Cop Duty

FlashNano 2019, Day 1

Vicente L Ruiz
Nov 1 · 2 min read

“Hey, Sánchez! What are you doing here?”

“Hi, Jonesy. The homeless from Monday?”

“Oh yes, I heard. Poor woman. Your shift?”

“Yes. I want her personal effects.”

“I didn’t know there was going to be any further investigation.”

“There isn’t. It was an accident. Cho and I were on the scene, no doubt.”

“Damn, Sánchez, I’m sorry.”

“Thanks.”

“Wait. You’re picking her things… Nobody has reclaimed her?”

“No.”

“Bummer. Back in a sec. Fill in the form, willya?”

“Sure, Jonesy.”

“Here it is. Damn, such a small bundle.”

“Yes.”

“Listen, Sánchez, I know what you do. I know how you want to help, but…”

“What, Jonesy?”

“Nothing. You know, I was once like you. Not like you you, I mean, but like you youngsters. Full of energy. I wanted to do everything. I wanted to serve and protect. To clean the streets.”

“I…”

“Yes I was. I know what they say about me. Pushing papers, warehouse duty. Easy-peasy. Thing is… thing is, let’s say I broke. Completely. Couldn’t take it any longer. I lost it. I thought I’d never be a cop again.”

“What happened?”

“Sarge happened.”

“Sarge?”

“Yes, Sarge. The Ogress herself. She brought me back, and up. I’m doing my duty here. No fancy, no arrests, but I can keep my sanity.”

“Jonesy…”

“I know. But I see all of you come here… Just take care. Remember there’s still a world out there beyond the streets we see everyday.”

“Okey. I will.”

“Good girl, Sánchez. It’ll help you stay alive a little longer. Now, are you going to open that?”

“Yes. Yes.”

“That red sweater… I used to have one like that. Shit, Sánchez.”

“The size. It’s a kid size.”


This is my flash for Day 1 of FlashNano 2019, a brilliant idea from Nancy Stohlman. Prompt was “ Write a story that includes a red sweater.”

Vicente L Ruiz

Written by

Parenting. Writing. Teaching. Geeking. Flash fiction writer. Tweeting one #VSS365 (or more) a day.

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