Surprise

Flash Fiction

Surprise

“I can’t go yet,” said Sandra as Tina walked up to the porch.

“Why not? We could get the best seats if we go now!” said Tina.

“My mother is having ‘The Group’ over tomorrow and she said I have to weed the front garden before I can go anywhere.”

“Give me some gloves, I’ll help you. What’s The Group?”

It’s her reading group; they all get together and read, and have food. It’s kind of weird… They just sit and read and eat…”

“What do they read?”

“Lots of things, this week it’s poetry. Yuk!”

“Why yuk?”

“Who reads poetry, and why do I have to weed the garden so they can read?”

“A weed is but an unloved flower.”

“Exactly! Though you’re kind of scaring me with that sentence…”

“Ella Wilcox.”

“Who’s that?”

“The woman who wrote ‘A weed is but an unloved flower.’ It’s a quote”

“You quote quotes?”

“Yeah, I don’t usually say them to people though.”

“I know, I’ve known you for years, why didn’t I know this?”

“My brother assures me that if I quote quotes, I will become the laughing stock of Midville High.”

“He has a point; it does sound weird from a fifteen-year-old… but every silver lining has a cloud…”

“What!?”

“Mary Kay Ash… I happen to know a few quotes myself…”

“We’ve known each other since forth grade, how could we not know we both like quotes?”

“Your brother told you not to spew them out, and my sister told me! I know they were just protecting us from being laughed at, but how did we make it this far not knowing we both loved quotes?”

“I don’t know… Surprises are the joy of life…”

“Socrates!” they both shouted at the same time, bounding their friendship for life.