The Signal

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Jan Brown

I’m early again! It’s almost time for Friday Fictioneers, when writers from around the world post 100-word stories based on a photo prompt provided on Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog. This week’s photo is by Janet Webb.

As always, I encourage you to read other Friday Fictioneers’ work by clicking the link that appears below my story. Enjoy!

The Signal

by Jan Brown

Each Friday morning, he looked for her signal. This week, a formal gown fluttered in the breeze, hanging provocatively from the fire escape of the second floor apartment–the apartment she shared with her husband.

Each Friday night, they met after work at the designated venue. The gown indicated they would meet at Emile’s, across from the Lyric Opera. Had it been a mini-dress, they would have met at Le Bar; jeans meant they’d hook up at Starbucks.

He walked into Emile’s and was immediately met with a strong right hook to the jaw. Her husband had cracked the code.

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53 thoughts on “The Signal”

aregularcupofjo on May 29, 2013 at 3:49 pm said:

I love how creative you are and can come up with a story from a single picture. Great work and best of luck with everything 🙂

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- Jan Brown on May 29, 2013 at 4:27 pm said:
  
  Thank you! I love the weekly photo prompt…it forces creativity. But the 100-word limit is the real challenge!
  
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  - aregularcupofjo on May 29, 2013 at 5:13 pm said:
    
    Yeah, I hate limits more than anything. If you ever want to read some over 100 word inspirational and funny stories, you are more than welcome to come by my blog and have a Cup of Joe 🙂
    
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sustainabilitea on May 29, 2013 at 7:15 pm said:

Jan, I like this story–romance and holding on to what you value. Good job!!

janet

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- Jan Brown on May 29, 2013 at 8:11 pm said:
  
  I don’t know if hubby’s really holding on, but he’s trying to! 😉
  
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denmother on May 29, 2013 at 8:03 pm said:

Oops. Busted!

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- Jan Brown on May 29, 2013 at 8:12 pm said:
  
  Yes, in more ways than one!
  
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Swirling Turnip on May 29, 2013 at 8:04 pm said:

Owww, poor guy, But I guess he deserved it!

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- Jan Brown on May 29, 2013 at 8:14 pm said:
  
  Yes, he did, poor sap!
  
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The Writers Village on May 29, 2013 at 10:10 pm said:

Her husband had cracked the code. – and Emile’s jaw, too.
Time for a new code – maybe a new husband – or a new lover. Maybe all three! Wheeeee!
Randy

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- Jan Brown on May 29, 2013 at 10:11 pm said:
  
  Yeah, maybe all three!
  
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Hannah on May 30, 2013 at 12:01 am said:

This is excellent!

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- Jan Brown on May 30, 2013 at 12:13 am said:
  
  Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
  
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Mystikel on May 30, 2013 at 1:44 am said:

I guess she’s lucky she didn’t find all her clothes flying out of the window.

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- Jan Brown on May 30, 2013 at 9:11 am said:
  
  Hahaha! That just might be her husband’s next move!
  
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freyathewriter on May 30, 2013 at 5:16 am said:

I loved this – I guess that marriage isn’t going so well…

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- Jan Brown on May 30, 2013 at 9:08 am said:
  
  And the affair’s not going so well now, either 😉
  
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Lynda on May 30, 2013 at 10:31 am said:

This was great, and I loved the ending, Jan!.

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- Jan Brown on May 30, 2013 at 10:34 am said:
  
  Thank you, Lynda!
  
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Sandra on May 30, 2013 at 10:45 am said:

Thanks for bringing a grin to my chops… loved it.

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- Jan Brown on May 30, 2013 at 11:00 am said:
  
  You are very welcome. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
  
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paulmclem on May 30, 2013 at 11:03 am said:

Heh. Didn’t see the ending coming, which is harder than it seems to achieve. Good job.

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- Jan Brown on May 30, 2013 at 11:10 am said:
  
  Thanks, Paul!
  
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Helena Hann-Basquiat on May 30, 2013 at 2:50 pm said:

Nice job, Jan. Very inventive.

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- Jan Brown on May 30, 2013 at 3:36 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Helena.
  
