Oxymorons are Never “Old News” …

A Flash Fiction Story Written Using Oxymorons

“You can recognize an oxymoron by looking for phrases where two words are used together that logically should not be.”

The Peaceful Protest
Flash Fiction, by C.J. Heck

Balding Harry Eastman was a student teacher who was in poor health. He wasn’t usually a demanding patient, but today with a sad smile he insisted on a two-hour, (give or take), break from the hospital to attend a peaceful protest at a fast food chain that was openly closed down for selling freezer burned jumbo shrimp.

It’s old news now, but with joyful sadness Harry was back within a half hour. Only a small crowd had even gathered when three police black & whites surrounded the store, causing a minor disaster and of course that went over like a lead balloon.

Clearly confused, people scattered and the stampede was pretty ugly. Every-one ran, tossing their protest pamphlets, paper plates, paper towels, and plastic glasses here and there.  Feeling clearly misunderstood, Harry called them big babies for running away and throwing their trash.

Harry told us it should have been a short and bittersweet protest so people would sit up and take notice, but when the cops came, they shouted, “STAND DOWN!” Every-one at first freaked out, but it managed to stay a friendly fight, after all.

The police felt their only option was to show up and keep things down to a dull roar. Personally, I thought it was seriously funny.  Plans were all turned upside down!

I’d say the whole day was a near miss. I mean, good grief, they’re lucky they weren’t all arrested for littering! 

Affirmative action never happened, but it was an honest mistake. At least there is a definite maybe for us to set up a future passive aggressive protest. When all is said and done, a peaceful sit in just may be the only option we have left.

(Sigh) Oh well, same difference …

Poet/Writer/Author of 5 books.
Quora Top Writer 2018.
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