They brought two quarrelling merchants before the emperor and asked him to do justice.
The emperor listened to them. They accused each other with such vehemence that it was impossible to decide who was right.
‘I see no solution to this problem,’ the emperor said, ‘other than to hang both.’
This week I am super busy writing Oliver Colors’ biography, so I will be republishing some choice 50-word stories.
boy with a hat 
1)So, like Solomon, as the verdict came down, did one confess and ask for mercy?
2) Is that why they call him the hanging judge?
3) ooh, that’s a horrible story.
4) Do I have to get a town permit to sell cotton candy at the hanging?
5) I guess you could call this hanging a double feature like in the old days (sorry before your time BWaH)
Randy
I think that after the emperor passed the sentence the director cried ‘Cut!’ and the acting stopped and the hapless merchants went home to their trophy wives. 🙂
In Texas, this is actually how small claims court works.
ha….
Don’t you Americans have a peculiar edifice called The Statue of Liberty?
those wonderfully liberal French sent it to us.
But it’s in New York. Them Yankees have some weird ideas. Out west, they prefer to settle things more expediently.
As a Yankee , I agree that our ideas ARE indeed rather queeer. But expedience isnt always the right key-even if it fits right
Do you wear the Yankee cap and all that? 🙂
I could lie and say yes in hopes of earning your hat-affiliated love, but no, i dont wear the cap
The only true crime is man’s inhumanity to man, and, if eliminated, there would be a perfect world…peace, love, joy and blessings…:-)
It will be easier to convince the sun to make love with the moon. 🙂
or the fish to pursue his beloved bird. 🙂
oh, why. I love that kind of judgement..
The 50-word style is a great way to keep on writing! And I love how this short nice story ended as well. 😉
This is an epic one! =)
good one. short simple and thought provoking. keep it up
Hey I love your blog next to mine. 🙂 I have been looking for a person who follow my writing style, and I got have got that person, the boy in hat. . . . 😀
Mr Dave,
http://www.addissun.wordpress.com
I agree with theregoesk and Tanveer: great format for flash fiction.
Short but powerful!!!