Yes, the New Benicia Ferry is full of information about community services and activities that you can engage with, but it’s also where you can find intriguing made up stories about the wild array of characters who make up our town. This is what the Main Street diaries flash Fiction Contest is all about. check out the menu tab above for more details on how to enter.

Here’s a flash fiction story based on the prompts: Benicia, five hundred dollars, and rain.

Billy
by Tio Stib

he was picking up leaves when he found it. Reaching down, he lifted the rain splattered envelope from the fallen foliage.

He looked at it cross eyed, not quite sure what to make of this discovery. Sure, it was an envelope, he’d seen plenty of these, but what was it doing lying on the ground in the middle of a rain storm.

Billy’s addled brain often had difficulty sorting out seemingly simple things. That was why he’d been in special ed classes all the way through high school. His mind worked well enough to get him through his daily routines as long as nothing changed much. But new things confused him.

And so he studied the wet blank envelope in front of his face. How could he return an envelope with nothing written on it?

And what was inside the envelope? Should he open it? Maybe it was something private, even secret. This thought stopped him momentarily as the downpour dripped from the brim of his Oakland A’s baseball cap. He scratched the back of his curly red hair and another thought struck him.

Mr. Rogers had given him that cap, took him to A’s games every year. Billy smiled, remembering the old man scolding him, “call me Ralph, Billy. We’re friends now, call me Ralph.” But Ralph was gone, died in his sleep. Who was going to take Billy to the baseball games?

“Billy, what are you doing out there?” yelled a voice behind him.

He turned, Mrs. Downing stood in the doorway of her shop, hands on hips.”Get in here Billy, you’re getting soaked.”

He obeyed, leaving his broom and trash cart on the sidewalk. He entered the gift store as Mrs. Downing backed up for the dripping wet street cleaner wearing the drenched black t-shirt with the big red heart on the front, his favorite “I love Benicia” apparel.

. “she smiled, shaking her head, “Billy, what are we going to do with you?”

Billy held up the envelope, “look. I found this.”

Mrs. Downing stared at the soggy refuse, “okay, it’s just an envelope. What’s inside?”

Billy looked at her quizzically.

“Let’s open it. Maybe that will help with who it belongs to.”

Billy handed her the envelope and she carefully opened the flap. Her eyes widened as she looked back at Billy.

“Billy, this envelope contains five hundred dollars.”

Billy leaned over and peered into the envelope. Sure enough, there were five new one hundred dollar bills.

“Where did you find this?” Mrs. Downing asked.

Billy was just beginning his story when someone burst in behind him. He turned around

A small, round Latina woman with rain soaked hair and water streaming down her anxious face looked up at him, gasping,

“Have you seen a white envelope? It’s my rent money, must have dropped it leaving the credit union when I opened my umbrella. It’s my rent money. What will happen if I can’t find my rent money?”

Billy took the envelope from Mrs. Downing and held it out to the bewildered woman.

***

Okay, that’s a sample of what’s coming with the Main Street Diaries. sharpen your pencil or stretch your fingers and send us your own Benicia stories.

Here’s the Main Street Diaries Flash Fiction link-

Main Street Diaries

Yes, the New Benicia Ferry is full of information about community services and activities that you can engage with, but it’s also where you can find intriguing made up stories about the wild array of characters who make up our town. This is what the Main Street diaries flash Fiction Contest is all about. check out the menu tab above for more details on how to enter.

Here’s a another favorite flash fiction story submission based on the prompts: Benicia, five hundred dollars, Main Street, and rain.

Over Lunch at Cafe at the Inn
by Sarah Beserra

It’s been a week since besties Ethel and Violet have seen each other. They meet at Cafe at the Inn. “Go ahead and grab a table, Vi. It’s my treat. Picked up $500 worth of Downtown Dollars and am loaded for bear. Christmas shopping blitz tomorrow.”
“Oh, but they’ve predicted heavy rain this weekend.”
“No biggie. Worse case scenario I’ll hang out at One House Bakery and stuff my pie hole.”
“I apologize, but I’ve only got an hour, Ethel. Must make a run to Trader Joe’s —mandarin orange chicken, Prosecco, and those dark chocolate-covered caramels. What a blessing they took over that tacky Dollar Store next to Safeway.”
“Talk to me!” Ethel blurts, pulling out a chair. What did you think about Saturday night’s extravaganza? Seeing George and Amal on the red carpet in front of the Majestic slayed me! La tout Benicia was there!”
“Evidently they arrived fresh off flight from Lago Como,” Ethel babbles. Diana from the Carquinez Village volunteered to pick them up at the airport. They’re holed up at Benicia Bay Inn, according to Diana. Thank God he got rid of that black hair dye he had for Edward R. Murrow! Amal looked gorgeous wearing Prada. Did you notice that George was in the same monkey suit he’s worn for years?”
“How gauche! A shame we missed seeing each other other. What were you wearing, or should I say ‘who’ were you wearing?”
“A 1920’s fringed number from Elisa’s Cottage and an old mink coat from Fabulous Finds in the Tannery. It’s been dead for years, so sue me.”
“Heavens! No judgements. I had Sally Babson up the street modify a vintage North Beach Leather suit I found at Labels in Walnut Creek and paired it with Mother’s old alligator shoes and bag.”
After sharing their photos ….
“Did you see the Benicia Herald this morning, Vi? According to their on-line edition, the Council’s sister city trip to London was a smash. Terry Scott took a ride on that humongous ferris wheel and got the idea of having one at the foot of Main St. Here, I’ll read it,” Ethel says, grabbing her phone.

