And Then There Were None #shortfiction #dreampiece

Posted on Aug 31, 2020 by TanGental

‘Three, two, one…’ Millie mouthed the countdown to her colleague, Peter. On cue the lights rose and the manufactured and manicured applause rippled around the audience. Eight candidates, all male, all white and with faces primped and plasticised to deny their real ages walked to their allotted lecterns. Their smiles spoke to expensive orthodenistry and their confident gaits and nearly-but-not-quite humble waves revealed an unexpected yet beguiling synchronicity.

The anchor, Maurice, let his mouth settle into the insta-influencer’s half-pout and began to intone the names of each candidate.

‘Tossers.’ Peter hissed.

Millie silenced him with a swift glare. ‘Listen, you might learn something.’

‘Right.’

Each candidate had five minutes to explain their platform, were they to become president, and Maurice reminded them he’d not let them overrun.

Peter sniffed. ‘Good luck with that, Mo.’

Millie quieted him again.

Eventually candidate number eight had the floor. ‘As a nation we have fallen out of love with our government and that must change. I promise to improve the quality of our leaders and their discourse at a stroke.’

Peter’s frustrations bubbled over. ‘How?’ he called out.

While Millie shushed him, the candidate bent forward. In one swift movement, he eased up his right trouser leg, extracted a small snub-nosed gun and put a bullet into the forehead of the other candidates before doing the same with his own.

Panic and mayhem ensued as the gun spouted fire and finality. Peter sighed. ‘Shame. I’d have voted for him, but none of them know when to stop.’

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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11 Responses to And Then There Were None #shortfiction #dreampiece

  1. ellenbest24 says:
    Aug 31, 2020 at 1:46 pm

    Now that could be the horror story to end all. You always surprise Geoff.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. John W. Howell says:
    Aug 31, 2020 at 7:30 pm

    Well done Geoff. I think I would pay to see this debate.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. barbtaub says:
    Aug 31, 2020 at 8:48 pm

    Best last line ever!

    Liked by 2 people

  4. JT Twissel says:
    Aug 31, 2020 at 10:35 pm

    The only one who won was the coroner obviously.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Mr. Ohh's Sideways View says:
    Sep 1, 2020 at 12:46 am

    Excellent story and a twisted ending. I’m not sure I condone the act but I also can’t say I disagree with it

    Stay well and Laugh when you can

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Norah says:
    Sep 1, 2020 at 1:00 pm

    Wishful thinking, Geoff.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.