The vegetable seller on First Avenue

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

Every day people came to his stall, picked out their vegetables and went on their way. From their purchases, he could surmise dozens of dinner table spreads. Beef stew, tomato bredie, potato bake. Why else would one person buy a bag of potatoes two days in a row?

Local culinary tastes weren’t the only thing he noted. Gossip proved juicier than any of his wares. His trained ear weeded out keywords. Names were particularly valuable. He never tired of figuring out daily habits, work routes or any decipherable pattern that might prove insightful later on in the investigation.

98 words

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge is to write a story in 100 words or less. Click the blue frog to submit your flash fiction and read others’.

bigfred

Responses

  1. ellenbest24 avatar

    Wow, a very different take on the picture to some I have read. Nicely done.

    Like

  2. neilmacdon avatar

    This man is not going to be a vegetable seller long. He’ll be recruited by the security services, or gossip magazines, if he hasn’t been already

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Anthony North avatar

    I spy a spy there. Nice one.

    Like

  4. Iain Kelly avatar

    The sort of person who sees, hears and knows a lot more than one might think. Great take.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. tedstrutz avatar

    You hint at more here, spill it.

    Like

  6. Nobbinmaug avatar

    Vodka. The potatoes are definitely someone making their own vodka.

    Dang it! Isn’t it bad enough that all our devices spy on us? Now, we have to watch the fruit & veggie vendor.

    Like

  7. Russell avatar

    Vegetable dealer in disguise. I like it!

    Like

  8. msjadeli avatar

    What a perfect undercover disguise.

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  9. draliman avatar

    He sounds like a sort of human Amazon/Google. He’ll soon know everything about everyone 🙂

    Like

  10. Susan A Eames avatar

    Ah ha! And there was me thinking he was just a market seller who enjoyed people watching.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Like

  11. James McEwan avatar

    He sounds like the ideal spy or police informer. What’s going on in the village?

    Like

  12. rochellewisoff avatar

    Dear Fatima,

    I cashiered for a while at a grocery store. It was always interesting to try to figure people out by what they purchased. 😉 Your seller is a man after my own heart. Well told story.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Like

  13. susanmehr avatar

    Nosier than the Mother-in-law, definitely going places. Nice take on prompt.

    Like

  14. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) avatar

    Now you hint at something much more… I wonder what secrets there were.

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    1. Brenda's Thoughts avatar

      The plot thickens! Nicely done.

      Like

  15. Mike avatar

    He sounds like a dangerous chap. I enjoyed your different take on the prompt

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