Face the color of ripe plum and starched shirt plastered to an obese body.
“It’s time for my mint julep”
Rufus voice broke into falsetto cutting the afternoon silence. He should hear Maribelle downstairs rushing to quench his thirst, and faint sounds from the kitchen where Duke and Della were busy preparing his dinner.
He had woken late; Maribelle no longer there. Rufus chuckled; important men should satisfy their needs with staff. Maribelle was as good as Della once was.
“Maribelle” — faint echo responding.
Only the smell of smoke and locked doors told him that even servants have mothers.
So this week we are back to revenge and murder, it has been a while, but this is what my muse whispered to me.
Friday Fictioneers is a blogging community run be Rochelle-Wisoff field, with the simple and challenging task of writing a story to the same picture in 100 words.
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February 11, 2015
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Dear Björn,
It sounds like there’s more than a mint julep Rufus won’t be getting. 😉 Revenge is a dish served best cold.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Indeed… or in Rufus’ case – scorching hot 🙂
Too late he learns your sins always find you out.
I think so .. always a point were it’s too late… Right and wrong should be understood.
Well I think ‘droit de seigneur’ might have just taken a turn for the worse. Still, he’ll probably die in his own bed… Nice tale of revenge, which this time will not be eaten cold.
I think that using that right again and again might come to his untimely end.
A satisfying tale of revenge!
I would say so.. yes.
The oaf! Serves him right.
I think you are right
Not a nice man, is Rufus. Serve him right, serves him right.
Sometimes I feel that there are righteous deeds
ugh. stomach turning…but it was a way of life, once…and probably still is somewhere…i am glad to have mothers that wont let them get away with it, for long….
Especially mothers that might have been through the same thing.
Great stuff – the description is brilliant (purple face/sticking shirt etc) and the hinted grotesque behaviours make his end feel well deserved.
KT
Ah.. yes he was a real swine
Rufus has been living in a fool’s paradise. The fire will be ruled as an accident most probably, and they won’t have Rufus to cause them trouble any more. Well done, Bjorn. 🙂 — Suzanne
Oh yes Rufus had the bad habit of smoking in bed.
I have no sympathy for Rufus. Sounds like he got what was coming to him.
Rufus got it coming for sure…
Well done, sir. I heard you’re working on your first bit of longer fiction. Look forward to reading it.
Only a short story that is part of something bigger.
I too would be interested in reading it.
did like that lingering thought at the end…
I hope Rufus had the time to understand..
I imagine when he realized what was going on, with that purple plum face, he had an apoplectic fit and stroke and could only lie there while being consumed….
That is not unlikely.. obese with purple face is not a sign of good health.
Or living a good life. s we say down in these parts, good riddance to bad rubbish.
Rufus…behind you….an open window…JUMP!!
Three floors down… SPLAT!
Loved that ending, great little piece 🙂
Great men deserve a great end… 🙂
Wow Bjorn, incredibly good! I have a feeling that Della is Maribelle’s mother. Haha, I like her!
I think it’s not unlikely.. and just maybe Maribelle could be Rufus’ daughter.
Liked the way the story goes! 🙂
I think everyone but Rufus love the end.
You are absolutely right! I hadn’t thought of that.
Loved the descriptions, I could picture Rufus clearly. I’m glad he got what he deserved!
I think we all think this is happy end… 🙂
And we are so glad this is how the story stops…
You could almost say a happy end…
another southern tale we can relate to.
Oh yes.. Those men .. hopefully they get extinct..
“The smell of smoke and locked doors” – so few words, so much detail!
Not a lot more needs to be told.
Just great descriptions, Bjorn. I want to eat them up. Rufus should have got his own mint julep.
And kept his hands away from the maid…
Wow! What a story!! Very thought provoking and nicely told.
Thank you 🙂
I’m not feeling any sympathy for Rufus, it sounds like he had it coming.
I think he had it coming.. not that I particularly like an ending like that for anyone.. but sometimes drastic measures needs to be taken.
I think Rufus is going to be getting exactly what he deserves! Good story. 🙂
Thank you.. yes revenge will and can happen.
I’m not too hot on anyone burning alive, but I think this was the only way his slaves could safely get away.
Now he’ll burn for all of eternity. That he does deserve.
I think he was indeed the worst kind of men.. hopefully he will get a heart-attack before he burns..
Clever tale of revenge! It sounds like Rufus had it coming…
I think he had it coming.. and yes no real sympathy for him
He didn’t see that coming! Splendid!
Nope.. a total surprise.. which in itself is surprising..
Yes, revenge is sweet – Rufus will get his just deserts. I love the last line.
I wonder if it’s really sweet or just for protection…
Bravo, I say the mint Julep reminded me of Fried Green Tomatoes for some reason…perhaps the cunningness:)
I think both the revenge/protection and the southern connection..
Never mess with a mother ‘s child. Never. I was surprised thank you.
Nope messing with children has its consequence..
Sounds like he’s had this coming for a long time…good for the mother.
Ellespeth
I think at least he can’t do anything worse anymore.
I love his name – suits his red face. A wonderful portrait of a truly awful man.
I actually googled for southern names.. and found them all. 🙂
You do revenge and murder so well. Keep listening to your muse. She appeals to me.
Rufus is getting his just desserts. You have given a picture of a man that has taken too much during his life and not just food. Perhaps a deserving end – roast pig.
Dear Bjorn, Wonderful story and fitting punishment! Nan 🙂
You paint such a picture of Rufus – the plum face and plastered shirt. and the period and societal differences come across so well too. Such a well structured story.
I hope Rufus likes his Mint Julep smoked. I like his plum face and plastered shirt. He will be kippered soon, too, by the sounds of it.
I like how you portrayed this monster, Bjorn. Not that he’s nice, but he is vivid. I’m sure many powerful men have learned this mistake throughout history in one way or another. Nice job.
-David
Dark and heavy, delivered with such ease. Brilliant.
So, Rufus learned a very valuable lesson: never touch a mother’s child if expecting to live.