#fotoflash – Fish Lips

Here is my contribution to this week’s Friday Foto Flash Fiction Challenge.

“She won’t do it.”

“Yes she will. I dared her.”

The two boys stared at Sarah who was standing, hands on hips, staring at a HUGE fish statue. She stuck her tongue out at her brother and his best friend. Nothing left to do but guts up and kiss the fish. She leaned closer.

“Don’t you put those nasty lips on me!”

Sarah jumped back and looked for the boys who had disappeared. She looked back at the fish. “Did you just talk to me?”

“Of course it was me. Who did you think it was? Those fake little fish under me? They can’t even wiggle.” He proceeded to flip his fins. “See? I wiggle just fine.”

“Oh, um, okay.” Sarah looked around again but there was no one else around.

“Why were you going to kiss me?” the fish asked.

“My brother dared me. In front of his best friend.”

“So?”

“Well, I don’t skip out on dares.” She stood taller with pride. “Never have, never will.”

“Humph! Not gonna win this one. I don’t want any landlubber lips on my soft petals of fish lips. Nope, not gonna happen.”

“But-“

“No buts about it. NO KISSY LIPS!”

Sarah’s head dropped in dejection. Softly she replied, “I’ve never lost a dare.”

“Guess you will this time.”

She looked up with teary eyes and asked, “Please? Just a quick peck? I’ll wash your lips when I’m done.”

The fish snorted. “Fat chance of that…”

Sarah checked to be sure her brother was still gone. “Can we maybe compromise?”

“Like how?”

“I don’t know. Can you think of something?”

The fish was silent then wiggled his fins. “I’ve got it!”

Sarah perked up. “Really? I can kiss you?”

“No! But you can climb up and I’ll give you a ride. Kinda like that bronco horse ride the kids like over there in front of the store.”

She looked across the street and saw the kiddie ride. “That might work. But how can I get up there? You’re pretty big, you know.”

The fish laughed. “Yup, and darn proud of it. I was the catch of the day. Here, I’ll wriggle down and you can use my fin as a step.”

She did just that and without much effort she was sitting on top of the fish. “This is just too cool. I can see the whole neighborhood. Oh, and I see my brother coming.”

The fish did a little wiggle and told her,  “Hold tight. You’re in for a bronco fish ride!”

As the boys rounded the corner he started wriggling. “Hey boys! I kissed the fish and he told me I could have a ride.”

Their eyes bugged out as they watched Sarah ride the bucking fish. She leaned down and whispered, “Can you let me down now?”

Without saying a word, the fish lowered his body and let her step down off his fin. He winked and assumed his former pose.

Sarah swaggered over to the boys. “Pay up, suckers!”