TBC Publishing Pride Month Flash Fiction Challenge, #30 of 30

TBC Publishing Pride Month Flash Fiction Challenge, 30 of 30

Title: Does the End Justify the Means

Author: R. Scott Tyler

Genre: Fantasy

Word count (500 max): 432

“Matt, it’s good that we’re angels, right?” Jeff asked.

“Of course it is, Jeff. And with some trepidation, I say, Why do you ask?” Matt answered.

“Oh, I was just thinking, is it really important how we became angels? We’ve done some pretty great stuff since, well since we were given the “free choice” to do all this great stuff or “vacate the premises,” Jeff said.

“Well yes, Jeff, how we get somewhere always matters, don’t you think?” Matt asked.

“Dunno…depending upon your philosophy, we might not be saved by our actions at all, but by ‘someone’ else’s grace,” Jeff answered.

“So, following that train of thought, picking up that new stereo for my Impala from Brent, the Backseat Bargan man, was okay?” Matt asked.

“You mean the stereo that shorted out the power steering in that boat of a car as we were taking that mountain curve at 95 mph just before we…umm, became angels? No…just…no…,” Jeff answered, hand covering his face.

“How about if buying from Brent meant he could continue to support his 14-year-old, gay nephew, who was thrown out of his parents’ house when he came out to them?” Matt again asked.

“So now you’re a philosopher?” Jeff said.

“I’m not a philosopher,” Matt said, “but people do things that are all shades of grey. If it were solely up to each of us, heaven would have a housing crisis because it would be nearly empty.”

“Convince me,” Jeff said.

“The writer who uses an AI app to write a book and sells it as their own work so they can feel good about publishing something,” Matt said.

“Too trivial. If readers can’t tell a real story from an AI-created one, they’re the ones who need more education. No one is stealing from anyone here,” Jeff said.

“The pro-lifer fighting to outlaw abortion and save every ‘life’ composed of egg and sperm from fertilization. While also complaining about taxes that fund healthcare and food benefits for unwed mothers of newborns,” Matt said.

Without waiting for Jeff’s answer, Matt continued.

“Or, a government that starts multiple wars, requiring huge sums of money, while cutting benefits for the very veterans that are fighting in these wars,” Matt added.

Jeff thought for a minute before replying, “Okay, I guess we can both agree there aren’t going to be a lot of politicians in heaven if they had to earn their own tickets.”

The two floated hand in hand for a few minutes before Jeff said, out of the blue, “How is Brent’s nephew doing anyway? Let’s drop in to visit him.”

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Temperance. Balance, moderation, and patience. Harmony between two opposing forces.