Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Flash Fiction

Prompt from http://www.flashfictionfriday.com

Write a story starting with the sentence “You know Javier, poets say that in the spring a young man’s thoughts turn to love, but I think they’re wrong.”

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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

“You know Javier, poets say that in the spring a young man’s thoughts turn to love, but I think they’re wrong.”

“I’m told the people of New York always talk with their mouthful”

“Sorry – what?”

“What? Er – sorry, er - did you just say ‘In Long Island, they drink their tea iced and long’? Only I couldn’t hear you properly because of the traffic”

“No, not at all, I said the one about the poets – aren’t you supposed to say ‘there is no poetry involved in the predatory nature of young men’? Only I see you have a copy of the Times rolled up under your right arm and brown cowboy boots on…”

“Indeed, and you have a red handkerchief showing as well as a green attaché case, but I still can’t remember anything about a bloody poet. That’s not what was on the email I got anyway.”

“Oh well, this is embarrassing. Do you know what, they are crap back at the office aren’t they? Couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery, that lot. I bet it was Tony that organised the password, he is utterly useless that man, I really don’t know why we keep him.”

“I know what you mean – This is the third time this has happened to me, I just don’t know what to say, I really don’t. Look, it’s on the email completely clear, I printed it off – here see? Just there, it’s hardly difficult is it – ‘meeting arranged with American agent, Oliver, to discuss the plan to sabotage the Olympics, by placing a bomb under the stadium just next to the ticket booth on Friday. He will have a green attaché case and a red handkerchief; you should have brown cowboy boots and the Times rolled up under your right arm. He’ll be sat on the bench near the corner. The passphrase will be…’ Oh now hang on… I never even noticed that, you don’t actually sound American at all, now I come to think of it.”

“I’m not, I’m from Surrey. Actually, I rather thought you were supposed to be American too? Are you not here to give me the detailed plans for the Prime Minister’s holiday home, so we can electrify the bathroom floor then?”

“No, sorry. Well this is a funny old thing isn’t it? I mean what are the chances eh? That is some coincidence. Who would have guessed that this could happen?”

“I know – hey, I wonder how the Americans are getting on then? They must be here somewhere – actually, look over there on the other side of the road, sitting on that bench. Red Hankie, cowboy boots, I suppose that must be him!”

“Ha, yes I think you are right, and look! Here comes the other guy now. Oh how funny is this? Come on, let’s watch them for a bit and see how they get on. This is going to be hysterical...”

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“...Oh!”

“Well! I certainly didn’t see that coming. “

“Was there really any need for a kafuffle like that, do you think?”

“Certainly not – utterly over the top, in my opinion. Well, I suppose that’s me done here then, being that your man just shot mine.”

“Yes, likewise - quite why they thought killing each other was necessary I'll never know. Do you fancy a pint?”

“What time is it?”

“Nearly six”

“Hmm – okay then, why not?  The name's Bond, Paul Bond”

“Pleased to meet you Paul, I'm Trevor. Trevor Powers.”