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26.10.16

WHO DARES? a 100 word story for Friday Fictioneers


WHO DARES?

Twice daily the guard from this end marches across for a shared smoke, the boom of his boots reminding us how deep the ravine is. Sometimes, while his back is turned, daring lads run on tiptoe to spray graffiti, their parents unwilling to forbid these small tastes of freedom.

But this morning the unthinkable happened – both guards disappeared. After an hour, two lads ventured across, and vanished without a sound. No yells, no shots, just a deathly silence. Eventually their fathers went looking, and they haven’t returned either.

We’ve been waiting all day. We don’t know what to do.
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After several attempts to copy the photo prompt, I believe I've managed it. I hope you can see the picture of an enclosed wooden bridge, otherwise my story won't make much sense! Thanks to https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/ for hosting Friday Fictioneers - follow the link from her blog to read other 100 word stories.

20.10.16

ROBINSON II - flash fiction

ROBINSON II

Ethan’s voice dripped scorn. “That’s not proper treasure!”
“Is too!” exclaimed Henry, “Tell him, Grandad.”
Albert lifted down the box. “These are souvenirs of my shipwreck. Sixty years ago I washed up half-drowned on an island, and I’d have died of cold but for that Zippo. Kindling and driftwood like this made a fire, then I searched the beach.” He touched the coins reverently. “There’s one of these for each body I buried.” After a moment his back straightened. “But I also found a fishing net, so I survived.”
“What’s that bird for?”
“To remind me never again to eat a seagull.”
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Thanks to Rochelle at https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/  for posting Claire Fuller's photo as a prompt for this week's Friday Fictioneers. To read other takes on the prompt, follow the links on her blog. After commenting on mine, of course, and please feel free to scroll back to read my earlier stories.




13.10.16

TIP SLIP - historical fiction in 100 words

TIP SLIP

These lights? They're for Maureen - she was afraid of the dark. I can hear her now; ‘Leave the light, Mammy.’ She couldn’t sleep without.

She waved from the corner that morning, like always. I’d just sat down with a fresh cuppa when the whole bloody tip slid down over the school like lava. 
It took them two days to dig Maureen out. Tore my heart to shreds – my babby who was so frightened of the dark lying in that black slurry

Fifty years she’s been up by there in the cemetery with the other kiddies, and I still keep a light burning for her.


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This week's photo prompt for Friday Fictioneers linked instantly in my mind with the 50th anniversary of the dreadful tragedy in Aberfan, Wales, when a mine spoil tip slid down after heavy rain and buried an entire school full of children.
Thanks to Rochelle for posting her photograph on https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/  from where you can follow a link to read other stories. 
You can read about Aberfan here: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberfan_disaster

7.10.16

SUSHI - a 100 word story


SUSHI

Kura hadn’t wanted to retire to the country, yet here they were.
Each morning Shin sat on the wall, fishing in the pond, his temper worsening as his efforts yielded nothing. Meanwhile Kura cleaned her spotless house, yearning for the sticky handprints of her grandchildren.

One day she bought a fish still gasping on the fishmonger’s slab and raced home to throw it in the pond. Shin caught it the next day and ordered Kura to prepare sushi, which she did with careful fingers.

A week later she poured Shin’s ashes into the pond and returned to the city.

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Thanks to Rochelle for posting C E Ayr's lovely photo on her blog  https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/  from where you can follow a link to read how other members of Friday Fictioneers interpreted the prompt.