If Agnes had been a fruit, her flavor would probably have been considered more bitter than sweet. She wasn’t known for sugarcoating her words to reduce tartness. 

When she received news that her mother had passed, an old animosity towards her brother resurfaced. She suspected that Randy might try to snatch their mother’s antique Swedish Chippendale leather sofa from her. “We’ll see about that!” she muttered to herself.

They agreed on meeting, and during the drive, Agnes prepared the expected Chippendale battle by mustering up an army of arguments. An escalating headache helped sharpen her tools. 

The restaurant where she stopped for lunch was crowded, and Agnes reluctantly had to ask an older woman permission to share her table. When sitting down, she noticed that her lunch companion had no make up, no jewelry, and very plain clothing. “How dull!” Agnes thought. The woman also irritated her by looking provocatively relaxed and harmonious.

They started chit-chatting, and Agnes mentioned the upcoming property division. The woman listened attentively, smiling and nodding. “What a wonderful opportunity for giving,” she gently commented. “Life has taught me that by giving freely, one receives peace of mind and happiness, while grasping brings feelings of lack and negativity, no matter how much one accumulates.”

“But…” Agnes protested, then stopped. Something in the woman’s appearance and words made sense. “Isn’t it interesting,” the stranger calmly continued, “that when you extend love by giving and forgiving, wonderful and unexpected things happen? It’s like magic!” 

The words fell over Agnes’ mind like life-giving rain in a dry desert. It dawned on her that she might benefit from adjusting her attitude towards humanity.

When Agnes was back in her car, it felt as if her brain had been loosened from a firm grip. Her headache was gone and her thoughts had transformed from grey bullets to colorful butterflies. Spontaneously, she decided to let her brother have what he wanted.

Agnes surprised Randy by greeting him with a generous hug. Looking into her smiling eyes, he said, “Agnes, I know you love Mom’s old couch. I want you to have it.”

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    Voice-Team
    Voice-Team(@voice-team)
    Admin
    6 months ago

    Well-crafted story of a transformation that leads to surprising peace and an even more surprising ending. Small changes in oneself bring about big changes in life. 

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    6 months ago

    An enjoyable read Christer

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    6 months ago

    I love the message your story portrays, Christer and the ending is perfect.

    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    6 months ago

    Christer, what a valuable life lesson! I really liked the ending.

    Margarida Brei
    Margarida Brei(@margarida-brei)
    6 months ago

    Greetings Christer. I enjoyed all of the wise sayings in this flash fiction. The old lady is like a fairy godmother mentor to Agnes. Happy ending and transformation of the selfish Agnes to a kinder true sister!

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    6 months ago

    What a great story, Christer. The overall message is of course very inspiring, but also the little things in your writing are so enjoyable! Like “If Agnes had been a fruit …” What a great way to describe this bitter, sour woman! I also loved that before Agnes’s transformation, it actually irritated her that the plain, simple woman could dare to be happy. What an insult!

    Congratulations on a very nice story!

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    6 months ago

    Hello, Christer. Your story really makes me smile with ease. And this phrase caught my attention, “….When sitting down, she noticed that her lunch companion had no makeup, no jewelry, and very plain clothing.” What an insult! I remembered a recent experience in that somebody bullied me like those words. Being very simple doesn’t mean dullness. It means humbleness out of richness. For me, we cannot judge people through their appearances, their… Read more »

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Christer Norrlof
    6 months ago

    You’re welcome, Christer. I know, Agnes can do it.

    Thompson Emate
    Thompson Emate(@thompson-emate)
    6 months ago

    Christer, this is a lovely story with so much inspiration and sense. Well done.

    N Jungeberg
    N Jungeberg(@n-jungeberg)
    6 months ago

    Loved, loved, loved the end of this precious story, Christer! Thanks for submitting it here for us to read!

    N Jungeberg
    N Jungeberg(@n-jungeberg)
    Reply to  Christer Norrlof
    5 months ago

    No problem, Christer! Waiting to read your next story for sure! 🙂

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