The Secret

Flash Fiction

The Secret

“It’s a secret.”

“What’s a secret?”

“I can’t tell you; it’s a secret!”

“You told me it’s a secret; all you have to tell me now is what it is…”

“And telling you what it is, can’t happen, because it’s a secret.”

“Exactly!”

“I can’t because it’s a secret!”

“Is that a dangerous thing?”

“What?”

“That secret. You can’t tell me, is it because it’s dangerous? Can it break stuff?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know because you haven’t told me yet. Why did you tell me about a secret if you already knew you wouldn’t let me see it?”

“See it? How can you see a secret?”

“I don’t know, maybe it’s small and fits in your pocket?”

“Why would I stick a secret in my pocket?”

“So, it’s not in your pocket?”

“Do you even know what a secret is?”

“How can I know, you won’t show me!”

“You don’t show secrets…”

“Are they invisible?”

“What are you talking about?”

“A secret. You said it’s a secret that I can’t see. Is it see-through?”

“Do you know what a secret is?”

“How could I know when you won’t tell me!”

“No, I mean do you know what the word ‘secret’ means? It’s not a thing; it’s a thing that tells you another thing.”

“I don’t understand…”

“Listen, I have to go now. We can talk another time…” he ran off.

Jane, his sister, came out the door. “Were you making Grant crazy again?”

“I was trying, I think it worked…” Ted laughed.

“Why do you do that? He’s a friend!”

“I just get a kick out of how hard he tries to make me understand. I bet he becomes a teacher someday.”

Grant actually did become a teacher. Ted on the other hand became a politician…