Thank you Rochelle for the first Friday-Fictioneers of 2024. Dale’s picture looks inviting for a refreshing walk though the woods and down to the lake, pity about the waterlogged path.
As always more stories can be found climbing HERE.
(Maybe I should place an icon here instead, maybe next time).
Truth Fades–Mud Sticks.
Harold slung his bag over his shoulder. The catch was three rainbow trout, full and meaty. He picked up his rod and headed back to the lodge and ignored the slime and mud slopping over the top of his boots.
He visualised the commotion that would ensure in his office when he fired the three accountants. They tried to hide the cash discrepancies and became sloppy. His scrutiny of the expense payments showing their gambling habits.
Shame, they were nice guys. Blame and mud will fly in every direction.
His secretary, Carmen, was waiting with a cosy fire.
Who knew?
James McEwan 
No stranger to slime and mud, obviously
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I like the matter of fact way this is told, James. Decisions made while fishing or fishing once the decision was made… either way, it ends all nice and cozy!
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Only if his wife doesn’t find out. Thank you.
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No mention of a wife so we can’t assume…
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I know, it is difficult to get everything in. Who knew.
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There was nothing to make us think he was cheating; just fooling around with his secretary 😉
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I’ll watch out for better hints in my future writing. You are right and you took the positive side of his cosy night with Carmen. Thank you.
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I do like to look on the positive side… 😉
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Maybe a couple of fishy things going on.
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Never trust the boss. Thanks Doug.
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There’s more than one thing going on in that office. Nicely woven together.
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Just duck when the vocal mud flies. Thank you.
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Lucky he’s got Carmen waiting for him with … ??? He has a complicated life, but it seems he’s quite relaxed about it all.
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Yes, but can he trust her? Thank you.
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Dear James,
A lot of story in a few words. Nice that he had Carmen waiting for him. Takes the sting out of his decision.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Maybe so, thank you.
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Sounds like he has a nice evening planned. Lets hope it doesn’t go south.
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They do say fishing helps people think.
Big decisions for his staff and, perhaps, his side-amour.
Isadora
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What an interesting concoction of thoughts in his head! I hope he removes his boots before he mucks up the office 🙂
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after all the fishing, i guess he deserves a break. 🙂
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Now, that’s a muddy situation. Carmen may double cross.
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Sounds like he might be just as slimy as his accountants.
Love the way you wrote this. So clear and simple for a powerful man to change people’s lives while on holiday. He might be cut-throat and ruthless but these men still got one over on him up until this point… unless he is throwing them under the bus so to speak, to cover up his own dalliance ?
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I wonder will his wife learn about the secretary. That was my idea, but I know I have not made this very explicit in the story. Thank you.
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I like the metaphor with the mud in the boots and in the office.
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Thank you.
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Mud definitely sticks but it looks like not on him…..well not yet anyway – good story James 🙌
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Thank you.
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There are several ways of interpreting this intriguing tale! Nice.
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There’s nothing like fishing, a cozy fire, and a nice Carmen to keep one’s mind off the dirty work to come.
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I like the parallel you drew between the caught fish and the caught accountants. Stealing from the company and cheating on one’s spouse are both ethics violations but only embezzlement is illegal. Let’s hope the secretary isn’t the sort for blackmail…
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She must be on expenses.
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It’s good to do a little fishing before… Mud thrown in lots of ways. Creative!
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Each to their own form of transgression. Not all of them mean jail sentences, some attract far worse outcomes. As he may find out. Good one, James.
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Thank you.
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Takes a slime ball to know one. Those accountants never stood a chance.
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Thank you, and will he be found out?
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Probably, at least eventually. The truth always comes out, eventually.
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Who knew indeed?
I’m reminded of a quote from some movie I saw ages ago: “You lie down with pigs, you come up smelling like garbage”.
Great story!
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