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nightlake on May 30, 2013 at 7:10 pm said:

This was very imaginative, Jan. very creative that she would have different dresses for different places. But they both deserved what they got:))

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- Jan Brown on May 30, 2013 at 7:12 pm said:
  
  Yes, they did!
  
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The Bumble Files on May 31, 2013 at 12:05 am said:

Jan, great take. I really enjoyed this and like how you extended the story past the affair…Nothing is going well now, is it? What will she do now? Well done.

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- Jan Brown on May 31, 2013 at 1:47 am said:
  
  Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
  
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Perry Block (@PerryBlock) on May 31, 2013 at 6:44 am said:

Very funny and great final sentence. Thanks, Jan!

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- Jan Brown on May 31, 2013 at 8:53 am said:
  
  Glad you liked it, Perry!
  
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unspywriter on May 31, 2013 at 8:01 am said:

Oh, ouch! Great tale and great ending!

Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/put-on-your-red-dress/

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- Jan Brown on May 31, 2013 at 8:57 am said:
  
  Thanks, Maggie!
  
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lingeringvisions on May 31, 2013 at 11:44 am said:

Ha! That’ll teach him!

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- Jan Brown on May 31, 2013 at 3:26 pm said:
  
  Yes, I hope so! Thanks for reading and commenting, and have a great weekend.
  
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg) on June 1, 2013 at 1:02 am said:

Very innovatiitive 😉

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- Jan Brown on June 1, 2013 at 1:03 am said:
  
  Thanks, Bjorn!
  
  Have a great weekend:-)
  
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neenslewy on June 1, 2013 at 2:50 pm said:

Brilliant. A great idea, well told.

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- Jan Brown on June 1, 2013 at 2:51 pm said:
  
  Thank you 🙂
  
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buffalostarmedicine on June 1, 2013 at 4:25 pm said:

Ah, serves him right., messin’ with a married woman and all… 🙂

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- Jan Brown on June 1, 2013 at 5:19 pm said:
  
  Yes, although I normally don’t condone violence, a little fictional revenge is really satisfying!
  
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  - buffalostarmedicine on June 1, 2013 at 5:38 pm said:
    
    yes, it is! Cleanses the mind and spirit of negativity. Freeing one to smile again…especially when you think of the look on the lover’s face just before the punch landed. LOL! 🙂
    
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Rochelle Wisoff-Fields on June 1, 2013 at 4:40 pm said:

Dear Jan,

A well told little tale of infidelity that ends with a bang…well a ka-pow really. ;).
good Job!

Shalom,

Rochelle

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- Jan Brown on June 1, 2013 at 5:16 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Rochelle!
  
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EagleAye on June 1, 2013 at 11:53 pm said:

Aha! Beware the jealous husband. Very cleverly written. This was very fun.

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kz on June 2, 2013 at 10:44 am said:

uh-oh ^^ great story

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- Jan Brown on June 2, 2013 at 12:38 pm said:
  
  Thanks, KZ!
  
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Joe Owens on June 3, 2013 at 10:34 am said:

Jan you may not believe me, but I was just thinking that that code was too easy for someone not to see. I can tell we think the same way. Why is it people think they can keep such a huge secret from the person closest to them. This makes me think of confrontations where there is too much dialogue and a whole lot of threats. The husband took the initiative and let his fist do the talking. I like you approach. leave the dialogue for the soap operas or Dallas.

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- Jan Brown on June 3, 2013 at 11:27 am said:
  
  Thanks, Joe! Yeah, he didn’t need a cypher to crack that code! I’m sure whatever excuse she gave him for being out on Fridays was easy to see through, as well.
  
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David Stewart on June 3, 2013 at 7:24 pm said:

D’oh! I guess the husband is not so oblivious as she’d hoped.

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- Jan Brown on June 3, 2013 at 7:50 pm said:
  
  Yeah, she really underestimated him!
  
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Bonnie J. Gaines on March 8, 2014 at 4:10 pm said:

good one! love the dress

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- Jan Brown on March 8, 2014 at 4:20 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Bonnie! I had some fun figuring out how to use the photo prompt 🙂
  
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