Title: Vestiges of Forgotten Purpose
Source: Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story about a postal carrier in an extreme situation.
Word count: 99 words
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Tristao shifted the heavy pack, gnarled fingers burrowed under the frayed strap as he eased the pressure on his stooped shoulder.
Once, he bounded through town, nimbly negotiating steep steps, winding ascents, and narrow passageways like the goats that climbed the mountain protecting his birth city. The residents greeted him, eager for the letters he carried. He was their noble messenger, their link to far-flung family and friends. They shared the latest gossip and a welcome snack.
Now he met only faceless receptacles. He fed blank gaping mouths, with empty messages no one wanted. Tomorrow, Gaspar collected the garbage.
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Keep on writing.
Jo Hawk The Writer
Jo Hawk 
Great job on this weeks flash!
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Thank you, Susan. 🙏
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The cruelty of talent forgotten. This work reminds me of a story by Tomie dePaola, The Clown of God. About triumph, loss, another kind of triumph. We’d have to find out here if the hero gets back something of his own.
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I will have to check out his work, Christopher. Sadly, I hit the maximum word count for this snippet. Perhaps, another prompt will trigger a revisit to this place. You just never know.
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How well you’ve set the scene! To bad the word constrain didn’t let you take the story further.
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Thank you, Sadje.
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You’re welcome 😉
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