Fetid Is the New Black

A sequel to Rachel Deeming's 59th story in her A Story Every Day in 2024 series, "An Unintended Stop."

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After pulling over, Janet's son Damon had found the black bag with the dead body. Rudely awakened, little Lilly was still cross. Janet put her down.

The bag of rotting flesh still stank, and the car was still smoking, making Janet wonder who would arrive first, road service for her car or the police for the body.

The tow truck won.

"What's going on, lady?" the tattooed, bearded, yellowish brute asked, cigarette hanging from his mouth like the ash tail dangling from his cigarette.

"Do you mind?" Janet asked.

"Mind what?"

"Your cigarette. My children."

"Your children are fine." Janet frowned. "We're outside, lady," he answered, decidedly negative. "Besides, it's nothing compared to that stink." She pointed pointed out the large black duffel bag. "Oh, boy," he fretted.

"The police should be here soon," she informed him.

"Well," he puffed, "good thing I'm here."

He walked toward the duffel bag, large and strong enough to lift it.

"Oh, you shouldn't--" she began.

"Whew! This is some rank!" he puffed again. He carried the bag past her and the children, a blend of dead body and nicotine wafting in arrears to meet the smell of burned oil coming from her car. Next, he threw the fetid bag into the back of his tow truck and began securing it.

She was startled to see several other identical bags there, too.

"Now, I'll be on my way," he announced.

He took off.

Like a bat out of hell came to Janet's mind, confused as to what just happened. That smell of death was gone but cigarette smoke lingered, partnering with the smoke from the car's hood.

The police arrived.

"Oh, thank God," she said.

"I'll say!" exclaimed the officer. "Good thing I'm here."

"Yes!" Janet agreed. There was this bag" she began, "and this awful road serviceman--"

The officer held up his hand, stopping her mid-sentence, whipped out a little book, and began writing furiously.

"Oh, you're writing. Ready for details?" Janet asked.

"No, ma'am," he answered curtly. "Broken tail light. Dangerous. I'm writing your ticket."

"Is that all you're gonna do?" Janet asked, incredulous.

"No. Next, I'll be on my way."

"I think we've been Bizarro'd!" Damon blurted.

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366 words, a sequel to — and inspired by — Rachel Deeming's "An Unintended Stop," at https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/an-unintended-stop%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="14azzlx-P">.css-14azzlx-P{font-family:Droid Serif,Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:1.1875rem;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.01em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.01em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.01em;letter-spacing:0.01em;line-height:1.6;color:#1A1A1A;margin-top:32px;}