‘I wouldn’t get too close.’
The warning came from the little old lady standing behind us as we viewed the most improbable of sights.
We stood and stared at the boots that lay just ahead of us.
‘Spontaneous combustion,’ we heard her say.
‘One minute a man the next a pair of boots.’
‘You saw this?’ we asked.
‘Of course I’m his wife I see everything he does.’
‘But spontaneous combustion doesn’t make any sense.’
‘Well if you knew him it would. He was full of hot air.
Always going on about things, getting his blood pressure up. It was just a matter of time.’
‘You don’t seem too upset.’
‘No he had a good life. Couldn’t have wished this on a better man.’
‘That’s a bit callous.’
She looked at us then stepped forward and picked up the boots and tucking them under her arm wandered off saying:
‘After forty years together all he left me was his boots and they’re worn out.’
Written for: https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/fffaw-week-of-08-25-2015
Morpethroad 
Wow, spontaneous combustion! That’s a great way to knock off a character! LOL. Got to feel sorry for the wife though, putting up with a man that is full of hot air, high blood pressure and cranky ways, and all she ends up with is a pair of worn out boots. Haha! I Loved your story Michael! It’s truly original. 🙂
Thanks Joy, its just where my mind went when I aw the boots…
Is that what is in the stream, a pair of boots? I couldn’t figure it out. I thought your story was great!
Well that is what I saw…others may see different. I thought it was a pathway…..lets see what others see…
okay!
Gee, maybe if I’d had the guts and patience, my ex would have spontaneously combusted from his rage-aholic temperament…and I hope all his crap would have gone with him, as I didn’t need a pair of old boots…
Yes the prospect of such a thing has sometimes intrigued me too…thanks for stopping by Val
You’re welcome.
I sympathaise with the wife. A pair of old worn out boots as inheritance from a cranky husband. That has made her bitter about life. A lovely story.
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and for your comment.
Can’t blame her, I’d be annoyed, too. Great take on the prompt!
Thanks so much Sonya.
Those boots were made for walking! Nice take on the prompt. Entertaining too!
They certainly are graham, thanks for stopping by.
i didn’t notice the boots in the photo until after I read your story! Spontaneous Combustion is a cool way to knock off a character indeed. I just hope the wife is content with how things turned out.
Well she has a pair of worn boots which may not be much but husband gone could be seen as a bonus.
I enjoyed that take the prompt. Spontaneous combustion is not something I would have actually thought of until I read your story!
Sometimes I wonder just where my mind is going so I let it have its head.
It is boots! Ha, I thought it was a teddy bear with its head ripped off o.O (oh, my mind). Great piece that’s hilariously shocking with an undertone of frustration. My favorite line: ‘One minute a man, the next a pair of boots.’
Thanks Izzy, well I’ll be keen to see what others say about it. The boots were what I saw.
It’s definitely boots, but I’ll also be on the lookout for what others interpret them to be.
lol.Very creative. And what a way to go. although his wife doesn’t seem shocked at all. Great story
Thanks so much Mandi, hope you have had a good day.
Thanks
I’ve tried to figure out the why of these boots ever since I took this picture a few years ago.
Thank you 🙂
Well I am glad that they are boots, it took me a while to figure that out but it is a great photo for writing prompt, so thanks Dawn for sharing it with us…..
Yes they are boots. I am sure the real story is much more ordinary than any of us come u with ! lol
Yes i imagine so..
Great take on the prompt, Michael 🙂 I’m thinking it would be lovely if there were a few incidents of spontaneous combustion down in Canberra…plenty of hot air down there 😀
Yes indeed Lyn, highly likely I would say…..thanks for stopping by.
I cheated and magnified the picture after reading the comments.
Whenever I see or hear boots, the Nancy Sinatra song comes to mind: “Oh, these boots are made for walking, And that’s just what’ll do. One of these days, I’m going to walk all over you.” Since boots is a common word and sight, that refrain runs through my head so much I think I will spontaneous combust!
Lol….I think that would not be a good idea, as we’d miss you but not the song…
Quite entertaining. I loved the wife’s take on ‘spontaneous combustion’.
Quirky – creative – inventive – hilarious!
I absolutely love how you manage to take something ordinary – sometimes pictured in an odd fashion – and turn it into something so extravagantly insightful – but so damn funny! You are indeed, Michael, a master craftsman of words that brighten a day – and lighten a mood – bringing cheer and mirth to life! Great job! 😀
You saw boots…I thought it was a small dog on a jogging path. Great story, Michael. I loved the wife’s reaction. Had me laughing. 🙂
Glad you did so Susan, I did have to look hard I have to say….
Hahaha, that last line got me laughing. Spontaneous combustion? Now that’s a first 😀
Thanks so much Ameena, appreciate you stopping by.
I had no idea they were boots – and I spent quite along time trying to work out what they were! Somehow I think his wife is going to be enjoying her widowhood. A good story, Michael. 🙂
Thanks Louise I think her life might be more peaceful.
Having now read several people’s stories, I see that most have focused on the boots. I didn’t even realise they were boots until I’d already posted mine! Well, I really like your story, Michael. The idea of spontaneous combustion is fascinating. Perhaps… just perhaps… it was a fitting end to a man so full of hot air. LOL A pair of boots isn’t much of a legacy for such a long-suffering wife. 🙂
Thanks Millie, you are right but think of the peace she will now have.
Oh, so true. Peace is a very desirable condition. I’d like a bit of it myself, sometimes! Haha. 🙂
My dad used to say on his birthday or Father’s Day he’d just like some peace and quiet….
Totally understandable… 🙂
But Millie we were such well behaved children. And we ate our greens…
Weren’t we all…?