Fast Fiction: A Bit Of Fun
"I never expected this to happen,'' said Avis, "it was meant to be a bit of fun.'' Richard Mallinson's story takes you to the brink.
The dark-suited young executive waved an arm.
‘All this,’ he said, ‘will soon be a giant consumer park, with everything people need - from supermarkets, shops, garden centres to. . .well, you name it.’
Then he swivelled a bit and said, ‘Let me introduce you to the lovely Avis, who will show you round. Nicetohavemetchoo, cheers.’
What did he mean, show me round? There was nothing to see except a cafeteria, portacabins, bulldozers and white-helmeted men with clipboards.
I looked at Avis, who said, ‘Let’s have coffee first.’
She was plump and pert and I liked her at once.
In the cafeteria she said, ‘You’re a bit old to be a reporter, aren’t you?’ but before I could reply a couple of youths in overalls came and sat at our table.
‘Move up,’ one of them said to Avis, squashing her against the wall.
‘Come on,’ I said, ‘let’s go.’
I quickly pushed my way clear but it took Avis rather longer. A hand stroked her thigh. She whispered something.
Outside she said, ‘This Mini’s mine’ and we drove off through the mud.
After a couple of minutes she looked in the mirror and said, ‘We’re being followed.’ We were on a steeply rising track. I sensed that the car behind us was too close. I turned round and saw the grinning faces of the two from the cafeteria.
‘Further up, there’s a turn-off to the left,’ said Avis, ‘it’s narrow but -’
We turned onto this track and then I looked down on my side and gasped, ‘Christ almighty, it’s a sheer drop.’
A few moments later I yelled, ‘Stop, there’s nothing in front’ - and I was right. The track ahead of us had simply crumbled away.
Then I heard something and looked round. They’d come after us and were using their car to push Avis’s car with the two of us in it towards the. . .what shall I call it. . .the void, I suppose.
‘I never expected this to happen,’ said Avis, ‘it was meant to be a bit of fun.’
