I haven’t participated in F.F. for several weeks/months. Ministry had kept me busy. But I am jumping back in this week to tell a story in 100 words from the photo prompt above. If you would like to participate in Friday Fictioneers or if you would like to read other takes on the prompt click on the underlined link and it will take you to the F.F. home page.
Kicking the Dust Off
by JE Lillie
Sam eyed the cars behind him as he slowed down at the edge of the bridge. He half-expected them to slow down and park too. None did. The traffic continued on oblivious to the man with the cardboard box.
“It should be different,” he thought. There should be a funeral, a luncheon; But Bridget had no friends. She had lost Sam all his.
She got cancer.
He stuck by her.
Her dying words… “You’re worthless!”
Sam put the cardboard box down on the edge of the bridge.
He kicked.
She was gone.
Sam Cried.
“It should be different,” He thought.
Lillie-Put 
Oh my. Now this is interesting, yet haunting.
Thanks Francesca. Sometimes I write and ask…”Now where did that come from?”
Bridget sounds like she might have been a piece of work. I loved the gentle diversion from what appeared to be grief into ‘goood riddance’. Skilfully executed. And welcome back!
Thank you Sandra that is high praise indeed!
Forgive the spelling… I’m suffering from keyboard lag and I haven’t quite worked out how to rectify it.
I understand. I have lots of trouble with auto correct on my end.
Such a sad story. I could cry for both of them.
It twisted my heart a bit as it came out. I had to ask where inside me it came from.
The intensity captured me. Gripping. Well done.
Thank you Roger!
Dear Pastor J,
I’d say there’s a reason Bridget had no friends. Fitting memorial service I’d say. Maybe he can get on with life now. Welcome back with your well crafted story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you Rochelle. It is nice to be back. I think Sam will grieve mostly the lost time.
Why did she say he was worthless?
They never should have married. He was a disappointment to her from the day they met. She always hoped to change him but at the end she realized it was she who should have changed and he failed to accomplish that. Bridget was always one to blame others for her shortcomings.
I hope they bury me in a cardboard box too. Funeral costs are outrageous.
Indeed.
Good piece but its left me with many questions. None of which need to be answered. Did he kill her or did she die from the cancer? If he killed her was it a mercy killing or murder? Did he love her despite her nastiness? Was the cardboard box her coffin because that was all they could afford? As I said none make the slightest bit of difference to an already good story.
Good questions. Bridget died of cancer. Sam loved her but Bridget ruined his life and the box was all he could afford for a coffin. He is going to carry these wounds with him for a long time I am afraid.
thanks for answering them all. It is how I had seen it which makes me glad although it doesn’t help him much but at least he won’t go to jail for murder. Cardboard coffins are quite sort after in Australia. My Mum has put her request in that she is in a cardboard one so he shouldn’t feel bad on that count.
That is an interesting fact. Here in the U.S. no one would consider cardboard. We even have a huge rental casket business here in the U.S. for those who want to be laid to rest in style and then go the cardboard box route.
Now to my knowledge the rental coffin is not something that we have here but what a great idea.You don’t need it for long after all.
It is true and many families go this route to save expense.