Flash Fiction: 11

They were both wearing grey hoodies and had black bandanas for masks. If this was pre-pandemic you would think they were robbing this store. That’s precisely what Dario’s mind conjured as they walked in the liquor store. Elario was wondering if he forgot to roll up the window on the car they left parked outside.

Ding! Dong! The sensors announced their arrival.

“Hello, welcome,” said the lady behind the counter, behind a face shield. She was applying sanitizer to her light skinned dainty hands. She smiled and could tell under the masks that these guys were twins.

Dario, walked around the Dorito display and down the isle lined with cans of menudo, salsa de pato and canned sardines. He knew that if he wanted to he could get whatever was sitting in the till. Couldn’t be much he thought. This little store was not in a busy corner. It was hidden deep in this neighborhood. He could pull out his pistol and surprise both Elario and the woman.

He knew his brother would know what to do even if they had never done this before. His brother would grab as much merch from behind the counter he could carry. They’d jump in the car and jump in the freeway that was only one block away.

Elario pulls open the refrigerated door and pulls out a case of beer. And walks to the counter.

Ding! Dong!

“Hello, welcome,” said the lady behind the counter to the two LAPD walking in for a soda, radios beeping and chattering.

Dario, suddenly quit his fantasy.

“Thank you. Have a nice night,” said the lady behind the counter as Dario and Elario walked out with beer and Doritos.

Elario put the beer through the window he left open. They drove off.

At home they sat and played video games all night. Dario imagined what would happen if he actually owned a gun and he was glad that he didn’t. He was still nervous from just thinking about it.