News Is More

A reporter is desperate for a story. 300-word flash

NEWS IS MORE

Sam Porter did not love writing his newspaper column from home.
“As if writing in my cramped office at the paper wasn’t remote enough from the real world,” he grumped.

The hardest part for the veteran reporter was he couldn’t hear the word on the street anymore. He started up his motorized chair and rolled to the window. He managed to open it without help, which pleased him.

“All those years covering wars all over the world and I lose the use of my legs in a riot right here at home!”
“So, what can I write about that will grab readers like I used to?”
He sat at the window, listening. He heard sirens that he couldn’t chase and murmurous noises that were simply the sounds of city silence to him.

Then he heard it. The neighbors were having a fracas with somebody. This was unsurprising to him, since they were always having a fracas with someone in the neighborhood.
The angry voice that answered them sounded like his caregiver, Nick.
“We want to see Sam, we have a story for him!” the wife screeched.
“Mr. Porter doesn’t see anyone without an appointment, set by me,” Nick said firmly.
“Who are you to keep us from our neighbor and friend.”
Sam snorted, that last part was debatable. They never talked to him unless it was to complain. But a story? Would it be worth having Nick bring them up?

“Why not, I’m so bored and I need an idea anyway,” Sam said to himself.
“Nick! Why don’t you bring my neighbors up to see me? I’m always open to a good story.”
Sam heard the sound of many footsteps pounding up his stairs. He wanted to change his mind, but it was too little too late!