Excellent Jack and Jill went up the Hill St. Blues. Retirement by Terry Reilly Surprise Me writing prompt entry Artwork by Linda Bickston at FanArtReview.com

Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of language. I've been retired a few years now. It took some getting used to at first. I had time on my hands, and had to build a whole new structure to fill it up. New hobbies, new activities, a complete new routine. I think it may have been even more difficult for my wife, Jill. She had to alter many of her set routines to accommodate my restless presence. She was pretty patient, most of the time. Bit by bit, I reckon we worked it out. Developed a functional modus vivendi. We learned to give each other space so that we could pursue our individual interests, while establishing some fixed events to do together each week. Most importantly, perhaps, we discovered, after forty years of marriage, that we shared a mischievous sense of humour. "The couple that laughs together, lasts together." I can't remember which savant came up with that pearl of wisdom. Maybe I just made it up. One of our shared weekly events took place on a Wednesday. We would dress up, go into town, and treat ourselves to a slap up lunch. We tried to pick a new place each week, but, inevitably, we identified several restaurants which warranted regular repeat visits. This particular Wednesday, we had just finished an excellent meal in Luigi's, our favourite trattoria. Luigi always reserved the window table, just for us. We were getting ready to leave. "Oh, oh Jack," said Jill, pointing outside. "Look!" A uniformed cop was issuing a parking ticket. We both hurried out on to the sidewalk. "C'mon, Officer," I said pleadingly. "Surely that's not necessary." He gave me a blank look, then continued to write out the ticket, fixing it on the windshield. "Asshole," I commented. He threw me the same emotionless glare, proceeding to write out another ticket for worn treads. "Dickhead," offered Jill. A third ticket was the outcome of my wife's protest. We took it in turns to insult the cop, with the same result each time. Yet another ticket. This went on for about fifteen minutes. Then we got bored and walked away. Why should we care? We had come in by bus as always! Writing Prompt This is a flash fiction contest. Write a story that has a surprise ending. Since it is flash, the word count must be between 200 and 600 words. The ending can be funny, sad, shocking, etc. But the reader has to be surprised.

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