Mother's Day
She never arrived at work. A note was found in the form of alphabet refrigerator magnets spelling "Enough."
A basket of dirty laundry sat on the dryer, the washer half-filled with sports socks, a bottle of bleach tipped over on the edge and leaking. Twelve bags of groceries sat in the middle of the kitchen floor, unemptied, frozen food defrosting.
The police suspected foul play. Why would the mother of three teenagers run off? A sixteen-year-old and fifteen-year-old twins? The husband was suspect, appearing to be in shock, as if he had never sorted groceries or done laundry.
"Is that enough bleach?" he asked the officers.
The children were not beyond suspicion either. One resumed an intense session of "Grand Theft Auto" on his X-Box. Another socialized with friends on Facebook with no mention of her missing mother. The third, and this was really odd, asked the officers "Well, if mom's not here, who's going to make us supper?" The officer suggested that everyone in the household was old enough to make their own supper, to which the suspect answered, "Yeah, right, Dude, you sound just like her."
The case is still under investigation and if anyone has any information please contact the county missing persons unit.
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Author's Note
Murder mystery.
Other stories by Gloria Garfunkel
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Very funny
“"Is that enough bleach?" he asked the officers.”
The piece moves well. It's a good read, Gloria.
"The police suspected foul play. Why would the mother of three teenagers run off? A sixteen-year-old and fifteen-year-old twins? The husband was suspect, appearing to be in shock, as if he had never sorted groceries or done laundry."
*
No motives here. No motives at all. Ha!
Playful use of the title, and the opening lines are fantastic. It feels so... 2012 American. Very well done.
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215 words of brilliance. I'm new round here but am amazed at the talent on show. This excellent Gloria.
Short, simple, totally hilarious. The alphabet magnet note was a nice touch.
Really liked this...funny, but also sad, and razor-sharp into the absurd shit that litters our lives.
This is a riot, Gloria! Loved the irony of the opening line, and the light, matter-of-fact tone here is just right to make the whole thing work. Plus ca change...
super!*
Escape! *
Love the refrigerator note. And the rest. *
All moms can relate*
"Why would the mother of three teenagers run off?" Ha ha ha! Love this. Quite humorous.
Laughed out loud!*
Thanks all for your wonderful comments. I still laugh when I read this one.
Yep, I think that vision has passed through the mind of every mom I know. I love all the automatic turning to the officer as new (and only present) source of authority.
Very nice, but I won't let my wife read it. (She might get ideas. lol) Fave.
I lied. I told my wife. She got this dreamy look in her eyes. I haven't seen her since.
Enjoyed this, Gloria. The little details make it.