“I don’t like meeting down here,” says Richard, when Gordo turns out of the shadows.
“Mute point.”
“Huh?”
“The Senator says we meet down here, we do. You don’t like it, that’s a mute point.” Water dripped and echoed, a lonely sound in the tunnels. Ricky smirked.
“Moot point, moron. And the way the hearings are going, what the Senator wants, that might soon be moot, also.” He lit his pipe. “Strippers. Call girls. Cash in paper bags. Zoning laws appearing out of nowhere. The papers are ablaze, Gordo. The Internet fairly drips with glee. All those,” his voice quivered in mock horror, “nasty underworld ties.”
“Mute point. The newspapers don’t investigate the Senator, the sub-committee does. Starts with closed door testimony next Monday.”
“It’s ‘moot point’, muscle head, for the last time, ‘moot’.” Richard sighed. “I suppose I’ll be called.”
Gordo nodded. “Third. One of the Senator’s ladies got hold of a copy of the witness list. Those girls know a few tricks, even when they’re standing up.”
Richard came off his casual lean on the tunnel wall and straightened himself indignantly. He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin at Gordo. “Well, assure the Senator that nothing I know will ever make it into testimony. I can keep my mouth shut.”
Gordo drew a Mauser automatic and shot him three times in the chest.
“Mute point.”
John Jasper Owens lives in the South, where he offers unpublished fiction and humor at low, low prices.
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16 Responses to “MUTE POINT • by John Jasper Owens”
Comments
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September 12th, 2009 at 1:59 am
How cool. I don’t mean the death part, but the story as a whole. Nicely done.
September 12th, 2009 at 2:25 am
The word confusion wears a little thin.
Solid, well-written story, though.
September 12th, 2009 at 3:00 am
Nicely constructed, focused little story.
September 12th, 2009 at 4:31 am
I smiled at the ending.
September 12th, 2009 at 5:18 am
Nice play on words, just long enough to set up the punch line. Well constructed, well done.
September 12th, 2009 at 5:19 am
Seems a bit thin, dangling from a malapropism like that. But I guess he made his point (moot or mute) at the end.
September 12th, 2009 at 5:25 am
Clever. Well done in so few words. Liked this one.
September 12th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Funny story. Loved the ending!
September 12th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
It seemed the punchline was given away too soon by the title tipoff, second-line introduction and repetition of “mute”. Other than that, clever use of the pun.
September 12th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman with the Mauser…
–John
September 12th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Great characterization with the insistent use of “mute point”. Thanks for a subtle laugh.
September 12th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Love it. Quick, clean, funny, clever. Good job!
September 13th, 2009 at 7:03 am
Good one
September 13th, 2009 at 10:29 am
A bit obvious, but nicely done.
September 14th, 2009 at 3:14 am
I think the length made the point sustainable!
September 16th, 2009 at 5:05 am
Thought this was clever and well written. Enjoyed it.