Introductory Class, No Cost
Nothing is ever truly free
Published in
Jan 9, 2024
A flyer on the sidewalk along Station Street catches her eye. It reads:
Drawing Classes Friday Evenings — First Session Free.
Arriving late at the studio brings back memories from her college days. Even then she’d hurried in, her hair a messy bun, looking for that empty seat. The stench of linseed oil and turpentine fills the room.
The teacher’s voice cuts through the gossip.
“Alright, folks, let’s grab those pencils.”
Lena’s heart flutters, realising she’d left them on the train in her rush.
With a frail voice, she asks to borrow some.
“Sure,” he replies, “but it’ll cost you five dollars.”
This flash fiction piece is a response to day 8 of the Random Word Drabble Challenge: Free by Nancy Oglesby. Thanks for reading!
