NYCMidnight Flash Fiction Challenge 2014 - Round 1
I was going to wait until after the judging to post this, but that doesn't happen until end of September/beginning of October, and NYCMidnight encourages entrants to post their stories on the forums for other contestants to critique. I was in Group 17, and my challenge was Historical Fiction/An Interrogation Room/A Handwritten Invitation. Here is my story:
The Interrogation of Roger Sherman
Roger spit on the floor, wishing he had some water to rinse the foul, metallic taste of blood from his mouth. “I’ve already told you, it was just a party, nothing more.” He insisted. “The invitation in your hand proves that fact. Beating me is not going to change my answer.”
“Ah, yes,” the soldier stared down at the parchment in his hand and read out loud, “Your presence is requested at the home of Mr. Thomas Jefferson on the 11th evening of June, 1776. This is a private event and your discretion on receiving this invitation is appreciated. Now, I have to wonder, Mr. Sherman, if it was, indeed, just a social event as you claim, why the need for discretion?”
Roger remained silent. The soldier smiled, and continued. “Allow me to clarify. We are at war, Mr. Sherman. If good men, such as yourself, are gathering together in secret, I, as a soldier in his Majesty’s military, especially when the host of the event is a known Patriot, I can only assume that those men are plotting treason. Would I be correct in that assumption?”
The soldier was correct, though Roger wasn’t going to admit that fact. “You think old Thomas is a Patriot rebel?” he laughed. “If King George is threatened by a senile old farmer, you boys in red have bigger things to worry about.”
The soldier hit Roger in the ribs hard. “I will not stand here and listen to His Majesty’s name cross the lips of a filthy Whig, such as you!” he spat, venom pouring from every word. “Now, let us try this again, what took place at the event on the 11th of June? Why the need for discretion if no treason was committed?”
Roger replied with the first lie that came to his mind. “Thomas’ wife, Martha, has many beautiful friends that were invited to this event. Some of us men would rather our interactions with these women stay private.” He winked at the soldier. It was better if the Red Coats thought that he and his co-conspirators were plotting fornication rather than treason. The soldier glared, disgustedly, at Roger, his eyes filled with contempt. Roger continued his lie, knowing that he could convince the soldier to release him with the right words. “You know how it is, sometimes you just want a different meal than the one your wife cooks every night. Certainly a young, handsome fellow like yourself can understand that.”
“Mr. Sherman,” the soldier asked, “do you really expect me to believe that, in the midst of war, you and your compatriots are meeting in secret for… sex parties?”
Roger shrugged. “Even during war we men have our needs. From what I’ve heard you certainly haven’t been the model of chastity during this war.”
The soldier punched him hard in the face. Roger could feel his eye swell shut as soon as the soldier’s fist made contact. “You disgust me!” the soldier spat. “Release him.” he ordered his men. “He’s said all he is going to say to us.” The soldier’s men unchained Roger from the chair and shoved him out of the door.
Roger left the interrogation room and headed to the local pub. Once he’d finished his ale and made sure he hadn’t been followed, he made his way back to Thomas’ home. When he entered, Thomas and the other men gasped. “Sorry I’m late.” Roger apologized. “I got held up by those filthy Red Coats!”
“By God, Roger!” Thomas exclaimed. “What did they do to you?”
“I’m alright; they didn’t get a word out of me.” Roger assured them. “As far as His Majesty’s army is concerned, we’re just a bunch of harmless, horny, old men fooling around on our wives. Apologies for that as well.” He added. “Now, where’s the Declaration?” He asked. “I have a few suggested additions to the preamble.”
The Interrogation of Roger Sherman
Roger spit on the floor, wishing he had some water to rinse the foul, metallic taste of blood from his mouth. “I’ve already told you, it was just a party, nothing more.” He insisted. “The invitation in your hand proves that fact. Beating me is not going to change my answer.”
“Ah, yes,” the soldier stared down at the parchment in his hand and read out loud, “Your presence is requested at the home of Mr. Thomas Jefferson on the 11th evening of June, 1776. This is a private event and your discretion on receiving this invitation is appreciated. Now, I have to wonder, Mr. Sherman, if it was, indeed, just a social event as you claim, why the need for discretion?”
Roger remained silent. The soldier smiled, and continued. “Allow me to clarify. We are at war, Mr. Sherman. If good men, such as yourself, are gathering together in secret, I, as a soldier in his Majesty’s military, especially when the host of the event is a known Patriot, I can only assume that those men are plotting treason. Would I be correct in that assumption?”
The soldier was correct, though Roger wasn’t going to admit that fact. “You think old Thomas is a Patriot rebel?” he laughed. “If King George is threatened by a senile old farmer, you boys in red have bigger things to worry about.”
The soldier hit Roger in the ribs hard. “I will not stand here and listen to His Majesty’s name cross the lips of a filthy Whig, such as you!” he spat, venom pouring from every word. “Now, let us try this again, what took place at the event on the 11th of June? Why the need for discretion if no treason was committed?”
Roger replied with the first lie that came to his mind. “Thomas’ wife, Martha, has many beautiful friends that were invited to this event. Some of us men would rather our interactions with these women stay private.” He winked at the soldier. It was better if the Red Coats thought that he and his co-conspirators were plotting fornication rather than treason. The soldier glared, disgustedly, at Roger, his eyes filled with contempt. Roger continued his lie, knowing that he could convince the soldier to release him with the right words. “You know how it is, sometimes you just want a different meal than the one your wife cooks every night. Certainly a young, handsome fellow like yourself can understand that.”
“Mr. Sherman,” the soldier asked, “do you really expect me to believe that, in the midst of war, you and your compatriots are meeting in secret for… sex parties?”
Roger shrugged. “Even during war we men have our needs. From what I’ve heard you certainly haven’t been the model of chastity during this war.”
The soldier punched him hard in the face. Roger could feel his eye swell shut as soon as the soldier’s fist made contact. “You disgust me!” the soldier spat. “Release him.” he ordered his men. “He’s said all he is going to say to us.” The soldier’s men unchained Roger from the chair and shoved him out of the door.
Roger left the interrogation room and headed to the local pub. Once he’d finished his ale and made sure he hadn’t been followed, he made his way back to Thomas’ home. When he entered, Thomas and the other men gasped. “Sorry I’m late.” Roger apologized. “I got held up by those filthy Red Coats!”
“By God, Roger!” Thomas exclaimed. “What did they do to you?”
“I’m alright; they didn’t get a word out of me.” Roger assured them. “As far as His Majesty’s army is concerned, we’re just a bunch of harmless, horny, old men fooling around on our wives. Apologies for that as well.” He added. “Now, where’s the Declaration?” He asked. “I have a few suggested additions to the preamble.”