Tag: Friday Fictioneers

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!

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

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 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!