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!
Angela Writes... 
Great story, Angela and terrific use of tennis terms. Great title, too! 🎾
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I’m glad you enjoyed the story and the tennis terms, Nancy! Perhaps I’ve met another tennis player? Like Stephanie, sometimes I feel like my mind is caught on a tennis court, though, and that drives me crazy, lol.
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Yes, I know what you mean, Angela. No tennis for me; I’m more of an Atari Pong player!
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Angela, you’ve described volleying thoughts/doubts/reassurances so well here.
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Thank you! There was something about the silence of the photo that made thoughts grow loud.
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You’re welcome. It does seem like a very quiet spot there.
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Not this time. But maybe some time
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Yeah, I don’t think she’s learned her lesson yet, but hopefully she’ll get her ace eventually! Thanks for reading, Neil.
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I can so easily hear this “discussion” in her head. If he’s too impatient to wait 15 minutes, maybe it’s for the best that she move on…
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Agreed! Maybe it’s a legitimate delay, but I think she needs to get herself up and walk right along… Thanks for commenting, Dale.
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Oh yes. She needs to stop questioning herself and move forward!
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I like your use of inner dialogue to tell the story. We’ve all been there, I think.
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Thank you. Yes, I think you’re right! The key is not to get stuck in it. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
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Dear Angela,
Oh, this hurts. I can hear that inner conversation and feel the ache in her heart. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Even when it’s young love, it’s still hurts! Thank you for reading and commenting, Rochelle.
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Oh I know these voices well…
Impossible to ignore.
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Ain’t that the truth?? And it can feel rather debilitating at time. Thanks for reading, Laurie!
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Oh, so sad. I hope he shows up. Excellent volley of voices. I think we all can relate to them.
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Thank you! I agree; no one can escape the voices. Thanks for reading, Brenda!
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great story. one of your best.
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Plaridel, thank you for such a kind compliment! And thanks for reading!
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