Flash Fiction #4 - Freeloaders
- Jacob RD Johnson
- Oct 11, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 12, 2025
Picture Prompt
300-word Flash Fiction
Post # 4
Week Ending: 07/04/2025
Genre: Thriller
Title: Freeloaders
Chris Cranston had recently become a millionaire. Khalil Jackson was a four year veteran of the status. When the two strode off to the restroom at the same time, James and Dave scowled at Chris’s best friend, Peter. They wanted to put the scrub in his place.
James turned toward Peter. “What's your deal, man?”
“My deal?”
“Everybody in the world of wealth has a deal. How long have you known Chris?”
“Four years.”
“If you're gonna ride with high rollers, you gotta have a deal. Me and Dave, ours is sophistication.”
“So, not grammar?”
“Huh?”
“Never mind. Please continue.” Peter suppressed a grin.
“If your boy is gonna be big time and you're gonna be hangin’ around, you gotta bring somethin’ to contribute.”
“Oh. I see, do you help Khalil make money?”
“Nah, man. When our boy started bringin’ in Benjamins, we made sure that he knew how to fit in with big fish. Ya know?”
“No, enlighten me.”
“Okay, man, it's like this. We made sure Khalil was ready for the upper crust. That meant no more plain jeans and t-shirts. No more …” James looked at his surroundings with a crusty look on his face and voice quieter as though offering a secret conspiracy. “Dive bars.”
Peter caught his meaning loud and clear because he, himself, was wearing plain jeans and a t-shirt … in a dive bar. It didn't matter that Peter had obtained wealth, he just had no desire to flaunt it. These guys were all show. Peter slid down off of his stool, looked at the freeloaders and said, “Please let Chris know that I no longer wished to hang out with Billy Madison's pool mates.”
“Who's Billy Madison?”
Peter simply walked, nonchalantly, out the clunky, blue, wooden door into the warm Grecian air.
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