Photo Copyright – Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
A Brief Lesson in Economics
The dusty, weathered shelves hung in sharp contrast to the shiny mahogany paneling. Ignoring the man at the desk, Basil scanned the shelves’ contents: crayons, Monopoly pieces, a keychain Etch-a-Sketch. His gaze rested on an old shape-sorter in the top left-hand cubby.
“Ah, you recognize your old playthings.” The man’s voice was deep and smooth as chocolate pudding.
“I want them back.” Basil glanced at the nameplate on the desk. “Mr. Templetorn.”
“Of course you do.” August Templetorn smiled knowingly. “There is, you understand, a price for what you want. Everything has a price, you know. Even you, Basil.”
Previously on Basil: Basil Thistlethorn’s Curious Reception
****************************
Friday Fictioneers (n): A world-wide community of writers addicted to writing 100 word stories based on a photo prompt provided by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.
Read or Join here:
Lisa Dunn 
Chillingly good 🙂
Aw, thanks! 🙂
Intriguing!
Thanks!
Brief lesson indeed 🙂
With 100 words, it could only be so long… 😉
Dear Lisa,
Everything and everyone has their price. Unfortunately true in most cases. Nice one.
shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks.
Dear Lisa,
I’m here and still reading. Waiting for the bad end to come somebody’s way.
Aloha,
Doug
Yes, I fear poor Basil is getting a little more than he bargained for when he picked up that phone so many stories ago. Thanks for reading!
I hope he’s able to pay for what he wants. and this is an intriguing piece!
Thanks! We’ll see what he’s willing to pay… 😉
OH MY GOD. Did you choose the name Templeton on purpose — as in, Templeton the Rat from Charlotte’s Web — the pack rat who wouldn’t give anything away — “What’s in it for me?” He’d ask.
(Please lie to me if you didn’t intend this — because it’s perfect.)
I would lie to you, but I’m afraid you might go back and notice the “r” in his name. Templetorn might have its own not so hidden meaning of “temple torn,” as in all that is sacred is rent asunder, but alas, it happened by accident. I can claim no cleverness in the choosing of his name!
Ah… the r and the n merged together for me as I read them on the computer screen. I’m going blind, darling.
I did that in a query letter of all things… called my novel a mix between The Hunger Games and The Chronicles of NarMia, and didn’t see it till it was too late.
At least it wasn’t The Gunther Haines and the Chronicles of Marmite. Disgusting stuff, Marmite.
Basil glanced at the nameplate on the desk. Whoa! Turned this whole story on it’s head! Loved it! 😀
Mmmm, I want to read more! Well done!
Whoooh. I loved it. I don’t what the back story is, but we certainly are given a lot of hints to run with. Great the way you sailed smoothly from the children’s toys to the cold terror of Mr Templeton.
Something very eery comes this way. Great piece, well done.
I like this Basil character. Nicely done!
now that’s clever baiting
I could do with the next instalment Lisa and I’m happy to wait!
Well written and very intriguing, loved it.
Dee
My daughter used to date a guy named Basil. I always liked him.
Supply and demand at its most diabolical. 🙂 What an evil man, to hold Basil’s toys hostage.
Ah.. this is intriguing… I can’t really wait for the next week..
Can’t wait to find out the price Basil has to pay. 🙂