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Flash fiction · From the Margen catalogue

Damián tells nine lies to skip Tuesday's padel

Damián Sanjuán, dentist, has padel on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Today he sends nine messages to the group:

1. My car broke down. (It was parked, engine cold.) 2. I had an emergency at the clinic. (The clinic closed at 7 p.m.) 3. I forgot my kit. (His wife saw it folded in the washing machine.) 4. My wrist is sore. (That noon he signed twelve prescriptions without a peep.) 5. The heating cut out at home. (The house reads 22 degrees.) 6. My kid's school called. (The kid was at swimming.) 7. I had a long lunch. (He ate at half past one, alone, with lentils.) 8. I lost the booking. (It was under another player's name.) 9. I'm with Marcos.

Marcos is an accountant and part of the group. He was on the court, waiting.