Category Archives: Fiction

General fiction – short stories, Friday Fictioneers, 500 words, etc

Three Things Challenge #455

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The challenge is to simply read the prompt and see where your creativity takes you. You can use one, two or all three words in your post, there are no restrictions regarding length, style, or genre apart from keeping it family friendly. You can use the 3TC, #threethingschallenge or TTC as a tag and the logo if you wish. The three things for today are:

CREAK, SOCKET and TISSUE
*****

The Prime Minister stood with head bowed. Tears trickling down her cheeks.

So many weeks without a break, the slightest hint of bad news causing hysterical reactions from the press and people both.

Her eyes were sunk deep into their sockets. You could hear her neck joints creak as she lifted her head and looked out over the crowd.

“I am sorry,” she said. “I am so sorry.”

Obviously no longer able to carry the weight, her shoulders dropped, hair fell over her face and she wiped tears with her jacket sleeve.

“Give her a tissue,” somebody called from the crowd.

A tidal wave of arms passed a starkly white handkerchief from person to person, hand to hand, from far in the back of the auditorium on up to the stage.

An aide reached down and grasped the hanky, turned, and handed it to the lonely, sobbing woman.

“Madam,” he whispered. “Please, take this.”

This kind and human gesture almost brought the country’s leader to her knees, as she gracefully accepted the gift.

She wiped her eyes, her face, her neck and then blew loudly. People laughed.

“We will do better, I promise,” she said and looked out, strong again. “We will persevere.”

She turned to leave the stage with a straight back, nodding to well-wishers and shaking hands.

“There goes a super spreader,” mumbled the camera man.

Three Things Challenge

Friday Fictioneers – New Life

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Photo Prompt by Sandra Crook

Photo prompt @ Sandra Crook

“Surprise,” cried my wife, leading me into the garden.

Her smile was huge, and I found myself grinning back.

Her joy was so infectious.

I looked around eagerly.

It wasn’t harvest time, and I wasn’t expecting prize-winning vegetables.

My smile began to slip as I noticed the covered garden signs.

The patch was untended and out of control.

Unexpected.

“Darling,” said my wife, tugging me along. “Look. Our dream has come true.”

I looked to where she pointed.

A new garden sign.

Two words. Baby Born.

Rising from the soil, pink baby fingers.

Aghast, I looked at my smiling wife. (100 words)

Found this spooky ‘art’ the day after I wrote this piece 🙂

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a story in response to a photo prompt – in 100 words or less. You can find other stories here.
Thank you Rochelle!

Friday Fictioneers – Oblivious (2)

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AND since I forgot about word count, because I was so excited to be in the Top 10 contributors … here it is again, under 100 words 😁

Friday Fictioneers Steeplechase Robert Bultot

Photo Prompt @ Roger Bultot

My grandkids miss so much, faces pressed to devices.

In my favourite recce spot, I wait for mine.

Then, look down.

What’s the time, weather, shipping schedule?

Can you fish here? Where can I eat? Kids on their way?

Look down.

I hear, “Hi Grandad.”

Look up.

“Hello son.”

“Great weather,” he says.

Look up.

“Oh! Yes, it is.”

“Great fishing,” says the grandson.

” I was wondering …” I reply.

“I’d love a burger. Nathans do great food, ” he says.

Look up.

“Right. I was wondering ….”

Cop onto yourself, old man.

Look up! You’re missing out.

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a story in response to a photo prompt – in 100 words or less. You can find other stories here.

Simpy 6 Minutes – Reflection

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Six Minute Challenge 9Dec20

It is hard for anybody to bring up my past when I don’t stand still long enough for them to know me.

I can be whoever I want to be for a period of time, and that is who they know.

The last town I lived in; I was a bitch. Calculating, notoriously stingy, backstabbing, totally about me.

I arrived there on a stinking hot summer day and I was cranky.

The first unfortunate I had to deal with was a hotel clerk, who got a mouthful. She took too long, the cost was too high, the room was crap. It went on and on, and for the week that I stayed, that poor gal must have trembled in her sneakers to see me coming.

The cleaners felt it. I’d leave snarky notes.

The realtors bore witness to my nastiness as I wore them down with demands.

The car hire service, phew they’d had enough. They practised good customer service all through my tirades about the fuel economy, the too strong air freshener, the recalcitrant GPS device, in an effort to reduce the end fee.

And so, as the first people I met thought this was me, word got out and I began to live it. Why not? Who cared? Nobody knew the real me, and it was an experience.

People in this town have seen the better, trustworthy person that I am.

I look back on the past couple of years and can’t believe that I let that person be on a whim.

It could be exhilarating. It was exhausting. It was downright unkind.

And now there’s a generation of people who will say, “Remember that BIATCH?”

They think they’re talking about me, but they are not. (6 minutes, 288 words)

Simply 6 Minutes—Welcome To The Challenge: 12/8/2020

  1. Set up a timer or sit near a clock so you can keep track of the six minutes you will be writing.
  2. You can either use one of the prompts (photo or written) or you can free-write.
  3. Get ready and write for 6 minutes, that is it! Can you write a complete story? Can you think of a new Sonnet? Can you write 400 words? 400? 500? There are no restrictions on what kind of writing you do, but you should try to be actively writing for six minutes.
  4. After you are done writing, include your word count and then post back to this page #Simply6Minutes or include your link in the comments section. Pingbacks are enabled.

Friday Fictioneers – Oblivious

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Photo Prompt @ Roger Bultot

My grandchildren spend a lot of time on their devices.

I often think they miss so much of life, with their faces pressed to a screen.

