Short Fiction: That Moment When

Today, here’s a flashback to this time last year when I was shortlisted in Australian Writers Centre’s Furious Fiction. The given prompts were:

• Your story’s setting: a COURT of some kind.
• Your story must include a character who measures something.
• Your story must include the words BALLOON, ROCK, UMBRELLA.

If  you’d like to see the winner and the other entries, click here.

I hope you enjoy this satirical piece set on social media…

That Moment When

Tamara Hanes
5 hours ago
That moment when you realize the wedding’s off @Jimmy French.
Image: a man and a woman sitting side by side in a restaurant booth. His arm is around her shoulder. She is facing away from the camera. He is kissing her cheek.
#rat #cheat #soangryIcouldscream
Angry emoji 83 Care emoji 51
29 comments

Amy Rand
Is this for real? Who is she?

Tamara Hanes replied
Yes, for real. A trusted friend sent the photos. Don’t know the woman. Can’t see her face.

Amy Rand replied
I’m so sorry @Tamara Hanes.
Thank God you found out before you tied the knot.

Bobby Hanes
Sorry, sis! Next time I see @Jimmy French he better watch out.

Tamara Hanes replied
Hands off, I’ll deal with him myself.

Sally Stevanovitch
Omg! You poor thing. A month before the big day? What an arsehole!

Tamara Hanes replied
I know. I’m a mess.
It’s only 27 days before the wedding, but who’s counting?

Sally Stevanovitch replied
On my way! Will bring supplies: Tim Tams, vodka, icecream.

Tamara Hanes replied
How about a gun? A rock? Any weapon to inflict blunt force trauma?

Sally Stevanovitch replied
I have an umbrella. You could shove that where the sun don’t shine.

Dennis Duval
Have you spoken to him? Maybe there’s an explanation? Give him a hearing before the court of public opinion delivers its verdict.

Tamara Hanes replied
@Dennis Duval Look at the photo ffs!

Sally Stevanovitch replied
@Dennis Duval typical! Don’t make excuses for him just because you’re the best man. He’s lip-locked with another woman.

Dennis Duval replied
It’s a peck on the cheek.

Sally Stevanovitch replied
@Dennis Duval He’s about to be MARRIED. I bet you lined up strippers for the buck’s night.

Dennis Duval replied
Too right!

Moira Hanes
I never trusted that man, and it’s been such a whirlwind romance. But don’t be too hasty. Your father wasn’t always perfect, either, and he turned out alright. Why aren’t you picking up your phone?

Tamara Hanes replied
Mum, people can read this. Can’t talk right now. Gutted.

Moira Hanes replied
Oh, can you show me how to delete this?

Bobby Hanes replied
Wtf! Mum, call me.

Cindy Lee
Oh @Tamara Hanes. Hugs! Does this mean we won’t have the dress fitting next week? (My waist has dropped 2cm) lmk, I need to rearrange my schedule.

Tamara Hanes replied
I’m cancelling everything: hens night, reception centre, cake, photographer, the freaking balloons.

Jimmy French
@Tamara Hanes we need to talk. I’m at the door.

Tamara Hanes replied
@Jimmy French I’m too angry to speak to you right now.

Jimmy French replied
@Tamara Hanes Please let me in.

Tamara Hanes replied
@Jimmy French No.

Jimmy French replied
@Tamara Hanes That woman’s my sister. Flew in from Sydney last night.
I wanted to surprise you.

Tamara Hanes replied
@Jimmy French What? Oh thank God! I’m so sorry. Coming now…

Cindy Lee
Does this mean the dress fitting’s back on?

Next time: another short story that short-listed in Furious Fiction: Santa’s Suitcase