PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
Every day people came to his stall, picked out their vegetables and went on their way. From their purchases, he could surmise dozens of dinner table spreads. Beef stew, tomato bredie, potato bake. Why else would one person buy a bag of potatoes two days in a row?
Local culinary tastes weren’t the only thing he noted. Gossip proved juicier than any of his wares. His trained ear weeded out keywords. Names were particularly valuable. He never tired of figuring out daily habits, work routes or any decipherable pattern that might prove insightful later on in the investigation.
98 words
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge is to write a story in 100 words or less. Click the blue frog to submit your flash fiction and read others’.
Fajr, Books & That First Cuppa 
Wow, a very different take on the picture to some I have read. Nicely done.
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This man is not going to be a vegetable seller long. He’ll be recruited by the security services, or gossip magazines, if he hasn’t been already
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I spy a spy there. Nice one.
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The sort of person who sees, hears and knows a lot more than one might think. Great take.
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You hint at more here, spill it.
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Vodka. The potatoes are definitely someone making their own vodka.
Dang it! Isn’t it bad enough that all our devices spy on us? Now, we have to watch the fruit & veggie vendor.
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Vegetable dealer in disguise. I like it!
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What a perfect undercover disguise.
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He sounds like a sort of human Amazon/Google. He’ll soon know everything about everyone 🙂
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Ah ha! And there was me thinking he was just a market seller who enjoyed people watching.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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He sounds like the ideal spy or police informer. What’s going on in the village?
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Dear Fatima,
I cashiered for a while at a grocery store. It was always interesting to try to figure people out by what they purchased. 😉 Your seller is a man after my own heart. Well told story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nosier than the Mother-in-law, definitely going places. Nice take on prompt.
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Now you hint at something much more… I wonder what secrets there were.
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The plot thickens! Nicely done.
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He sounds like a dangerous chap. I enjoyed your different take on the prompt
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