Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

Going Home

PHOTO PROMPT © David Stewart

It’s the weather. Yes. The cold. Those clouds pressing down like they’re trying to squeeze the life out, making the houses look…broken. They’ll bounce back in spring. It’ll be like it was.

Ellen peered out the window. 

Everything was dingy, as if a piece of tape, loaded with dust and fingerprints had been stretched across the view. 

How long had it been? Ten years? Fifteen? More? 

Fingers shaking, she unclasped her purse and stared down at a framed photo: A smiling man with warm gray eyes and white hair.

“Oh God,” she breathed. “Let it just be the weather.”

As always, many thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers! Stop over and read a wonderful array of 100-word-fiction pieces based on this photo prompt!

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

The Painting

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

It stands above them and everyone is drawn to it. After a few drinks, folks swear it has changed; it’s different than last time. “Yeah, sure it has,” their companions rib.

The man in the canvas watches, listens. He absorbs their wild lies, heartfelt truths and mundane facts. In the morning, when the light is good and the room empty, he paints them around himself.

“Whosh the paintah?” A woman slurs. 

The bartender adjusts her glasses. “Last name’s El Mundo. First name, Todd? Todo? That’s it. Crazy foreigner. Nothing like that around here.”

The man in the canvas just smiles. 

As always, many thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers! Stop over and read a wonderful array of 100-word-fiction pieces based on this photo prompt!

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

A Reel Solution

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

“Whoa, creepy tunnel times ten!” 

“Faster, Steve,” Lisa begged. “If these lights go out—.”

“Yo! Remember darkroom photography? You closed yourself in a tiny closet, pried open the cartridge and pushed the film onto the developing reel—in pitch black. And it never grabbed right, but you were trapped there, because open that door and—poof!—goodbye film. And when it all seemed impossible—.”

“Your point?” Lisa snapped as she guided his arm.

“We’re like film in that reel, man. Darkness makes film work. Without darkness, it’s worthless plastic.”

“We promised to stick together, right?”

“Totally.”

“I changed my mind.”

As always, many thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers! Stop over and read a wonderful array of 100-word-fiction pieces based on this photo prompt!

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

At the Zoo

PHOTO PROMPT © Robbie Cheadle

“How’s your first week going, Zara?”

“Awful. It’s like I’m on display, but also closed off—everyone has their groups already, so there’s no meaningful connection—no offense, George.”

He shrugged and crammed his red face full of banana. 

“There’s stability, but no excitement. Security, but nothing significant to do,  you know?” Zara shivered and smoothed the fur ring around her face. “It’s mind numbing, like I’m swimming in circles!”

George nodded, rubbed his gloved fingers together, and tossed the banana peel into a lion-shaped trashcan. “It’ll improve. All first office jobs feel like that.” He smiled. “Next stop, penguins?”

As always, many thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers! Stop over and read a wonderful array of 100-word-fiction pieces based on this photo prompt!

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

The Lady in Pink

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

“Anne, why aren’t you in bed?”

“Oh, Aunt Mari,” Anne whispered rapturously, leaning against the window pane. “Don’t you know? On the last night of winter, The Lady in Pink tiptoes through the forest and awakens spring! The trees glow—like fireflies, but with all the loveliest shades of colors—and they dance together, every rustle of their branches part of a heavenly song!”

“I’ve never heard it,” Aunt Mari sniffed.

“That’s because the music puts everyone into the deepest slumber—.” 

“Then you won’t miss anything.”

Anne sighed. “I suppose seeing can’t be much more beautiful than dreaming about it.”

As always, many thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers! Stop over and read a wonderful array of 100-word-fiction pieces based on this photo prompt!

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

Healing Water

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

“Mama, why’s this your special stream?”

“Long ago, a princess’s baby became sick and doctors couldn’t save him. The princess cried so much that tears poured from her castle, filled the streets, and rolled into the ocean, turning the freshwater salty. No one could drink the water anymore, and the whole town became weak. But gradually, the salt water filtered through the earth and returned as this sparkling spring, saving the city.” Mama smiled. “Do you believe that?”

The wide-eyed girl shook her head. 

“You’re too smart, Brooke!” Mama dabbed her eyes. “Though it sometimes feels like that happened.”

As always, many thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers and for this week’s gorgeous watercolor! Stop over and read a wonderful array of 100-word-fiction pieces based on this photo prompt…

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

House That Again?

PHOTO PROMPT ©Sandra Crook

House That Again? 

“It has good bones, but if we buy, this place’ll need an overhaul.”

“Nonsense, Pete, it’s perfect!” Tia spread her arms and twirled around the room. “I wouldn’t touch it for the world. Look at that ceiling, like pages of a book spread open! And those gorgeous windows. And that chandelier—.”

“Let me guess? Exquisite?”

Tia scrunched her nose. “It has to go. And that lamp. And purple lights? Who wanted that? And this carpet will need ripped out. And—.”

“Perfect, huh?”

“No house can stay static forever, dear! How silly of you. Houses have to change with the times!”

As always, many thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers! Stop over and read a wonderful array of 100-word-fiction pieces based on this photo prompt!

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

A Racket

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

I’m late to the game, but squeezing in a Friday Fictioneers post!

A Racket 

Stephanie shifted her backpack and looked at her watch: 3:12. The bench at The Loft, he’d said, 3:00. 

“Where is he?”

“Face it: He’s ghosting you.”

“He’ll come.”

The voices in her head felt like tennis balls, back and forth. 

“You’re wasting time.”

“Maybe this’ll be true love.”

“The girls will make fun.”

Just once in her life Stephanie wanted to serve an ace, smash a winner. Be totally decisive. No rally. End the back-and-forth. Just stand up and walk away or calmly sit down.

“Just another minute.”

“He’s a jerk. Leave.”

“He probably has a good reason…”

As always, many thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers! Stop over and read a wonderful array of 100-word-fiction pieces based on this photo prompt!

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

Grandma’s Shells

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Jennifer clutched the vase of shells and looked over the ocean. 

“Don’t they miss the water, Gamma?”

“These shells like to travel, Jenny-bean! Most shells stay in the ocean, but adventurous ones come on shore to meet people. To live a new life!”

“Maybe they miss home.”

“If they stay in this jar, they’ll live forever.” Grandma was quiet. She took Jenny’s tiny hand. “They’re my special memories. But will you take them back home someday?”

Jenny nodded.

Scattering the shells, Jennifer whispered through tears, “Goodbye, Grandma.”

Wandering toward the car, she paused, chuckled, and picked up a calico scallop.

As always, many thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers! Stop over and read a wonderful array of 100-word-fiction pieces based on this photo prompt!

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

Restless

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

What happened? I don’t recognize who I am or where I’m trying to go. I can’t slow down. The whole world’s on the run and I can’t catch up or cut their speed. If I only knew how to fight it—but I don’t—so I’m sucked through panic’s straw, vacuumed into a ceaseless swirl of movement. No anchor to drop. No rope to throw. I’m tossed into a war of activity—always going—never sleeping, slowing, pausing. Running always, ever. 

And pulsing between exhausted beats, my gasping heart begs for the cure. It knows: All I need is rest.

As always, many thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers! Stop over and read a wonderful array of 100-word-fiction pieces based on this photo prompt!