sudden she heard one loud blasts outside, there is no way he has actually done it she thought as she opened up the back door, but sure enough when she opened the back door there Mike laid on the ground with blood coming from his chest and eyes wide open. Ed stood there with a glimmer in his eye. Mary ran to him and they both looked down at Mike.

“He was such an asshole since he got those chickens, always consumed with having to feed them and take care of them, it was like he loved them more then me” Mary said, “I knew he would break though, and that would set up the perfect reason for me to have to defend myself. We finally got what we wanted” Ed replied. They both smiled as Ed pulled Mary in close and said “Now we can finally be together, this is a clear case of self defense.” Mary nodded as they kissed and she built up some fake tears and dialed the police on her cell phone.

©Chris Chonos

The Wood Shop

he feeling of the workshop was like home, this was his favorite place. This was a place where he could feel creative and at peace. His whole life was wood work. He created toys for his daughter, shelves for the kitchen and little presents he present his wife at birthdays and anniversaries, he felt things meant so much more when they were made and not bought. His passions was here, not in some stuff office, he never felt comfortable in a suit so his leather apron and steel toe boots were his style and Maggie loved him for that.

Tonight he was working on a Christmas present for his daughter Julie. She wanted a rocking horse small enough for her favorite doll. It needed to be fancy since her doll was a princess and she was the queen. The pieces for the gift were almost all cut. He had cut out the body and head and already done all the intricate painting. He had decided to go with a British them of painting and made it look like a horse that Queen Elizabeth herself would ride. The only pieces he had left was the base which involved cutting the post that would would attach the body to the rocking base.

He was using the the lathe creating intricate shapes along the piece of wood. He laid the blade upon the last piece of wood and was really getting into it when all of the sudden the blade slipped and his hand slid across the wood. He started to swear and curse, damn it hurt like a son of a bitch. Just as he was starting to get up his wife walked into the wood shop. She ran into the room and asked what had happened. “I just got my hand caught across the wood and I think it took a layer of skin off” he said.

“Awe, c’mere and let me take care of that for you “ Maggie said.

Jeff looked at her an smiled, she was a loving person and always wanted to take care of him. He loved this woman with all his heart. She took his hand and washed it out under the sink in the shop. “This doesn’t look to bad” she said. “It doesn’t hurt to much”. Maggie smiled at him and said “But just to be safe I’ll put some anitbacterial cream on it since it does look like there is a cut and bandage it up for you.”

Once she had finished cleaning and dressing his wound she gave a small kiss on his hand like his mom would have done and smiled. “I think you will survive. How is the project coming along, besides the wounded hand?” She asked. “It is coming along fine, but I’m going to take a break from it for now and finish it up tomorrow” he said.

He turned off the light to the workshop and walked in with his wife. He would get it finished tomorrow and then begin work on Maggie’s gift, a brand new rocking chair for her to sit on the porch. He truly loved building things with his hands; and building a family with his heart.

©Chris Chonos

Can You Stay

Jack watched in astonishment as this large man smacked this petite girl in the bar, she couldn’t have been bigger than 5 foot tall and 100 lbs; and he had to be about 185 lbs 6 foot tall. He just reached out and smacked her off her stool, he knew he had to do something. He walked over and told him he needed to apologize and leave. “Who the hell are you, this is none of yer business”, “Well it is now” replied Jack and cold cocked the man and knocked him to the floor. Everyone in the bar cheered, Jeff had been an asshole his whole life and treated Tracey like a piece of shit. Finally someone stood up to him and protected Tracey.

Jeff, rubbed his Jaw, “Get the hell out of here and cool your ass off before I call the cops” the bartender yelled. Jeff told everyone in the bar to fuck off and stormed out of the bar.

Jack looked down at Tracey and offered his hand to her, she gladly took it and got to her feet. “Are you okay?” He asked. “I’m fine, but I need to get away from that man. It’s not like he is my husband just a guy I’ve been living with”. Jack nodded and told her that was probably a good idea. Jack ordered a couple drinks for the two of them as they sat down at the bar where they talked till closing.

“Do you want me to walk you home?” Jack asked Tracey, “That would be great, I just don’t know if I feel safe going by myself” Tracey told him, she had a big smile on her face as they walked out the door.

On the way home they talked about their relationships and in just a short time both felt like they could really could be good friends or maybe more. The night was beautiful and the moon was full which really showed off how beautiful Tracey was, even with the black eye starting to form under her left eye. Tracey looked at Jack and thought he was one of the most handsome men she had ever seen and really hoped maybe there could be more.

They arrived at her house and Jack said “Well, it looks like we are here. Do you think I could give you a call sometime and maybe go out?” Tracey looked at him and said “Of course, I would love that.” Jack started to walk away when Tracey reached for his arm and said “You know I still don’t feel safe and if he came back I’m not sure what I would do”. Jack sympathized with her and just smiled and grabbed her hand. Tracey immediately felt better and asked “Can you please stay with me tonight, Please?”, Jack smiled and said “Of course it would be my pleasure”.

Walking towards the door hand in hand Jack smiled, and thought to himself, good thing she doesn’t really know me; and slowly slid his knife from his back pocket and followed her in through the front door.

©Chris Chonos

I Need a Drink

There he stood waiting in line to get his possessions back, John had been in prison for the last 10 years for vehicular manslaughter. He couldn’t believe he was finally going to be this god awful place.

It was 10 years ago that he had gone out with his friends to celebrate his 21st birthday, he could finally drink legally. His friends were buying all the rounds and putting shots in front of him so fast he couldn’t keep up. He knew he was really drunk but wanted to get home to get some rest so he snuck out on his friends when he went to the bathroom.

He knew he shouldn’t drive but didn’t want to wait for an Uber driver to get there and pick him up either, that just gave his friends more opportunity to get him back in the bar and feed him drinks…and he was done.

He clearly remembers fumbling with his keys and then the rest is a blur. The next thing he knew he was laying in his car with blood running down his face and a police officer looking at him and asking if he was alright. John couldn’t even answer him and the police officer new he was intoxicated. He got John out of the car and over to an ambulance where they looked at him and bandaged up what were very minor cuts on his forehead.

The police officer came over after that and gave him Breathalyzer test and proceeded to read John his rights. It wasn’t till later he heard that a 10 year old and her mother had been killed in the other car. John was devastated and felt a sense of fear come over him when the police told him he was being arrested for vehicular manslaughter…2nd degree murder.

The trial was very short and John plead guilty, he knew what he did was wrong and was willing to accept responsibility for his actions. The judge was not so forgiving and gave him the longest sentence he could with no parole.

Prison was a terrible place and he felt remorse and guilt every day for what had happened. He spent most of the time in his cell and swore he would never drink again, no matter what. He went to meetings while in prison for addicts to help keep him off the juice when he got out.

John finally received all his possessions and was led to the door out of the prison. Ten years of his life gone and he was going to rebuild his life, where would he even begin.

As he walked out of the prison his best friend Brian was waiting in his car to take him home or wherever he wanted to go. He looked at John and asked ‘Where to buddy?’. John just looked at him and said ‘I need a drink’.