Flash Fiction Challenge

On the phone this morning my mother told me that yesterday, since she was in the area, she stopped by the cemetery where my father is buried in order to clean up the remains of the grave blanket they had placed there this past holiday.

She drove in prior to closing time, finished up with several minutes to spare, and yet found that she and my aunt were locked inside and no staff was present.

In driving up one of the roads to find a way out she got her car stuck in the mud.

A father and his children were also stuck inside. They called police and AAA, and then folks waited around for AAA to come pull my mother’s car out of the mud.

Mundane, right?

Not for long.

If you’re bored (Ha!) and you have the time (Ha HA!) and inclination I have a request.

I’d like a spooky, loose flash (1000-1500 words), and here’s your nudge:

The setting is a lakeside cemetery at dusk in midwinter. To give you something to work with, the cemetery has no headstones that are not flat to the ground. Open rolling hills and ancient trees as far as the eye can see save two giant mausoleums. Your characters are two elderly women, one of diminished capacity, and a young father with-

two young girls.

You have the option to use the two police officers in two cruisers if you like.

Gates are locked, staff is gone, sun is going down rapidly. Car stuck in mud is optional.

By Valentine’s Day? Will that work?

If you’re in, swing by with the link to your piece. I’ll either try to figure out a way to allow reader voting, or if that fails pull one out o’ a hat.

Your prize will be the Kindle Edition of Chris F. Holm’s 8 Pounds. If you don’t have a Kindle the software app is free. If you already own 8 Pounds, first- YAY! and second- we’ll talk about another short fiction choice.

Winner must provide me with working email address so I can email the book to him or her.

Thanks! I hope you participate. I’d love to see this story jacked up.