This first picture has nothing to do with the story. It’s just a tiny little door.
Now the story, inspired by a photo from RetirementallyChallenged and part of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors Writing Challenge. The story was getting over-long, so I’m posting it in two parts. Next installment next Thursday.
Steffie Makes The Sale — Part 1
Steffie was not unaccustomed to being picked up at a random spot on a random street by a black car with tinted windows. If the driver was her handler, Pete, she would discuss whatever he wanted to discuss or take whatever orders he gave her. If it was someone else, she would get back out of the car. The someone else never would.
This time, it was Pete.
As seldom happened, she objected to her orders.
“Why me?”
“You’re very persuasive. We need this person persuaded. This person really needs to be sold on our product. You know: Freedom and stuff.”
She nodded. She was very persuasive. But. “I know a lot of very persuasive people. People who persuade for a living.”
“Upstairs wants you. They say you’re flexible. Quick. Reliable.”
The curse of being good at your job.
“I don’t have time to argue,” Pete said. “In fact, I’m taking you to the rendezvous point now.”
Steffie was always going to take the order, so she didn’t object. “What do we know about the target?”
“Not much. Not even their gender, supposing they have one. They just showed up at the Gas Stop right at the edge of town, where that land was leveled for the construction that never happened. Asked for a bag of potato chips. The clerk figured he was being pranked, so he went along with it. But they were out of chips. So this person levitated a potato, a shaker of salt, and a mylar balloon, smashed them together in mid-air, and a bag of potato chips fell into their hands. Laid a diamond on the counter and walked out.”
“So the person doesn’t quite look like a … person?”
“Not so much. Looks like one of those Roswell aliens, pure white, but the clerk figured it was a costume. Until the DIY potato chips and the diamond.”
“So this person is an alien?”
Pete shook his head. “Aliens don’t look like that.”
“Beg pardon?”
“Upstairs says not an alien. That’s all I know. Whoever and whatever this is and wherever this came from, we need exclusive access. They’ll open the door, but they don’t listen to anything. They say, ‘Don’t want,’ and slam the door.”
“What door?”
“You’ll see. Upstairs wants you to get in, start communications, and get us a lock on whatever technology this person has. They have to give us that. It’s imperative.”
“What’s their alternative?”
Pete shifted his shoulders. “We don’t know what would appeal to this person, or what would threaten.”
“Or what would kill?”
“Pretty sure a flame-thrower would.”
“Got one in the trunk?”
“Of course.”
Tune in next week for the thrilling finale to “Steffie Makes The Sale”.
Thursday doors is under the direction of Dan Antion, photographer extraordinaire and critter daddy. Visit his site, enjoy his wonderful photographs, follow his directions, and enter a world of doors.
A WRITING PROMPT FROM ME TO YOU: Write about a salesman who won’t take no for an answer.
MA
sustainabilitea
May 13, 2021 at 12:52pmI wish I could get chips that way!! Alas, I have to buy them like everyone else…or evidently almost everyone else. Nice tiny door. I have a few of those in hand for future posts from my trip to California.
janet
Marian Allen
May 13, 2021 at 2:37pmI love those little fairy doors! And “this person” bought chips with a diamond. I don’t think I could afford that, even as much as I love chips! 😀
sustainabilitea
May 13, 2021 at 7:11pmI guess I didn’t read quite carefully enough, but I got the tossing things in the air part. I’ll go cubic zirconium. Think that will work?
Marian Allen
May 14, 2021 at 8:24amI think cubic zirconium would probably do the trick. 😉
Dan Antion
May 13, 2021 at 1:02pmSince you included a cute door and since it’s a Steffie story, I guess I shouldn’t complain about the cliffhanger. Thank you for participating and participating after participating.
Marian Allen
May 13, 2021 at 2:38pmThe denouement will be along next week — assuming I can figure out what happens next!
Dan Antion
May 13, 2021 at 2:55pmHaha. Steffie will figure it out.
Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com
May 13, 2021 at 1:43pmGreat use of my door image! I’m excited to read what comes next. In the meantime, I’m going to work on my DIY potato chip production… that’s a superpower worth having!
Marian Allen
May 13, 2021 at 2:41pmI know, right? I have potatoes. I have salt. I have a bowl. But turning those into a bowl of potato chips just takes more time and fiddling than I generally care to expend. Especially when they disappear so quickly!
Brenda's Thoughts
May 13, 2021 at 3:56pmDiamonds. Potato chips from the air. Flame thrower. I’m intrigued. I look forward to the next installment, Marian!
Marian Allen
May 14, 2021 at 8:22amSo do I! I have no idea where this is going.
Brenda's Thoughts
May 15, 2021 at 9:02pmFollow your muse (hehe).
circadianreflections
May 13, 2021 at 4:01pmI want potato chips to appear that way always oh and with diamonds! Great story. I’m looking forward to next week’s installment.
Marian Allen
May 14, 2021 at 8:22amWell, your guess is as good as mine as to what happens next, so….
Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt
May 13, 2021 at 4:05pmIntriguing.
pmlaberge
May 13, 2021 at 6:46pmLoved it! NICE doors. THat little fairy house is AWESOME!
TAke care, waiting with bated amd baited breath!
Marian Allen
May 14, 2021 at 8:23amI love those tiny fairy houses.
itsmejbt505
May 23, 2021 at 12:21pmI love it! I wish I could make a potato, some salt and a mylar balloon instantly transform into a bag of chips. If I used a sweet potato, I could get sweet potato chips. Your writing is always so easy to read. It never feels forced or contrived. Hurray (again)!
Marian Allen
May 23, 2021 at 1:37pmThank you so much! Mmm, sweet potato chips are so good!