I’m waiting for them now, sitting here in one of my favourite places.

I’ve always loved watching ships come and go, imagining where they’ve been; where they’re off to.

I wonder what time it is … look down.

I wonder what the weather … look down.

What ship is due … look down.

What fish can you catch … look down.

I’d love a burger … look down.

Are the kids on their way … look down. I can’t see a text message.

“Hi Grandad,” I hear. Look up.

“Oh, hello son.”

“Great weather,” he says. Look up.

“Oh, yes, it is.”

“Great fishing. I caught a blue whaler here once,” says the grandson.

“That’s nice. I was wondering about fish,” I reply.

“I’d love a burger Grandad. They do a smashing one here at Nathans,” he says, helping me to stand. Look up.

“Oh, right. I was wondering about dinner.”

Cop onto yourself, old man. Who is really disconnected here? Look up, or you’re missing out.

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a story in response to a photo prompt – in 100 words or less. You can find other stories here.

Three Things Challenge #442

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And the Three Things for today are:

Prepare
Trouble
Rules

Note that my contribution comes from the depths of Christmas bookseller heaven. The most wonderful time of the year for booksellers, as their customers remember how much their loved ones love to read 😁👀

Retail Christmas shopping

You think you’re prepared and then the race is on.

Poach the freshest vege. Pinch the fruit. Press the flesh. Pound the pavement.

Grab that bestseller!

Trouble is brewing for the unwary, retailer and customer both.

The rules of engagement are in place. The customer is always right. Correct?

Only if you’ve raised the consumer from childhood to believe he can run roughshod over the worn‑out clerk, elbow punch the passive fellow shopper and grumble and complain his way from shop, to crumbling shop.

Retail Christmas shopping

Carry good cheer on your shoulder, spread joy wherever you wander.

Good tidings to all, and to all happy shopping.

Remember the magic of the Christmas season, and the reason you’re shopping is about the giving.

Treat yourself and others with kindness, let somebody else in front of you.

Warm someone’s heart, offer charity and celebrate the true meaning of the season.

While snapping up that bargain, grin at your achievement, and look forward to Christmas day and the joy you’ll be spreading.

Three Things Challenge

Three Things Challenge #440

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The three things today are:
MOUTH
TIRESOME
LONG

To participate, go to:
https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2020/12/07/three-things-challenge-440/

Sometimes, people should just keep their mouths shut!

How tiresome to listen to people go on and on about their pet hates, political or religious belief systems, how amazing their life is, how amazing they are.

We are the best. We lead the way. Follow us … on the long way down to hell!

Trump does it best!

Three Things Challenge #426

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Three Things Challenge #426 words for today are:

INTRICATE
UNJUST
CENTRE

The man I love. Light of my life.

A dimming light.

Lost to the wilderness of drink, drugs, fear.

I tried to be his CENTRE, to hold him fast.

To encourage and remind him of all we had.

I cry UNJUST. Life is cruel, unfair.

Love, comfort, companionship could not beat his demons.

The INTRICACIES of life, marriage, responsibility, overwhelmed.

The man I lost.  Light diminished.

Surrendered to night.

Three Things Challenge

Fibbing Friday 20th November 2020

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Hosted by Di at pensitivity101: https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2020/11/20/fibbing-friday-my-response-for-20th-november/comment-page-1/?

  1. What is Kapok?

A testing device for the tensile strength of car panels.

  1. Where will you find a kernel?

In a hospital, being treated for fuel inhalation.

  1. If you didn’t know a door as a door, what would you call it?

The go-through.

  1. What’s the difference between a yolk and a yoke?

You can’t harness a yolk; the yoke will just slip through it.

  1. What does E R N I E do?

Everything Ramses and Nefertiti instructed Ernie to do.

  1. What is meant by sunny side up?

The opposite of Mooning?

  1.   What could you wear on your head that would make people think you were awesome?

At a writer’s convention? A deerstalker.

  1.   What is meant by cattywampus?

A glamping tent for cats.

  1. What is an erf?

What Santa’s elves call ‘the fat one’.

  1. What is a mouse potato?

The droppings of a rodent from the age of dinosaurs!

Three Thing Challenge #424

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Three Things Challenge #424 by pensitivity101. Three things today are:

BEAUTIFUL
GLOW
REAL

I watch him reverse the car into our driveway, with a modest nonchalance. That simply beautiful, man‑skill he flourishes every day. His hands loose, yet confident on the wheel.

At the beginning, I fell in love with his hands. Graceful, long fingers, slightly tanned, not too hirsute. They somehow spoke of real strength, and gentleness. Not heavily calloused, but not effeminate either. They confirmed my impressions of the man I’d often observed.

He wasn’t overly refined. He was just solid. He was in his early 20s when we met, carefree it seemed, easy-going, friendly and dedicated to his work. Quick to praise his co-workers, modest about his own achievements.

He was boyishly handsome, not classically. There was something about him though. Dark features, tall and lean, well sculpted biceps but not from the gym, from manual labour. So, an office boy, but used to physical work. As it turned out, his was a farming background and he’d supported his university studies in the real world, during seeding and harvest.

A fair and caring man, but practical. Not gushing, not sentimental, but reliable, interested, spontaneous, and nurturing.

A man, yet still a boy. A professional, yet somehow still a bumpkin. Detached, yet still engaged. Looking. Searching. Although he didn’t realise it.

The man I met, fell in love with, married and gave children to. A man that took on my first child as his own, supported us all with joy and hard work.

The man I glowingly love.

My husband.

Eric Mauritius 2010