Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

Making the Best of It

PHOTO PROMPT © Ronda Del Boccio

Alissa unlocked their apartment door, tears stinging her eyes. Stupid car. Goodbye anniversary dinner; a grocery trip was out of the question. 

She stared at her sparse ingredients. 

Ohhh! Lentil bread? Lentils, cottage cheese, baking soda. Doable. And that onion soup mix…with risotto…yes. She dislodged a chicken breast from the freezer and began to cook.

“I figured we’d have to eat out!” Russ’s booming voice an hour later startled her. He gaped at the china and candles.

Alissa laughed. “Out might be good…” 

“No way.” He kissed her. “You’re miraculous. And food made with love is best. Always.”

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

I See…

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

You’ll never believe when I tell you—no, I can’t; I won’t; it doesn’t matter—describing isn’t the point. The point is: I can finally see. 

Sight should be the basic starting point, but it wasn’t. Eyes clouded, I spun myself sick, running round and round, saying I was growing, while secretly knowing I wasn’t. Not an inch. My goals were in reach, but I couldn’t see them. I nodded nicely to nothingness, pretending the emperor had clothes, shushed from infancy into believing what others told me. 

But here on this hill, peering across ages and oceans, my vision appeared.

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 Publications

Woo-hoo! Two Articles Published! 

This was a bit of an exciting week for a little wannabe writer (yours truly) who is stumbling around blindly, trying to forge herself a path into freelance work. What happened? Two articles selected for publication, that’s what! 

One acceptance was in Bella Grace, a favorite magazine of mine. The articles in Bella Grace are beautifully written, thought provoking, and inspirational. It’s always an honor to see my words chosen for their pages, especially in The Cozy Issue :).

My Bella Grace article is called, “An Old-Fashioned Christmas: 25 Simple Ways to Celebrate,” and it’s packed full of low-expense, high-reward ways to make your Christmas celebration memorable. 

The second acceptance was with Chicken Soup for the Soul! My story “My Photo-a-Day Transformation” was selected for the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 Ways to Think Positive. 

I’ll post a bit more about this article closer to the publication time, but here’s a sneak peek at the cover (which I love and find extremely fitting): 

Thank you so much to every one of you who inspire me along this journey! You’re my treasure. ❤

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

Washed Away

This piece was inspired by someone I know who recently lost a loved one. The story is totally different, but one of the lines is hers.

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

Washed Away

It wasn’t like this. The view was the same but it wasn’t empty. He was here. He ran down the beach and filled the space with dreams. He kissed my cheek, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m not little anymore. Relax.” 

I see him everywhere, though he isn’t. I hear him breathe, though he can’t. I catch whiffs of his sunscreen. I wish his swim trunks left water pools across the bathroom floor—the way I hated.

I should go home, but I can’t abandon him. I can’t go. Or stay.

If I walk into the water, will it take me too?

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

Everything Old…

PHOTO PROMPT © Lori Wilson

The door chimed, and before Dottie looked up from arranging old cookbooks, a shrill voice filled her antique shop.

“You’re rebranding? It’s bad enough you didn’t sell when Dad died.”

“Good morning to you, too.”

Francine rolled her eyes. “You’re aging. You won’t find anyone to help you—.”

“This community is growing. People are moving back.” 

“Really?” Francine crossed her arms.

A figure stepped from behind a display. “Really.”

“Mercy?” Francine’s voice cracked.

Mercy smiled and rubbed her round belly. “It’s a great place to raise kids, Mom. Matt’s working downtown and online antique sales are hopping. We love Elmsdale.”

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

Identity Crisis

PHOTO PROMPT © Mr. Binks

Your ancestor was celebrated across history for it. Come on, Champ, it’s in your blood. 

Storm: Ending. Sun: Low on horizon. It’s rainbow time. 

You’ll fly over, select the perfect branch. The grand gesture will blow her away.

With rustling wings and a solid thud, Breezie landed beside him. “Haven’t extend that olive brach to Sunrise yet?”

Champ twisted his neck back and forth mournfully.

Breezie smoothed a feather. “Just tell her your own way: Things are gonna be alright.” She flapped her wings and took flight. “FYI,” she cawed over her shoulder, “you’re a seagull, not a dove.”

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

Switching Tactics

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

“We almost there, Mom?” Teddy asked again.

“What do you think?”

“Maybe…if we’re about to enter a PORTAL that’ll drop us off in grandpa’s backyard!” Teddy pressed his nose against the window. “Look at those clouds! Bet you could hop across them, like stepping stones in a stream! ‘Course, that’d make us the METAL-PLATED fish, swimming around. Do you think there are little cars driving FISH around like submarines in the ocean!?!”

“Where’s your Switch?”

“Away.”

“You’ve got one more hour.” 

“Really?!?”

Mom sighed. “Let’s think of it as career training.”

“What for?”

“Your future as a game designer.”

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

Filled with Less

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

It was windy the morning when Ellie realized she might not belong there anymore. Her mind wandered, like footprints across an empty beach. She stared inward, losing track of what—if anything—her actual eyes saw. 

“Don’t hem and haw,” Carl had warned. “Fans won’t wait!” But it only made her burrow deeper. What’s the use of a life if you can’t take time to ponder it? Everyone wants more, the next flashy thing, but what’s wrong with being content? Not content. Not anymore. Content. 

Content with waves, wind, long empty stretches of sand—and thoughts. The joy of less.

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 Distant Truth

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

Mya understood why people grew distant; she’d done the same. She said it was a need for space, but it was the opposite: A need for love, woven with an apprehension of who would try to give it. 

Some people’s love was off limits, no matter the trying. Some people’s love was more damaging than slogging through alone. Some people were more damaged than her, and even if they wanted to love, their account was empty. 

It was dangerous—diving into a relationship—like drinking from a radioactive pitcher. Satisfying in the moment, but over time? She’d wish she hadn’t. 

As always, many thanks for 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

Goodbye

PHOTO PROMPT © David Stewart

Goodbye

Sierra waited until her mother’s back spun into view. Then she swallowed hard and ventured cautiously, “Will we ever come back?” 

Mama’s shoulders froze, then drooped. She’d been whirling around all morning, like the wooden top Sierra had lovingly packed in a box labeled Knickknacks, but now Mama pivoted slowly, wobbling slightly.

“Here’s hoping! We never know, do we?”

Sierra stared at her, trying to decipher the message beneath the stubborn optimism in her mother’s eyes. Finally, Mama sighed, sank to the floor, and clasped her legs to her chest. “I doubt it.”

“It’s okay, Mama. That’s what I thought.”

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