Revenge

So, this is a short story I wrote today (just finished cutting it down to exactly the required 600 words) for NPR's 3-Minute Fiction contest. The theme is "Finder's Keepers" about characters who don't return the item they found.

It's based on two characters I've already begun working with. That story is about a girl who essentially creates magic, but she's in our world so it's going haywire and would kill her except for the really grumpy wizard who teaches her how to control it. I plan to use this short story as part of that novel, though I'm currently a long way away from when it would happen.

Anyway, enough backstory. I shouldn't tempt you with it because I don't know when I'll get around to really writing it. Here's the finished story at 636 words. Somehow I cut out 36 words without compromising any part of the "plot" (a lesser person than me would cut the first few lines, but I think that would detract from the characterization too much).
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“Hurry up!”

“Hold your horses!”

Gregory tossed his hands in the air and stalked across the cobbled street towards the butcher’s shop. Lily couldn’t hide her smirk as she turned back to the seamstress. “I really love the look of Lady Argyris’ cloak. Would it be weird for you to make one just like it for me?”

“Not at all deary. That’s how most people decide on their clothing. What color do you want?”

The girl was annoying, that was certain. Gregory glared at the butcher who he knew was overcharging him for the side of lamb he ordered, but didn’t say anything other than to growl that it better be delivered the next day.

“Look out, mister!” Gregory turned at the shout and a small stuffed leather ball hit him squarely on the nose.

“Ow,” he said holding his nose with his hands. Through the film made by his watering eyes he saw three boys, no older than ten, standing in silent horror as they realized who they’d accidentally hit. Good.

As he inspected his nose, deftly drawing out the pain and injury with his magic, he watched their knees start to tremble, the littlest one’s face turning green. At least they seemed smart enough not to beg. He seemed to remember turning the last man who begged briefly into a donkey for a few hours.

The tallest one finally broke the silence. “We’re sorry, wizard. We’ll do anything to make it up to you…” he trailed off.

His nose back in order, Gregory appraised the boys. He’d seen them before just that day helping one of the old grandmother types carry her shopping to her home. Just goes to show that just because people do one good deed didn’t mean that they’re infallible.

“Go away,” he growled. They boys scampered off.

Deciding to go back to the seamstress to hurry Lily along, he stepped off the small walkway onto the cobbles.

“Gahh!!” With an unmanly yelp his leg shot out from under him, throwing him to his back, half on, half off the walkway. He’d stepped on the stupid ball that the boys had inadvertently left behind. Scowling at the sky he didn’t see everyone hide their smiles and double the distance they normally stayed away from him.

Well, one person didn’t hide her reaction.

“Are you okay?!” Lily wore an interesting mix of smile and horror as she peered down at him.

“Go away,” he said once again inspecting his injuries and willing them away with magic.

A few minutes later he stood, ignoring the hand Lily offered him. He stooped and retrieved the ball that was determined to end his life.

“Are you going to give that back to the boys?”

“Hell no.” He put the ball into his pocket. “Unless you’re literally dying, we’re going home now.”

“But we’ve only gone to a few shops!”

Gregory stepped closer to her, taking advantage of their nearly foot difference in height to intimidate her. “I’m done.”

As usual, she was not alarmed and merely rolled her eyes.

He turned and strode out of the town, not caring if she wasn’t following him.

Gregory didn’t pause as he reached the steps leading up to his home, throwing his arm out in a grand flourish as he willed the door to open. He ignored the snickered “show-off” behind him.

Going directly into his workroom he immediately set a copper pot on a hook in the fireplace. Adding turmeric, woad, and indigo to a boiling base of honeyed water, he stirred the concoction briskly.

“What is that?” Lily asked from the doorway.

“Teaching the boys a lesson,” he said dropping in the ball. “They’ll think twice about where they play when they wake up tomorrow with aqua colored hair.