Flash Fiction
“Do Unto Others”
Ed Dewitt was racing around the house packing for his business trip. It was a balmy summer day. His little boy was in the backyard playing, his baby daughter was in her crib napping, and his wife was ironing his shirt. Any minute the airport taxi would pull into Ed’s driveway and off he would fly to pitch new business in St. Paul.
Shaving kit, briefcase …
“Taxi’s here!” He dashed to the door.
Through the screen he saw his son running, “Dad! Dad! Come quick! Mr. Gordon’s hurt! He’s hurt bad! His foot, Dad! His lawnmower!”
The taxi honked.
Ed stood still and searched his boy’s anguished face. The child was hopping up and down, tugging on his father’s hand, pulling. The taxi honked again.
Brent was crying now, “Dad, he needs help! Come on, Dad, come on!! Hurry!!”
Ed wrestled within. Extremely bad timing. Very important trip.
Art directors, account executives. his whole team meeting at O’Hare to board the plane together. He set down his briefcase, and ran through the backyard with his son.
Bob Gordon had been drinking Tom Collins while mowing his lawn in his bare feet. He mowed right over the top half of his left one.. He needed help fast; Ed got there just in time.
A moment of decision for a businessman. - a man immersed in the business of raising a boy and teaching him how to live, by living what he taught.
Ed and his son drove their neighbor to the hospital. He missed his plane.
And he didn’t even know it was going to crash.
2/12/13
Valerie K. Reid
“Do Unto Others”
Ed Dewitt was racing around the house packing for his business trip. It was a balmy summer day. His little boy was in the backyard playing, his baby daughter was in her crib napping, and his wife was ironing his shirt. Any minute the airport taxi would pull into Ed’s driveway and off he would fly to pitch new business in St. Paul.
Shaving kit, briefcase …
“Taxi’s here!” He dashed to the door.
Through the screen he saw his son running, “Dad! Dad! Come quick! Mr. Gordon’s hurt! He’s hurt bad! His foot, Dad! His lawnmower!”
The taxi honked.
Ed stood still and searched his boy’s anguished face. The child was hopping up and down, tugging on his father’s hand, pulling. The taxi honked again.
Brent was crying now, “Dad, he needs help! Come on, Dad, come on!! Hurry!!”
Ed wrestled within. Extremely bad timing. Very important trip.
Art directors, account executives. his whole team meeting at O’Hare to board the plane together. He set down his briefcase, and ran through the backyard with his son.
Bob Gordon had been drinking Tom Collins while mowing his lawn in his bare feet. He mowed right over the top half of his left one.. He needed help fast; Ed got there just in time.
A moment of decision for a businessman. - a man immersed in the business of raising a boy and teaching him how to live, by living what he taught.
Ed and his son drove their neighbor to the hospital. He missed his plane.
And he didn’t even know it was going to crash.
2/12/13
Valerie K. Reid