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Tender Arrows

by Allen Ashley

Flash Fiction Comical, Romantic

Things have gone downhill since new management took over. I had to reapply for my own job. Honestly.  Who else can they get as Cupid except… well, Cupid? So I’m still in place doing my best to get folks to fall in love; appropriately or otherwise.
I had an episode of it myself a while back. Never again. When you portray me you see a chubby, half-clothed cherub. And that’s how I want to stay. When I’m not working, I like to collect bugs in jars and eat candy.
Everything has to go out to tender now.  Whoever makes the cheapest, no matter how shoddy or half-finished. Take these arrows. They’re lighter than the old-style ones. Sure, they fly true enough. But they’ve got the ingredients wrong for the dipping potion. A delicate balance is the key to a successful job on my part.
I was tasked with “shooting” Sharon so that she’d fall in love with Simon. I tugged back on the string, let loose. Bingo.  A perfect shoulder shot. Her eyes lit up, pupils dilated.
She saw me. She moved towards me. She wanted me. Couldn’t help herself.
I’ve been off work since. In hiding. My wings are mostly for hovering, not longhaul escape.  I’m exhausted.

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About Allen Ashley

Allen Ashley is an award-winning editor and prize-winning poet. His most recent book is an updated, revised version of his novel “The Planet Suite” (Eibonvale Press, 2016). He works as a creative writing tutor with six groups running across north London.
Visit Allen Ashley on the web

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As autumn approaches, we have some cracking great short stories and flash fictions coming up by many of our regular writers including Alyson Faye, James Stark and Susan Carey. And we round off the year with another story featuring quirky librarian Susan Tate.

There are many other short stories and flash fictions available to read and listen to in our Stories and Podcast sections.

Joanna & The Casket of Fictional Delights Team

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    Text & stories © Joanna Sterling 2023
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    Editing by Joanna Sterling & Alyson Faye
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