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(FINALIST in 2008 Textnovel contest) In this dark, suspenseful and somewhat comical look at one man's desires, Remote Control by bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif delivers a strong message: Be careful what you wish for!
Meet Harold Fielding--plumber by part of the day, slacker/tv addict the rest of the day and night. Harry believes that fame and fortune will come to him if he wishes hard enough. God forbid if he should actually work for it.
Beatrice Fielding is Harry's hardworking wife. She holds down multiple jobs so her husband can laze about on his recliner, eating popcorn and drinking cola while watching his favorite shows. She has many wishes--some aren't so nice.
***2008 Textnovel contest finalist***
~Read more about bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif by visiting her website at http://www.cherylktardif.com |
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| Foreword/Preface |
I can't recall what made me write the original story, but it has always been a favorite of mine. Perhaps it was inspired by that old saying... "Be careful what you wish for."
Copyright 2008 Cheryl Kaye Tardif
If you enjoy this short story, please check out my other works here on Textnovel:
Short stories:
A Grave Error (Myrtle Murphy Mystery #1)
The Death of an Old Cow (Myrtle Murphy Mystery #2)
Maid of Dishonor (Myrtle Murphy Mystery #3)
ATROPHY
SEPARATION ANXIETY
OUIJA
SWEET DREAMS
Novelette:
REMOTE CONTROL
Dorchester Next Best Celler Semi-Finalist:
LANCELOT'S LADY
Novel excerpts:
DIVINE INTERVENTION
FINDING BLISS
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Chapter 1: Be careful what you wish for!
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“Be careful what you wish for,” they say, but for forty-four-year-old Harold Fielding, who unfortunately isn’t one to listen to such good advice, those words will come back to haunt him.
Harold―Harry―always rebels against the norm. In fact, he says, “Wishes are like saying grace―something to be said before every meal.” So he wishes at least five times a day, while growing exceedingly fat.
However, good ole Harry has an excuse.
“If I wish hard enough,” he tells his wife Beatrice, “my wishes will eventually come true.”
Harry’s a TV fanatic and, surprisingly, fairly intelligent. He spends about ten hours a day parked in front of his ten-year-old Sanyo television with the remote control in hand, while watching shows on just about everything. The next day, he can tell you all about it; his recall is nearly perfect.
He never once contemplates actually working a forty-hour week and earning money. He’s already maxed out the VISA and MasterCard, plus a small bank loan that Beatrice knows nothing about. And now he’s waiting for his fortune to fall in his lap. Sadly, there’s no room there, so whatever good luck finds him usually ends up in a puddle on the floor.
Harry’s good with puddles. He’s a plumber by trade, when he bothers to do a job. The truth is, he’s been having trouble maneuvering under kitchen sinks; his stomach keeps getting in the way. Six months ago, he was depressed, which made him eat more. He’d almost lost faith that there is something better for him…somewhere…out there, and then fate stepped in.
After a chance run-in with an old classmate (Harry nearly knocked him down a flight of stairs when they passed on a landing), who happens to be very wealthy and who recommends one book, Harry’s life changes forever.
The Secret sits on the shelf behind the toilet. Harry reads it while relieving himself of the pounds of food he’s eaten each day. Since he’s always there a while, he can usually get through five or six pages a visit.
“I’ve read it now from beginning to end at least five times,” he boasts to his friends.
Of course, he hasn’t quite figured out that one must work towards receiving the good things in life, whether by deed or thought. He just figures that if he wishes for something, he’ll attract it. Eventually.
Be careful what you wish for, Harry.
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