Shell Game
The stall was just a door-on-sawhorses table spread with a selection of fantastical shells you could never find in a marine biology textbook. Most ships avoided the rift that had recently opened offshore, but this girl and her brother were clearly more enterprising.
“How much?” I pointed at a coconut-sized blood-red shell.
“10?”
It was worth ten times that. I looked skeptical.
“It’s still closed.”
“We couldn’t open it.”
I hammered it against the table until the shell splintered. From inside, I caught the glitter of something large and glowing faintly.
“I’ll give you eight,” I said. “Since it’s broken.”
The Green-Walled Treehouse 
That ploy make not work. At least I hope not
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Hopefully not since he’s trying to cheat her. Thanks for reading, Neil.
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I would demand the eight in payment for the damage caused, and hold on to the red shell
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Hi Michael, yes that would be fair. Hopefully it’s a learning experience for her.
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Sounds like the beginning of a grand adventure. Curiosity can be a blessing and a curse. I hope, because the guy is such a jerk, it’s a curse 😉
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Yes, he’s not being very nice. Someone else suggested that too. It would be a great twist and some good karma. Thanks for reading, as always.
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You’re very welcome, David.
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Dear David,
Enterprising young man there. 😉 Of course now I want to know what’s inside. Knowing you it’s going to be fascinating. I also find it fascinating that a few people used my photo rather than the designated prompt which was my painting. I supposed I should’ve marked it “prompt.” At any rate, love your stories and am always happy when you visit.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I did not even notice that I’d used the picture instead of the one for the prompt. I had to go back and look at your post again. A missed opportunity on my part since your painting is so beautiful. I was examining how you painted the glass, just by subtly deforming the objects we see through it and adding some white patches. Wonderful job.
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perhaps, they could argue you broke it and need to pay even more and the contents belong to them as you only wanted the shell. After, they are an enterprising pair.
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That would the fair thing, to charge him more for it.
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I’ll say again, you should write more of these. Your peers miss you. You’re gifted at flash fiction, among other things.
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I’m trying to write them every week, but these days I’m either late or just absent. This will change soon.
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I know you’re busy, but your art calls. 🙂
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Now, that’s an enterprising person, it’ll be a rude shock if that glittering thing is not as valuable.
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That would be a great twist, if it turned out to be something either worthless or actively harmful to him. Would serve him right for trying to cheat the girl.
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They should charge you for breaking it. Great story!
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Yeah, really. She’s getting taken advantage of, I suspect.
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Uh oh, missed the sign that said, “You break it, you buy it.” 🙂 Interesting story.
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Thanks, Bill. Hopefully the girl will get more savvy about selling to guys like this. 🙂
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You’re welcome, David.
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