Good morning all, I hope everyone is ready to shake the sleep out of their brains. Personally I could use a few more hours, but alas that is not to be. So my brain might need a bit more shaking today than usual. I’m ready if you are. Timer set? See you in fifteen.
I think re-reading Bleak House by the lovely Mr. Dickens might have influenced this prompt. I read a bit before bed last night. Oh well. Still fun. I hope you came up with something you like. Here is what I ended up with.
Wednesday, October 21st: They would fight until they were bled dry.
They would fight until they were bled dry. He could see that. It was apparent in their stiff necks and pursed lips. There was a part of him that knew it was inevitable. They had been set up for this fight since birth. Jackson made sure of it. He played one against the other in a never ending dance of gamesmanship. Sometimes the games were obvious, sometimes subtle. Either way, these two dance his tune for the past forty years, each hoping to rack up enough points to win. He could see the move stepping forward, each resenting any penny the will stipulated as going to the other one. He knew they felt they earned it. He knew they each believed they proved their worth to Jackson and earned the right to his fortune.
He fought down a sigh. Neither of them ever realized that Jackson despised both of them. He hadn’t much use for either of his brothers but promised their mother he would always take care of them. Once he made his fortune, he did take care of them. The fact that his brothers then stopped taking care of themselves, content to orbit their older brother while sailing blissfully through life did not escape Jackson’s notice. Still it was a dying request his mother made and he felt he could not break it. Jackson never felt that the agreement lasted into the next generation and certainly didn’t expect it to last beyond his death.
The sniping of the two came out as sibilant hisses snaking across his office and Douglas wondered if they thought he was too old and somehow too deaf to hear it or if they long ago gave up attempting to pretend not to be at each other’s throats. They were, by all reckoning contemptable human beings. He could make a long list of those in town who felt that way. They were tolerated because everyone in town suspected that one if not both were Jackson’s heirs. Jackson owned a large amount of property and his businesses employed more than two thirds of the town directly. Those that didn’t work directly for him, were still dependent on the pay he gave to his employees to keep their business afloat. Jackson was the lynch pin of the community. He was cognizant of his role and did his best not to abuse it. The two sitting in front of his desk had no such qualms and traded off their potential inheritance and their future goodwill for years.
As Jackson’s lawyer, Douglas kept his mouth shut as was required, but he knew that his words here today, now that he was finally free to speak would have a world of impact.
“Shall we start,” he said. Instant silence descended. He looked up from the pages on his desk. He knew they would fight the other in court to have the whole of the inheritance until they were both bled dry by legal fees. Jackson knew it too. ‘Quick like a band aide,’ he decided. “Ache of you receives the sum of $5000 with the rest of the estate going to Jackson’s daughter,” he stated.
There was a great inrush of air as the shock hit them.
“He didn’t have any children,” they both exclaimed in near perfect unison.
“He did,” Douglas stated. “A daughter. I have already contacted her regarding the estate. She will be in town next week. “
Ten til Midnight 