Wednesday is the day for a story as you may know. Today’s story was inspired by one of those quaint Ben Franklin almanac quotations. “Let he who drinks his cider alone, catch his horse alone.” I think this quotation speaks volumes about the concept of sharing. If a person cannot find the heart to share the good moments of life, then when the troubles of life show up let that person face them alone. Seems logical, but it never ceases to amaze me how some folks who have no thoughts for others in good times want all the help they can find when things turn bad. This story is about one of those people. It is titled: All About Me and stars my favorite character Frank.
All About Me By John W. Howell © 2014
“I can tell, you think I should help you with this problem.”
“Well, are you going to stand around and watch me struggle?”
“Hum let me see. The last time I asked you for help, you were busy remember?”
“No I really don’t remember. I don’t even remember you asking for help.”
“That’s pretty strange. At the time, you gave me a lecture on how to avoid the problem.”
“Did it work?”
“Hell no Frank. It didn’t work. I needed help getting out of the problem, not some words on how to avoid it.”
“Did you ever get into the same problem again?”
“No never.”
“See I did help.”
“Right now it isn’t so much about me Frank it’s all about you. You are in trouble and you are asking me to help you.”
“Isn’t that what friends are for?”
“If we were friends I would say yes that’s what friends are for.”
“You mean we aren’t friends?”
“Frank for god’s sake. You are asking me for money and the last time I asked you I got nothing.”
“Except good advice.”
“Except advice yes.”
“Say it, ‘good advice.’”
“No I won’t and I’m not giving you any of the money.”
“You are hurting my feelings Gerry. Please say you will give me the money.”
“I don’t think you have feelings Frank and again, no.”
“If I kill you, I can just take the money.”
“I don’t think so Frank. Look around. There is no way out of here. We are locked in the safe overnight sitting on millions. You kill me and take the money and the boss will hunt you down like an animal. You have to wait until the bank opens in the morning and the safe automatically unlocks just like me. Then, like in the plan, we both take the money out of here. That is my final say so on this subject. I can’t believe you are so stupid. Point that gun in another direction before I slap you.”
Fiction Favorites 
Frank. Frank. Frank. He has quite a penchant for getting into trouble. Loved the twist at the end.
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Frank is a pain. I’m glad you like the twist.
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Ever consider making a small collection of Frank stories? They’re always fun and entertaining. For some reason, I keep thinking of an old black and white comic strip showing this too.
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A strip that was published or one to publish? I do have a collection of Frank short stories that I am thinking of publishing. The collection is not the same dialog treatment as I use on Wednesday, but shows Frank’s ass none the less. Thanks
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One to publish. Though a short story collection would be hilarious.
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I love Charles’ idea, John! A collection of Frank stories, and the title story could be this one, “All About Me” 🙂 Love this twist in this story.
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Thanks. I have a bunch of stories written. Not in the dialog format but each about 4000 words and in a serialized form. Maybe I should get off my butt bring them to a conclusion and put them out there.
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Oh, my goodness, John. That would be wonderful. You definitely have a treasure of writing there.
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Believe it or not when I tire of my novels I take a short break and pund out a short story. Keeps the head clear.
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As you must already know, you do quite well with the short story … you remember the Writer’s Digest contest, surely. Novelists have been known to publish the occasional short story collection. Just sayin’ 😉
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That sounds like a wonderful idea. Frank has become such a well developed character with a character agency all his own. He drives the plot rather than the plot driving him. Loved this ending. Poor Frank. He’s always getting the raw end of the deal.
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Thanks Susan. Don’t feel too sorry for Frank. He’s a rat.
On Wed, Jun 4, 2014 at 2:47 PM, Fiction Favorites wrote:
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