On the Lam

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Artfully Adelie

PHOTO PROMPT Copyright-Ted Strutz

The bloody bandages reluctantly tug and tear, as Dr. Goldstein peels them from my skin.
Liberated from the mummy wrap, my pores drink in the musty office air.
He holds up a tarnished mirror, revealing a face whose only resemblance to mine are the wary green eyes.
“They won’t recognize you.” Beaming, he admires his handiwork before glancing out the window. “You’re going to miss the boat!”

I hustle down the stairs and to the dock.

Peering over my shoulder, I board the ferry.

Sedated by the blaring horn and salty breeze, I silently vanish from my family, the mafia.

Thank you so very much for giving my Friday Fictioneers story a read. Every week, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (“The Boss”) inspires her clan of highly imaginative fictioneers to sharpen their skills with 100 word flash fiction stories. You’re more than welcome to join the fun- our family is always looking for fresh meat. Please click on the link to see the handiwork of my fellow mobsters!

43 thoughts on “On the Lam”

andy1076 on June 11, 2014 at 11:38 am said:

Fiction? mmm I wonder, especially when it comes to you Adelie 😉

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 10:56 am said:
  
  Exactly what are you suggesting, Andy? Do you and I need to have a talk? 🙂
  
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  - andy1076 on June 12, 2014 at 11:53 am said:
    
    So you can tell me all about your secret life? sure! lol ;P
    
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    - MM Jaye on June 13, 2014 at 3:52 pm said:
      
      The biggest problem was that I was immersed in this exchange, and I momentarily forgot Adelie’s story! Momentarily. Artfully relevant to the prompt. Medical procedure plus escape. Excellent!
      
      Greetings from Greece!
      Maria (MM Jaye)
      
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      - artfullyadelie on June 16, 2014 at 4:57 pm said:
        
        Thank you so much for reading this and taking the time to leave such wonderful feedback, Maria! I wish I was in Greece right about now!
        
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FabricatingFiction on June 11, 2014 at 3:38 pm said:

Great idea and well executed.

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 10:57 am said:
  
  Thank you so much for reading and for the very kind words!
  
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kingsleycw13 on June 11, 2014 at 3:51 pm said:

Love the line ‘sedated by the blaring horn.’ Love to see where this goes!

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 11:10 am said:
  
  Thank you so much for giving this a read and leaving such a wonderful response, kingsleycw13! 🙂
  
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MrBinks on June 11, 2014 at 4:34 pm said:

THE family 🙂 Nice one.

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 11:23 am said:
  
  Yes, as often as I complain about my family, at least they aren’t the mafia. Thanks, Mr.Binks! 😀
  
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lingeringvisions by Dawn on June 11, 2014 at 6:43 pm said:

Wonderful escape, I felt her exhilaration.

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 11:32 am said:
  
  Thank you so much, Dawn. Yes, I think fresh starts can be somewhat scary and exhilarating at the same time!
  
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aliciajamtaas on June 11, 2014 at 11:04 pm said:

So she’s running to the boat with newly exposed “restorations”? Ouch!

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 11:34 am said:
  
  Yes, and I’m not quite sure how the salt water will treat her, but I suppose it’s better than the “repercussions” of running from her family! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!
  
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Horus on June 12, 2014 at 4:21 am said:

restored and liberated ! 🙂

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 11:45 am said:
  
  Absolutely! Everyone loves a fresh start! Thanks so much for reading and commenting! 🙂
  
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patriciaruthsusan on June 12, 2014 at 8:36 am said:

Adelie, Good story and use of description. Poor person; being so scared he has to have his face redone with plastic surgery. That office didn’t sound very sanitary. I hope infection doesn’t set in.Well written. 🙂 —Susan

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 11:54 am said:
  
  Thanks so much for reading and sharing your magnificent thoughts, Susan! Yes, the office doesn’t seem to be top-notch, but it was the risk she was willing to take to break free! Thanks again!
  
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Snow's Fissures and Fractures on June 12, 2014 at 10:01 am said:

Film noir vibe all over this story, I really liked it.

