Adelaide Literary Magazine - 9 years, 65 issues, and over 2500 published poems, short stories, and essays

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ALM No.63, May 2024

SHORT STORIES

JILL HARRIS

5/29/20242 min read

“Honey, where all out of milk, I’m going to walk down to the store, I’ll be back soon.” Said Crag.

“Wow it’s hot out today.” Thought Crag as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. “I definitely

didn’t need this sweatshirt. As he walked through the parking lot, he started digging in his

pockets for a quarter for the cart rental, “Hello sir.” He heard; Crag looked over to see a man

waving at him from behind a red, white, and blue stand and desisted to check it out

“Good evening sir, would you like to try this free sample of assorted chocolates?”

“This is all free?”

“Yes sir, and if you would like to wright your address down here, we would love to send you some coupons,”

“Hmm well they sure do smell good, I can smell the rich chocolates from here, and is that caramel?”

“Yes sir it sure is,”

“Ok great, my name is Crag by the way,”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Crag, my name is Robert, enjoy and I hope you have a wonderful day.”

The next morning, there was a loud bang, bang, bang on the door.

“Honey can you get that?” Crag yelled to his wife Hanna.

“Hello, can I help you?”

“Good morning miss, I am looking for Crag, is he home?”

“Yes, he is, I’ll go get him.”

Crag ran down the steps wearing a blue robe with messy hair, as he opened the door he was greeted by a familiar face.

“Good morning sir, remember me? I’m Robert.”

“Yes, from the free samples stand outside of the store yesterday, right?” Asked Crag.

“You are correct sir, I have come to collect the $32.49 you owe for the chocolates, how would you like to take care of this bill?”

“Bill? Asked Crag, there is no bill, you said the samples are free.”

“Yes sir, if you take one it is free, you in fact took one of each, therefor perching the whole box.”

“You never said anything about having to perches anything Robert, if I would have known, I wouldn’t have taken any.”

“Apologies for the mix up sir, however you do still owe $32.49, we take cash, credit, and checks, whichever is most convenient for you sir.”

“What do you mean whatever is most convenient for me Robert? I wasn’t expecting to make this payment, you sticking to your word of they are all free samples is what is most convenient for me.”

“I understand good sir, however you did try every single flavor and,”

” Yes” Crag interrupted, every single flavor you said was free.”

“I understand you are frustrated Crag, so how about this, since I like you, why don’t I make you a deal. How about I sell you two boxes at the price of one.”

“And how do I know you won’t be back tomorrow to collect more money?” Asked Crag.

“I give you my word sir, you won’t see me again except outside of the Busy Bee.”

“Alright, I suppose I’ll take two then.”

“Ok great, that will be $64.98.”

“What?” Yelled Crag.

“Oh, I’m just kidding sir, your final price will be $32.49.”

“Well, all right then, here you go.”

“Thank you Crag, I hope you and the misses have a wonderful day, and enjoy those fine chocolates.”

“Yeah, yeah you as well,” Crag said as he slammed the door. “Honey, I bought you some chocolates.”