Short Story

L’enfant aux Cymbales: The Concluding Story of Harvey and Fiona

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for The Unicorn Challenge where we are
asked to get creative in 250 words or less using
the photo below as inspiration. This is my story.

© Ayr/Gray



“HELP!” Fiona screamed into the phone. “My husband fell! I think he’s dead!” Then she calmly sat at the kitchen table and waited.

The police arrived quickly; “Blunt force trauma” they said, obviously from smashing his head on the kitchen floor. Everyone was sympathetic as they respectfully removed Harvey’s body. “If there’s anything we can do, Mrs. Rubin, let us know” the officers declared, leaving Fiona alone in the quiet apartment.

Fiona cleaned up, then called the shirt factory to say she wouldn’t be able to work that day. Her boss barked that if she didn’t come in, she shouldn’t bother coming back at all. Fiona simply said “Goodbye”.  She put the pot of apples in the refrigerator, then went to the funeral parlor to make arrangements for Harvey.

When Fiona returned home she received a phone call from her doctor. “Mrs. Rubin, your test results came back;  you and your husband will be thrilled to know you’re pregnant. Congratulations!”

Fiona swayed in stunned disbelief, murmured a shaky “Thank you”, and hung up. “Pregnant” she whispered. Harvey never wanted babies; he would have been livid. Her slight smile grew into a delighted grin.

The next morning Fiona baked a large apple pie with the once-frozen apples she used to bash in Harvey’s head and delivered it to the nice policemen. On the way home she stopped in the little bakery near her apartment and inquired about a job. It was a start, a new beginning for her and her baby.

NAR©2024
250 Words

Author’s Note: To read any other stories about Harvey and Fiona, CLICK away.

This is “Wah-Wah” by George Harrison.

The Unicorn Challenge-15/11/24

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy (The Sicilian Storyteller), The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

35 thoughts on “L’enfant aux Cymbales: The Concluding Story of Harvey and Fiona”

  5. Serves him right!
    I too like the murder weapon being served to the police.
    For me it’s forever ‘Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe’.
    How I loved that movie.
    Great story-telling, Nancy.
    (I started commenting half an hour ago, but got caught up on a musical journey starting with L’Enfant aux Cymbales…(

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Fried Green Tomatoes! A classic, Jenne, and I’m so glad you mentioned it!

      It was time to end this couple; I was just waiting for the right graphic to come along.
      Music is extremely important to me in the way it enhances my stories but I never use more than one song per story; I made an exception today when I discovered the L’Enfant aux Cymbales video. How could I resist? And Wah-Wah? Why that song? It’s important to note that George Harrison liked to refer to the distractions and headaches in life as “wah-wah”. I’d say my MC had more than her share of headaches!

      Thanks for reading, listening and commenting, Jenne. Delighted to know you enjoyed Harvey & Fiona!

      Like

      Reply

    1. I love that you love that angle, D! In full disclosure, I can’t take total credit for that idea; Roald Dahl featured it in his short story Lamb to the Slaughter and I’m pretty sure there was a Twilight Zone episode with the same idea.

      It was time to end Harvey and Fiona; I was just waiting for the right image.

      Thanks, my friend!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  12. I found my way to the first story and I’m all caught up now. 🙂
    You’re most welcome. I’m glad that she got a job that she would love. If anyone deseves happiness, it’s Fiona

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