Hello everyone!
I bring another 400 word flash fiction story for you all. I actually won the small weekly writing challenge I do with my writing group with this story. Today's is just as silly as last week's, with the prompts from our generator being: Character 1: A young child who is excited.
Character 2: A fancy person in their 90s. Setting: A gym.
Situation: Mermaids attempt to install a democratic government.
Theme: This is a story about inner peace.
Action: Your character is locked out. My story doesn't do all of these perfectly, but I had a blast. Enjoy!
I bang my fist on the door, trying desperately to get inside the pool.
“This is my establishment, you have no right to take over!”
A childish laugh comes from inside the pool echoed by the sound of splashing.
“Sorry old man, you signed away the rights five years ago. We gave you five years more to live, and you gave us this place. Just give it up!”
It's true, I almost drowned in the pool all those years ago. They gave me youthful energy too, but I had to give up my gym in return. Why they wanted it, I don’t know.
“At least tell me what you want with this place. It’s not even profitable anymore.”
Whispers creep out from behind the door, and it swings open fast enough to smack me in the face. I rub my nose and adjust my glasses, annoyed that chemicals have been splashed on my expensive new suit.
"Come in, I guess. You're gonna die soon anyways.”
The small merchild smirks at me. She flops towards the pool, hissing as the chemical treated water hits her skin. She must not be old enough to transform into a human.
“So what do you guys want?” I lean onto my gold cane, “This dying building has nothing to offer.”
“That's why we find it so valuable,” the girl laughs, swimming to her family who are whispering among each other, “you see it as worthless, but it connects us to all of the gyms we've collected.”
“Collected?”
She nods, a grin forming from cheek to cheek, “We have connections all over the world, and access to a large population of humans. Haven't you noticed the odd shift to swimming in gyms?”
“I did notice that, yea. I just figured it was the newest trend.”
The young mermaid claps her hands, “You fell for it! No, we're making a democratic government for the merfolk of the world. And being so connected is very helpful.”
“Do you even know what you're saying, kid?”
“Of course I do, silly!” she giggles.
I stand there, utterly baffled.
"What do you need a democracy for?”
“It's complicated, and I'm too young to understand all the politics. Don't worry, humans will get to experience our glorious government!”
I nod, though still confused, heading for the door. I shut it behind me, leaving the mermaids to plan world domination.
Have a wonderful week!
-Rosetta 💖
Image By Jorge Fernández Salas