The Bond Trader Goes Hunting
The Bond Trader begins his morning with coffee and a hit of LSD. He finishes his immaculate Saville Row suit with a six-point linen handkerchief. He buffs his soft leather shoes until the surface reflectivity begins to disturb.
Jaunty and well-appointed, he strides to the den and takes a gun off the wall. He picks some shells out of a desk drawer.
He is now hunting pheasant with a shotgun in his driveway. He is a crack shot. Everything that is or becomes pheasant he hits. Then he laughs and laughs. For a while there will be no stopping him.
His explosive peregrinations bring him into the garden. He sees the gardener face-down among the roses. The Bond Trader cracks the gun, walks over to prone body and taps him on the head. When the gardener looks up, the Bond Trader says: "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He flashes a winning smile.
With a spring in his step, he is moving through the garden. From the ground, the gardener watches him disappear.
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Author's Note
No. 26 (+1) from the 100 days project.
Just another day in the countryside.
Other stories by stephen hastings-king
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This sounds about right for bond traders. Nice work.
Preparation for the trading floor, nicely rendered, Stephen. "Everything that is or becomes pheasant he hits," deadpan derision.
Really like this one, Stephen; read it this morning at 100 Days.
Oh, my God, another bond trader story! My favorite!
*
What a touching little tale about the bond trader. And they are mosly all like that. Wonderful!
Nice work, Stephen. Enjoyed the read.
thanks very much for the reads, comments and lovely stars.
you know, it didn't occur to me to think about what the bond trader might do with the rest of his day. i just thought: this is what this guy does. it explains the wardrobe. the acid explains the hunting. then he wanders away into the woods. i like these other versions too.
Yes, very good deadpan. And great sentences!*
I could have gone on and on with this one, it is so good and I know he's up to much more trouble.
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Speaks volumes in such spare sentences. Wow! Fave.
Oh yes, gotta have that winning smile.
"Until the surface reflectivity begins to disturb." - Brilliant, horrific, fantastic.
Wow, this is so perceptive, a character I love to hate and have contempt for at the same time. LSD? I would think an amphetamine spike to that coffee, a real energy drink. Peace *
Nice one Stephen. For a moment I thought the gardener was hit. So many great surprises in so short a space. *
thanks much for all the reads, lovely comments and faves. i ran into the guy this story's based on the other night. i'm not sure he's pleased with it quite.
it's nice that the bond trader is making out better out here amongst you folks.
God, I love your work, Stephen!! You're brilliant and always crack me up!!! Some astonishing lines that lay out the bricks!! "He buffs his soft leather shoes until the surface reflectivity begins to disturb." You had me at the first sentence!!! ******