“I think we could do something like this in Benicia,” said Vice Mayor Terry Scott. “The London Eye, formerly the Millennium Wheel, is the most profitable tourist attraction in the country. The revenues would be a boon to our budget and Main Street businesses. Both the Benicia Community Foundation and the Chamber have expressed an interest in working with us.”
“Divine!” Just imagine the views from the top — San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Napa Valley for starters.”
“Oops, got to toodle,” Violet says clutching her purse. “Interested in seeing La Dolce Vita Wednesday at the Majestic?”
“Assoulutamente! Anita Ekberg with Marcello in the Trevi Fountain? To die for! I wanted to be Ekberg, but didn’t have the equipment.”
“Who did darling? I’ll call you.”

Okay, that’s a sample of what’s to come with the Main Street Diaries. sharpen your pencil or stretch your fingers and get ready to send us your own Benicia stories. Click on the Main Street Diaries menu tab above for more information.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Welcome to the New Benicia Ferry!

Yes, the New Benicia Ferry is full of information about community services and activities that you can engage with, but it’s also where you can find intriguing made up stories about the wild array of characters who make up our town. This is what the Main Street diaries flash Fiction Contest is all about. check out the menu tab above for more details on how to enter.

Here’s a favorite flash fiction story submission based on the prompts: Benicia, five hundred dollars, Main Street, and rain.

Hablar con un Abogado

By Michael Caleb Lester

It IS STUPID TO MEET IN BENICIA. Why not Vallejo, where we both live? All that crank, the jerk is paranoid. But there he is, on a park bench on the waterfront, pretending not to know me but, as soon as I sit down, he gets up, leaves an envelope on the bench and disappears. He’s so lame, I’m surprised he didn’t put my name on the envelope.

Inside are five Ben Franklins. The stash was worth more, but a deal is a deal. Take what you get. At the end of the day, the day ends.

I slip the envelope into a back pocket. It’s been raining and I don’t want those C-notes getting wet. But I miss my pocket and the envelope falls onto the wet sidewalk. I don’t know it. I’m walking back to my car.

NECESITO HABLAR CON UN ABOGADO. Todo el mundo me lo dice. pasaporte no es suficiente. Necesito documentación, pero me da miedo ir al juzgado o al ICE. Le pido ayuda a Dios y entonces veo el sobre. Lo cojo y miro dentro. Dios mío, es dinero caído del cielo, suficiente para hablar con un abogado. Miro a mi alrededor. Es Benicia. No hay nadie cerca. Gracias, Dios, oh gracias. [I need to speak with a lawyer. Everyone tells me this. My passport is insufficient. I need documentation but I fear going to the courthouse or to ICE. I pray to God for help and then I see the envelope. I pick it up and look inside. My god, it is money from heaven, enough to speak to a lawyer. I look around. It is Benicia. No one is nearby. Thank you, god, oh thank you.]

I OPEN THE CAR DOOR, get out my keys and reach for the envelope. It’s not there. Damn. Must have fallen out. I walk back to the bench by the water and see this spic girl on her knees like she’s praying. She’s got my envelope. I try to grab it but the dumb broad is squeezing it like she’s trying to choke it or something. I grab the envelope with one hand and slap her, hard, with the other. She slams against the pavement, but she won’t let go. I shout, “Give me the money!”

¿ES SU DINERO? ¿Por qué me hace daño? Es un regalo de Dios. Es para mí, no para este hombre cruel. Quiero gritar pidiendo ayuda, pero tengo miedo de que venga la policía, de que venga el ICE, de que me traten como a una delincuente. Debería huir. [Is it his money? Why is he hurting me? This is a gift from God. It is for me, not for this mean man. I want to shout for help, but I am afraid the police will come, ICE will come, people will treat me like a criminal. I should run away.]

THERE IS NO ONE AROUND and the stupid girl is just lying there. I stomp on the pavement next to the hand holding the dough. She knows what’s coming next, and that does it. I grab the envelope. Blood is dripping from her nose into a rain puddle on the sidewalk. Serves her right. It’s my money. Who is this guy?

ON MY EVENING STROLL, I turn the corner and see this thug kicking a poor young woman crawling on the sidewalk. I rush over and knock him down, his face scraping the sidewalk. I put my knee on his back. I take off my belt and tie his hands. I tell him, “You’re going to need a speak with a lawyer.”

Okay, that’s a sample of what’s to come with the Main Street Diaries. sharpen your pencil or stretch your fingers and get ready to send us your own Benicia stories. Click on the Main Street Diaries menu tab above for more information.