Friday Fictioneers – Hoodoo Hex

Small stuffed toy, bald yellow head, red jacket and blue pants, sits on an office chair. There is a blanket on the back of the chair. And an indoor plant and view of the garden.

Photo Prompt by Ted Strutz

What I remember.

Working on the P&Ls for local businesswoman, Madame Hoodoo.

Bitching and moaning about her messy recordkeeping.

Like I do. Every month.

Messaging back and forth.

Where should I code ‘eye of newt’?

How many copies of ‘Satanic Weekly’ does one person need?

Things along that line.

Seconds ago, I texted in large angry type.

WTF is a Sriramachakra?

What I Now Know.

Perspective has changed.

I’ve only a muffled sense of body.

Though I’m sure it’s his playful expression.

The usually charming smile of my Doberman is closer to carnivorous.

As he eyeballs his newest chew toy. [98 words]


Thank you  Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for the challenge, which is to write a complete story in 100 words or less. 

For more 100 word fiction, read here.


In case you’re interested to know about Sriramachakra:

It is also called Sri Rama ChakraRamachakraRama Chakra, or Ramar Chakra and is a mystic diagram or a yantra given in Tamil almanacs as an instrument of astrology for predicting one’s future. 

Friday Fictioneers – It’s Only Words

A row of guitars hanging in a shop, rainbow striped guitar at the front

Photo prompt by Jennifer Pendergast

She’ll anthropomorphise us into a story.

Someone is going to anesthetise us? Who, and why?

It’s what she does, that lady writer, her with the notebook. Gives human characteristics to animals and writes funny stories about them.

Oh, you mean she’s gonna personify us? Cos, we’re not animals.

Who died and made you Professor? She’ll reanimate us in some weak story for laughs, that’s racism, that is.

Racism. Huh. You’re off the shelf!

Go, Professor Nerd! Ten bucks, she’ll attribute me as a Zebra.

Zoomorphism! Your strings are too tight.

Twang! If I had hands, I’d …


The year is 2023 and Rochelle Wisoff-Fields continues to set the challenge and encourage this community of writers. An effort appreciate by us all. The challenge is to write a story in 100 words or fewer.

For other 100 word fiction, read here.

Friday Fictioneers – Door Porn

Suburban street showing doors and steps

Photo prompt by Dale Rogerson

What is it about doors?

Everywhere I go, their beauty, the architecture attracts my eye.

I know, I’m not the only one.

The fun, the flair, the je ne sais quoi!

Behind these gateways, the hopes, dreams and dramas in play.

There is an element of sticky-beakedness.

An innocent curiosity.

Doors call, ‘look at me!’ We do and begin to ponder.

What joy lays within. What secrets.

Old doors, new doors, admired for their artistry.

And the work of their creators.

Beautiful distractions from dreariness.

Reasons to stop and live in the moment. [93 words]


For Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle. A photo prompt challenge to create a story using 100 words or fewer.

Read other stories for this week’s prompt here.


Some doors from my recent travels 😊

Friday Fictioneers – be my guest

roger-b

Photo prompt by Roger Bultot

And there I lay

Traffic passes, while each breath I take cuts like broken glass.

The hours drag

As neighbours dine, as bathers to bed, and lovers etwine.

A heartbeat slows

As colleagues wonder, ‘where was our friend’? Absently asked.

And there I lay

As coppers knock, corpse decays, soul in shock.

A lonely death, but soul set free

No longer yearning, sadness.

And there I lay. [67 words]


For Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle. A photo prompt challenge to create a story using 100 words or fewer.

Read other stories for this week’s prompt here.

Friday Fictioneers – To Dream is To Write

A wooden bench, resting on concrete, with water and city views behind. A heart drawn on the back of the bench.

Photo Prompt by Roger Bultot

I haven’t written for many months

Heart heavier, notebooks abandoned.

I pass this bench every day

View attractive, bench unappealing.

I suss it out, this grotty chair

Old mould, new stains, suspicious mess.

I spy the view behind this seat

That turbulent, lustful, aquatic feast.

I wonder why when planning took place

Developers chose to opposite face.

For those who observe the passing world

Or need a corner within to pause?

For those who need a moment to rest

Want more than a diversion?

