Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

Sign Language

I admit it! I wasted way too much time writing this—all the words in today’s story are taken from the signs in the photo (hence a few creative word spellings)—but I adore this barn and had fun combing through the old signs. So, if the signs could speak to a lost driver, using only the words this have at their disposal, what would they say? Maybe something like this…

Prattsville Tavern? Your a visitor. Of course…Musta got lost.

You are here, a dead end. One way to Prattsville is…take a big right below Community Reformed Church. Road closed—caution in detour zone—and turn left at Palazzo’s.

Hall your pick-up truck north—6 miles. This area is under live fire. Keep out. Official business only: Hunters. Do not stop and waste your Sunday. 

Cross east. Do not enter De Wolf Farm—off limits to your big truck—your not allowed at any time. 

Turn right on Daken Trail. Entrance to Prattsville Tavern is in this area. 

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

Still, Alive

We stand, looking up. The glass display is motionless, but it feels alive with whispers of hidden stories and memories. Like mine.

I’m a child, standing on the jungle’s edge in ankle-deep Amazon river water. The vicious sun bites our shoulders, and our feet seek refuge in the wet sand as schools of minnows swarm about. Into the water, we lower emptied florescent tube lightbulbs with farofa—yellow-brown like the Chihuly—collected in the unbroken end as bait. Soon the bulbs teem with the tiny fish. Dinner…

“Thoughts?”

“Extraordinary.” I muse. “It speaks a language I haven’t heard in ages.”

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

What to Serve with Pie?

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

“Pie? Again?” Janie leaned on her elbows and scanned the kitchen. “Every night, the same. Pie. And nothing to show for it except dirty dishes and messy counters. Ugh. I could make cookies, macaroons, truffles, crème brûlée! But nooooooo. Pie. Pie. Pie.”

“Uh, Janie?” Sharon glanced up from her rolling pin. “You ever think of getting a different job?”

The younger girl shrugged. 

“I don’t think you’re gonna cut it here—unless we start serving whine with our pies.”

“Ohhhhh! That’s an idea! I love wine.”

Sharon popped a pie into the oven. “You certainly do, hun. You certainly do.”

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

Life on a Spit

This week one of our dogs decided it would be fun to jump through a window (yes, it was closed) and slice open her leg (in two places), and then eat out the suture glue (twice). Now she’s downstairs crying because she hates the cone of shame. Maybe Papaw (story below) has some advice for me? Hmmmmm…

PHOTO PROMPT © Mr. Binks

Life on a Spit

“Here, Papaw? Seriously?” Rose moaned.

“Rosie! It’s the best chicken in town!”

Reluctantly pushing open the car door, she eyed the dark clouds. “I wanted a burger.”

“Yummmmm.” Grandpa inhaled, pointing through the glass. “See how the chicken spins around that heater?”

“Yeah. So?”

“Life’s kinda like that. By the time you’re old, you’ll have spent plenty of time in the fire, but it isn’t so bad. Gives you lots of…flavor.”

“Ewwwww. Flavor? Seriously?”

Papaw laughed and squeezed her hand. “It hurts now, but you’ll survive.

Rosie cracked a smile. “I guess chicken doesn’t sound all that bad.”

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 poetry

Grateful

I’m grateful for the jungles.
I’m grateful for the swamps.
I’m grateful for the battles—
and how I learned so much.

I’m grateful for the winter days.
I’m grateful for the blues—
The lessons learned in trials
are the ones I wouldn’t choose.

And yet they are the ones that
make me strong beyond compare.
With all that strength I couldn’t
draw from any other well. 

I ran across this little poem when I was rummaging today. It may still need a couple tweaks, but I hope you enjoy!

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

Don’t Be a Goose

PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

Don’t Be a Goose

“Geese? No. Not this morning.” Mike laid on the horn. 

Some jerk behind him yelled. 

“Asshole!” Mike gave him the finger, inched through the angry gaggle, and sped off, making the interview with moments to spare.

The boss arrived five minutes late.

“Sorry about this. Goose parade across Main Street. Some bozo couldn’t keep his temper long enough to let them cross. Got ‘em all worked up.” 

He rustled some papers. “What do you drive?”

Mike gulped. “A red Civic.”

“Interesting. Saw that same blue Nissan out front. Only car I didn’t recognize.” He frowned. “Sorry. This position was filled.”

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

Follow Your Dream…

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Follow Your Dream…

Sophie woke suddenly at 4am. In the dream, she’d been painting, then the watercolor pool came alive—but the woman floated, eerily still. 

Sophie got dressed, paced, then drove to the natatorium. 

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered, pulling open the locker room door. Her chest tightened. That suit, that swim cap. She recognized them.

Yanking on her swimsuit, Sophie hurried poolside. The woman was swimming. A yawning lifeguard chatted with his coworker. What could she tell him? Look, I had this dream…

She scanned the water. The swimmer was facedown, motionless. 

“Help her!”

The guard sprang forward. 

Sophie walked away. 

As always, many thanks for Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers! (This week I suspect she also provided some of her lovely artwork for the photo prompt!) Hop over and read a wonderful array of 100-word-fiction pieces based on this photo!

Posted on in 100 word fiction, Friday Fictioneers

In the Mourning

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

In the Mourning

Ellie closed the blinds that night the horrible news came. Lying alone in their twin-sized bed, Eric’s teasing voice filled her thoughts. 

“The smaller the mattress, the longer the marriage,” he used to say. 

She’d laughed. “Can you guarantee that?”

Eric would snuggle even closer. “I’m certainly willing to try.”

But love hadn’t kept him alive.

Ellie sat in bed staring dully, day after day, until she noticed the shriveling plants. Suddenly she stood. She brought water, cracked open the blinds, and caressed the leaves. “Come back.”

Next morning, Ellie woke with the sun—and a tiny ray of hope.

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

The Empty Campground

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

The Empty Campground

Marilyn shivered. “Where is everyone?” She’d booked the popular campsite six months ahead for this particular weekend. She wanted to hear other people’s friends and grandkids laughing; none of her own had bothered to come. Excuse after excuse. But this silence. 

Suddenly, a chill shot down her spine. Through the blood pounding in her ears, Marilyn thought she heard footsteps. Run! But she froze as a cloth was looped over her eyes. 

“Don’t try anything funny.” 

She gasped. The voice was—.

“Steven?”

He released the blindfold as friends and family rushed out from behind rocks and trees.

“Surprise!” “Happy birthday!”

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

Ooooooh, Shoe in Trouble!

PHOTO PROMPT © Ronda Del Boccio

Ooooooh, Shoe in Trouble!

“Where’s your other—”

“Shhhhhh.” My older sister shot me a daggered look, then smiled sweetly as Dad glanced back in the rearview mirror. 

“If I have to go to this stupid reunion,” Kristin whispered, “I’m gonna get new shoes for my big date.”

“We ready?” Mom slid into the front passenger seat and clicked her seatbelt. “Anyone forget anything?” 

“I think we’re good,” Kristin chirped.

Mom turned and tossed the missing shoe into Kristin’s lap. “Nice try, Cinderella. Act up today and you’re grounded Friday.”

I bit back a grin. 

Maybe Prince Charming has a thing for old tennis shoes…

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!