Flash Fiction
Ed tossed the remote control to the far right end of the couch after flipping channels for the twentieth time. He slid back in his reclining massage chair, pressed the button to activate the slow pulse on his lumbar spine, and sank into the peacefulness of the night.
Sadie had been gone since Tuesday, and it was Friday. She decided to visit her big sister, Sweetie. She hadn’t seen her in four years.
The WWE’s intro sounded throughout the entire living room. He blinked his eyes a few times to keep from falling asleep. Although he never missed an episode, he struggled tonight to stay awake.
Working the second shift at the power plant was starting to wear on his middle-aged bones. Years ago, he could pull a double, parade around town until 3 in the morning, and still wake up to get another day going at work.
Those days are long gone now. Everything hurts. Even his fingernails. But money’s got to be made.
He silently berated himself for tossing the remote to the far right of the couch. The chair had gotten comfortable and he didn’t want to get up.
He smacked his weary lips, placed two fingers in his mouth, and whistled for his oldest child to come downstairs.
The young one appeared; doe-eyed and slightly aggravated.
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Edward Sloane Parker, Jr., reach on over there on that couch and get your daddy the remote control, will you.”
It wasn’t so much a question as it was a statement — a cool command. Ed, Jr. shuffled past his dad, leaned over hastily, scooped up the remote, and tossed it in his dad’s lap.
“That it?”
“Yeah, son. That’ll do me.”
The night air crept into the cracks of their old Victorian home, Ed settled into the grip of the reclining massage chair, pressed the volume up button on the remote, and closed his eyes.
“I’ll just rest them for a few. I won’t even miss the main event,” he whispered to the thin air.
When Ed woke up, the sun was beaming down on his beady eyes and the kids were racing downstairs to the kitchen to make breakfast.
He missed the main event. He missed the whole damn show.
Originally published in Hinged.press via Medium.
A Cornered Gurl 
Oooh wee…I was the only child growing up in a lot of situations (only grandchild, only grand niece, etc.). I was always being asked to get the remote or something that looked like it was within reach. Now, I have perspective, and this excellent flash fiction piece adds more. The elders were probably tired.
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There it is, Kathy! I know my Dad was tired, and when my mom worked at the hospital; 12-hour shifts, 5 days a week, I know now, she was tired, too, whenever she asked me to do something as simple as get the remote or turn the channel. I know now. LOL!
The jobs had worked them, and they’d come home, and we’d work them in our own little ways, too. Whew! Hindsight is 20/20.
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Lol, I’ve been that tired before so I can’t judge! 😫
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Haha. I am sure many of us have done it a time or two or three! LOL!
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😅😅
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I have missed many a main show!
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Haha. I hear you!
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I feel attacked!!! LOL I fall asleep as soon as the TV comes on.
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Girl!!! Lol. No, ma’am! Lol.
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LOL
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Well written trE. Happens to the best of us!
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Thank you, Peter! It sure does!
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This sounds like my mom! She’ll fall asleep in the middle and wake up when it’s over!
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Haha. It’s very much my dad! Lol.
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The main event was in his dreams.
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🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
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That’s what happens when you’re bone-tired.
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This is the truth! Haha. Very true!
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