Hoodwinked

Tonight's Episode

The 3rd Annual Flash August Fiction Marathon: Finale

https://herschelsterling.com/#cat-economics

There weren’t many parts left for the completion of the shed. So much work had to be done to prepare the base, dig the posts, and remove the ground cover where it would stand. The problem the builders were having now is the fact that the kit that was delivered doesn’t look like it was built for the outdoors at all.

“It looks like it’s going to blow over the first big wind.” The contractor said.

“It looks like it’s made for indoor warehouses or something.” The helper said.

They checked with the owner to confirm it was what they ordered, and it turns out that’s what they wanted.

“They have no idea about any of this. Sometimes I wonder where these people get their ideas.” Said the contractor. “I have a good mind to not even build it. What a waste of time. I know it’s not going to hold up. The first big weather event happens and the thing’s in pieces, and they’re going to blame me and expect me to come fix it for free.”

“Well, we did a hell of a job on the foundation. Even when this thing is all over the yard, at least they’ll have something to build a real one on, or something else. They can do anything with this base.” The assistant said.

“True that. You did a hell of a job on that base.” The contractor agreed. “Let’s look at these plans and see if there’s anything we can do to shore this thing up. I’m not hopeful, though.”

The two men went over the plans and realized that the flimsy, weak metal frame was a knock-off of a very well made shed kit that is quite formidable. It was exactly the same as another brand, only using much lower quality metal, hardware, and window inserts.

The contractor took a walk around the property to think about his next decision. He called the property owners and told them it was his opinion that they had purchased something they didn’t realize and that they should reconsider.

They told him to build it. They said it would work and that it wouldn’t be on the market if it were infoerior, that they they weren’t willing to spend more money. Then they said it’s cheap enough that if it falls apart, they can get another one to replace it.

The contractor shook his head and went ahead with the build. He knew it was junk, but he did it anyway.

“I hate the feeling I get being expected to work with such crap.” He told his helper. “It’s so demoralizing.”

“I feel like I’m biting the bullet too.” Said his assistant.

As the two men were working, it became very windy, and they noticed the sound of some flapping. They looked over to a flagpole on the property, where a thin, translucent nylon ghost of an American flag was ripping in the wind. In a violent gust of wind, a ribbon of the flag tore off and landed close to the two men. The young assistant chased it down. The label, which was of stronger material than the flag itself, read: Made in China.

531 Words

https://herschelsterling.com/#cat-economics

Don’t forget to check out my other podcast, The Arc of The Bard. I haven’t done a new writer’s conversation in 3 months, and it continues to grow. New ones are coming soon, now that this flash fiction marathon is ending.

31 brand-new stories written & podcasted in 31 days

thanks for reading, or listening, or however you did it