Waits for romantics, and scribers of schemes

Resting idle, deserted, ’till a writer dreams.


The year is 2023 and Rochelle Wisoff-Fields continues to set the challenge and encourage this community of writers. An effort appreciate by us all. The challenge is to write a story in 100 words or fewer.

For other 100 word fiction, read here.

Friday Fictioneers – Open Heart


You opened your heart

exposing vulnerability

laid bare hopes, dreams, fear.

You welcomed unreservedly

risked hurt

your light shone bright.

You stood tall, strong yet fragile

You sought communion, connection

You called to life

Your day in the sun too short

Your view of the future curtailed.

As the sun moves away

As light leaves the day

So too, you retreat.

Slave to a seasonal beat. [67 words]


Thank you Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for continuing to set this 100 word or less challenge. It is certainly a commitment appreciated by many. Other 100 word stories can be read here.

Author note: I cheated this week and used something I’d already written – to this flower! Hope you enjoy it. Trish

Friday Fictioneers – give a little rope

A white church with a steeple topped with a cross, and an old barge-like boat beside it

Photo prompt by Jade-Li

‘Father, do you know something we don’t?’

‘What do you mean, Johnny?’

‘The boat, Father. Have you had word from God, to be prepared?’

‘One should always be prepared, son. Ready to meet the Lord, our God. Strong in faith and confessed of sin. Be kind to your sister, and your friends. And to animals. When you reach the gates of heaven …’

‘Father, I’m only ten! Will I be meeting God soon then? Is that why you have a boat, to help me cross the river Styx?’

‘Styx is in Hell, son. You ….’

‘I’M GOING TO HELL?’


Thank you Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for continuing to set this 100 word or less challenge. It is certainly a commitment appreciated by many. Other 100 word stories can be read here.

Friday Fictioneer – Shivers

A glass table, with underlighting. An empty wine glass and salt and pepper shakers sit atop the table, also a QR code for ordering. Give a tunnel like effect.

Photo prompt by Fleur Lind

‘Roaches.’

‘Where?’

‘I’m having flashbacks, what a crap installation.’

‘You see roaches?’ I ask.

‘In my imagination. Memory. Movie memory. Creeps me out.’

‘You’ve lost me.’

‘So has this place.’

A shiver tingles from my hairline, down my spine. I shake a shoe, fully expecting an explosion of brown ickiness to erupt.

‘Should I call the waiter?’

‘No, idiot. There aren’t any roaches.’

‘I don’t understand! You’ve lost me, sweetheart.’

‘A white tunnel, leading to depths. A clean, pristine environment? It’s begging for a roach infestation.’

I toss back the wine dregs. Feel something touch my tongue as I swallow.

***********

Thank you Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for continuing to set this 100 word or less challenge. It is certainly a commitment appreciated by many. Other 100 word stories can be read here.

Friday Fictioneers – witch work

A spinning wheel, standing on tiles, with a brick wall backdrop

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

She played into nervous naivety, intriguing with nervy grit.

We were whitewashed, wounded, whipped

Held in her hands, hoodwinked, hijacked

Every word a lie.

Enchanted and ensorcelled.

Left bamboozled, blind, bemused.

 

Stolen purses

Identity nicked

Native, innocence, naively given

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Thank you Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for continuing to set this 100 word (or less) challenge. It is a commitment appreciated by many. Other 100 word stories can be read here

Friday Fictioneers – heavenly connection

An old, canvas covered truck, one side open showing steel pots holding plants/flowers and signs advertising social media contact sites

PHOTO PROMPT © Jan Wayne Fields

For small business like me, social media was a God-send

So many years I hauled ass, and soil, plants, gravel and truck

From this Field Day to that Festival

Door to door, florists and gift emporiums, restaurants and offices

I’d get home more than weary, broken

Someone suggested a Facebook page, Instagram

Pictures sell!

Now, I’ve five trucks, 10 employees and give thanks and praise

For that God-sent connection and the pretty missus I found along the way

She hauls ass like you wouldn’t believe! [85 words]

**********

Not very imaginative this week – been away from creativity for a while 😍

Thank you Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for continuing to set this 100 word or less challenge. It is certainly a commitment appreciated by many. Other 100 word stories can be read here.