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 1:17 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much for reading and commenting. That’s the tone I was going for! 🙂
  
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Peter Wells aka Countingducks on June 12, 2014 at 10:19 am said:

I really liked that. You packed so much into just a few words

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 1:29 pm said:
  
  Hello, Peter! I did my best to make this action-packed in a flash! I’m really glad you found it entertaining! Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
  
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elappleby on June 12, 2014 at 2:13 pm said:

Brilliant. Lots to love about this one – especially the pores drinking in the musty office air – wonderful description.

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 3:20 pm said:
  
  Thank you so very much for reading and leaving such encouraging feedback. I felt like my last few pieces were lacking that sort of description, so I had to dip my toes back in again! 🙂
  
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg) on June 12, 2014 at 4:12 pm said:

So happy for her Adele .. she will have a new future I hope.. unless there is special witness protection program ahead…

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- artfullyadelie on June 12, 2014 at 4:55 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much for reading this and taking the time to share your thoughts, Bjorn! Yes, with a new face and a new home, I think she’ll do well!
  
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wmqcolby on June 12, 2014 at 5:08 pm said:

Sweet! LOVE it. That opening sentence was killer and the last line and word … BINGO! A story I couldn’t refuse. 😀

Oh, on a separate note, did you ever get the song figured out? Just wondering. 🙂

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- rochellewisoff on June 14, 2014 at 6:16 pm said:
  
  I have to groan at a story I couldn’t refuse. Aside from my cousin’s…um…er …humor, a nicely done story, Adelie.
  
  Shalom,
  
  Rochelle
  
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  - artfullyadelie on June 17, 2014 at 2:07 pm said:
    
    Rochelle,
    I really appreciate you reading and leaving your amusing and kind thoughts! 🙂
    
    Thanks again,
    Adelie
    
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- artfullyadelie on June 16, 2014 at 4:16 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much for reading and writing such an encouraging comment. Those words mean the world to me, coming from you. 🙂
  What’s funny is, I didn’t read this comment until just now, but that night I told myself, come hell or high water, I was going to finish the song. From the moment I got home, I was reworking it until right before midnight. Once I finished, I didn’t want to post it before I gave it a look with less-sleepy eyes on Friday morning! I feel so bad because you probably thought I just didn’t care about the challenge you generously gave me. It was just a really hectic point in time, and it took me a bit to gain my bearings. 😀
  
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Little Miss Menopause on June 13, 2014 at 2:06 am said:

I love when you do these flashes of fiction! Very eerie and I can even feel the weather here. A foggy mist. Freedom awaits. Excellent work, as par for your course…..Adelie!

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- artfullyadelie on June 16, 2014 at 4:18 pm said:
  
  Thank you so very much for reading and reflecting upon this, Stephanie. Your comments always make me sound like a much more talented writer than I am- and it makes my day! 🙂 ❤
  
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siobhanmcnamara on June 13, 2014 at 7:41 am said:

Well told with a great sense of the musty office and the freedom of the salty air. I hope the doctor can keep his secret!

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- artfullyadelie on June 16, 2014 at 4:20 pm said:
  
  Thank you so very much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts! I think the doctor is used to keeping things under-wraps, so she shouldn’t have to worry! 🙂
  
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tedstrutz on June 14, 2014 at 7:11 pm said:

Nice story, I liked the last line.

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- artfullyadelie on June 17, 2014 at 2:08 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much for reading and for the lovely feedback, Ted!
  
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patrickprinsloo on June 15, 2014 at 9:42 am said:

Hope it works. Clever little story.

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- artfullyadelie on June 17, 2014 at 2:09 pm said:
  
  I’m really glad you enjoyed it. I imagine when a powerful family is after you, you don’t have many options to entertain. Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts!
  
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hugmamma on June 15, 2014 at 11:04 pm said:

Excellent reason to change one’s identity…and disappear. Good one…

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- artfullyadelie on June 17, 2014 at 2:20 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much for reading this and taking the time to share your thoughts! Hopefully with a new face comes a new life!
  
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Nan Falkner on June 16, 2014 at 10:10 pm said:

Dear Adelie – Good story! Change the appearance becomes a different person. Good take on the prompt! Excellent! Nan 🙂

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- artfullyadelie on June 17, 2014 at 2:59 pm said:
  
  Hello, Nan! Thank you so much for reading and for leaving such thoughtful and encouraging feedback! You’re the best! 😀
  
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