The Key Ingredient

Flash Fiction

The Key Ingredient

Getting to the door with two bags of groceries was hard, but I didn’t want two trips to the car; I’d had enough day.

My boss had scolded me for something I didn’t do. Then when he found out I didn’t do it, he turned around and said, “I’m surprised it wasn’t you!” The jerk! I would have quit on the spot, except of course the money…

I put the bags of food down, and turned just in time to see a bird pick up my keychain! Yikes! It was not too big; a crow I think, he (she?) had the keychain right in its beak. I suddenly realized if it flew off, I’d be locked out, also no car keys, plus several others keys that I forget what they are till I need them! Yikes!!

I started moving very slowly in its direction. I figured if I got close enough, I could spook it and get my keys back. I almost tip-toed, one tiny step at a time.

Suddenly the bird, with my keys still in its beak, lifted its head and looked right at me. I stopped cold! It stopped cold too! We stood there for a very long moment… I decided to chance speaking.

Softly, I said, “I need those keys...” (Well, what else do you say to a bird?) “Please drop them.”

It did drop them! Then in plain english it said, “They’re not very tasty…” and it flew away!

That was when my snotty boss woke me up. It was still three o’clock, we don’t get out till three thirty. He actually apologized for waking me, and sent me home.

Then I woke up again, still at my desk. You know, I think it might be time for me to look for a new job…