I was scarcely out of the gate when Howard skidded his bike up beside me.
Heart aflutter. A thousand insects river-dancing in my cavities.
“You going mistletoeing?”
I held up the twine I’d use to pull the clusters closer so I could cut them. No stone yet attached, I’d find that later.
“Can I join you?” He tapped on the pole strapped to his crossbar. “Dad’s apple-picker. Could make it easier.”
He’d no need to tempt me. Howard had been my crush since middle school. And now he wanted to come mistletoeing with me? Oh wow.
But I discovered all was not as it seemed when, later, he proudly displayed his bunch of severed mistletoe.
“Now, thanks to you and your help, Melanie won’t be able to resist me at the Christmas dance.”
What? Melanie? Not me?
I left Howard to walk his bike home, because Howard’s bike now had a flat tyre.
I might have exceeded the word limit. I do apologise.
crispina kemp 
It’s your challenge so you are allowed to exceed the word limit 🥰😂
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It was only by a couple. And it is the first time it’s happened
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🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
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well done you! And the ending warranted your exceeding the word limit what a cheeky toad that Howard was !! 💜💜
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I think this is my first true micro fiction
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I loved it , it was perfect 💜💜💜
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Thank you, Willow
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Foiled again! But great getting even! Great story!
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I just thought how I’d react. Nothing overt. Just a sneaky kick in the whatsies
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Oh, that louse! He got his!
Funny story, Crispina.
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Thank you. Pleased with this one
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Fantastic ending, Crispina! I absolutely loved it.
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Thank you, Indira. I do declare, Inspiration is hanging around me this year. A bit like that mistletoe 😘😘😘
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Given how I play fast and loose with your word count limit, be my guest – especially for such a great story 🙂
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Thank you 🧐🤪
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