Short Stories

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“That sure smells good,” John said, leaning over his wife’s shoulder to kiss her on the cheek.”
“Well, you can stay out of it. It’s for our romantic Valentine’s dinner, tomorrow night,” Janice said.
“Guess I should get out of your way, then. I need to run out, anyway.”
“Where are you going, honey?” Janice called as she stirred the pasta sauce cooking on the stove.
It was Christmas Eve, and she was making a dish for a romantic dinner tomorrow.
“I’m going to get some gas. I'll be back in a little bit.”
John wiped a trickle of sweat from his neck as he pumped the gas. “Afternoon,” he said to the two men who’d pulled up between him and the convenience store door.
Neither man answered.
“Friendly sorts,” John mumbled as they entered the store.
He tapped the gas nozzle to shake the last drops into his tank, then replaced it on the pump. He looked up to see the cashier holding his hands in the air. The two men he’d spoken to earlier pointed guns at the cashier.
Quickly, John squatted behind the gas pump, his heart pounding. He had to do something.
After a moment’s hesitation, he moved closer to the store and called the police on his cell phone. From his vantage point, John could peer between two posters on the glass window and see the cashier reaching for a gun in the cash box.
Unfortunately, he also realized one of the robbers had seen the cashier reach for the gun, too. Without thinking of the consequences, John banged on the window. The robber looked up, and the cashier pulled his gun, but one of the thieves shot him as he dived for the floor. A dark red stain flooded the cashier’s pant leg.
One of the robbers stepped outside the door and pointed his pistol at John. “You! Inside!”
John couldn’t argue with a man with holding a gun, and he did as he was told.
“What do we do now?” the man said. “They can both identify us.”
“We have to take them with us. We have no choice.”
Pictures of Janice flashed through John’s head. He loved her so much. If these men killed him, she’d be devastated. Even if he lived, she’d go crazy with worry, knowing he’d been kidnapped by robbers. She’d just come through a major operation and didn't need this stress.
I can’t go with them. I have to end this now, he thought.
The police should arrive any moment now, but he knew the robbers would panic, and he couldn’t trust them not to take him as a hostage.
John grabbed his stomach and doubled over, gagging.
“What are you doing?” yelled one of the men.
“I’m—I’m sick. I really need to use the bathroom. My stomach is cramping up again.”
One of the thieves made a face, then pointed toward the restroom sign. “Make it quick. And don’t try any funny stuff!”
John felt the gun barrel in his back as one of the men pushed him toward the men’s room. “I’m right outside the door. And don’t lock it!”
The automatic door closed behind John, and he made a loud groaning noise. A window! He thought of escaping, but then remembered the cashier bleeding behind the counter. How could he leave a fallen man behind?
Quietly, he punched redial to call the police dispatcher. When he’d told them the situation, they told John to get out of there. John warned them to tell the police not to use sirens, or they’d be jeopardizing his life.
Within moments, an officer pecked on the bathroom window, startling John. Quickly, he was whisked to the safety of a police cruiser, and he watched from the distance as the thieves were cuffed and taken to another car, while paramedics transported the wounded cashier to the hospital.
John felt shaken during his drive back home. What a story he would have to tell his wife! When he walked in the door, without looking up, Janice asked, “Wow, you were gone
quite a while. Did you get the gas? I forgot to tell you to pick up some milk.”
John didn’t know how to answer her. Where should he begin?
After a moment of silence, Janice turned. “What's wrong? Honey, your face is lily-white.”
John told Janice the entire story, and he shared how he had thought of her and how much he loved her. “I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't thought of how much I care about you.”
Janice’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, John. This Christmas will be the most special ever. Your love for me may have saved your life.” Puddles filled her eyes as John scooped her into his arms.
“We never really know how blessed are, until something like this happens. Merry Christmas!"

My website is wwwcindytuttletheauthor.com. My e-mail is [email protected].

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