Shannon's Secret

“I wonder what her secret is?”
“I don’t know, but I sure hope she keeps doing it. Handling complaints all day. The stress level must be enormous. She deserves the corner office.”
“I’ll say.”

Shannon’s mind wandered back thirty years earlier. She was a tender young girl on vacation with her parents. Being from Indiana, she had not seen many mountains and at first sight, she was in awe of them. The majesty and snowy tops stood like unmovable sentinels guarding the path to heaven. But even mountains had only so much appeal.

She, like most seven-year olds, rode in the back of a station wagon curled, crumpled, and uncomfortable. She was also excruciatingly bored. They were already six hours into a fourteen-hour trip. It didn’t help that her father insisted on leaving at six thirty that morning. Her stomach growled.

“When are we stopping to eat?”

“We’re doing something special, a picnic, and we’re almost there darling.”

“But I’m hungry now Mom,” Shannon whined. She would climb a mountain just to get out of this car.

“Settle down now. It’s only a half hour, and you’ve been such a good little rider.” Shannon slumped, arms crossed, and stared out the window.

The car pulled into the small roadside park. Shannon could not believe her eyes. Daisies. An entire field full of them as far as her eyes could see. She shoved the door open and ran. She ran – wind in her hair, cold on her face, sun in her eyes, and her hands outstretched …

Shannon stretched out her hands and could feel the daisies tickle her fingertips. The pollen sticking to her cuticles. A smile crept over her face. She opened her eyes and saw the blinking line.

“Hello, Mr. Carter. I’m sorry we messed up your order…”


300 words
Flash Story Must contain: daisies, corner, smile