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24.1.18

SHRAPNEL - a hundred word story inspired by a photograph

SHRAPNEL

“Found some!” Arnold yelled.
The piece of shrapnel was still hot, as was the bombsite, but his gang had to be there first to retain their scavenging rights to the street. 
As they scoured the rubble for more, Hal asked, “Anything from your dad?”
Arnold shrugged. “He’s too busy killing Jerries.”
“My dad writes every week.”
“Your dad’s a softie.”
The token scuffle didn’t last long – Arnold’s heart wasn’t in it.
Mum shouldn’t have left that letter lying open, but when he heard her crying he read it. Now the words were burned into his brain.

‘Dereliction of Duty’.
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Thanks to Sandra Crook for her photo of a derelict building and a Smart car, but my mind sped off in a different direction. Visit https://rochellewisoff.com/ to read other interpretations of the Friday Fictioneers prompt.

18.1.18

HAMELIN - a story in one hundred words


HAMELIN

Clowns outside the school attracted every child to their offer of free rides at the fairground. In the scramble, only the fittest won a ticket, and Belinda had to stand and watch as her luckier classmates climbed aboard, the music blared and the ride started.
But something wasn’t right. The speed increased rapidly until the children’s faces blurred, the music became deafening, and when a flying shoe struck Belinda she backed away.
Then the noise reached a crescendo and the ride stopped abruptly – empty. Belinda, sobbing with fright, turned and fled as fast as her crutches could carry her.
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There is something about the frenetic noise of a fairground that could so easily escalate into nightmare, and this story is what J Hardy Carroll's photo brought to my mind. To read what it inspired other writers to write, go to  https://rochellewisoff.com/  and follow the Blue Frog links.

For those who don't know the story of The Pied Pper of Hamelin, there are accounts of the (allegedly) true story on Google. 

ps. If you haven't read my book A Volcanic Race yet, the link to Amazon is at the top of this page.



10.1.18

RICOCHET - a story in one hundred words

RICOCHET

“You couldn’t hit a barn door!”
“Could too! See that bucket? The Laceys are away for the weekend – they’ll never know.”
Billy shouldered his air-gun and fired, anticipating the clang of metal, but his aim was way off. Instead there was the sharp snap of glass followed by a series of pings and a squawk.
“Now you’ve done it!” cried Sam.
“The window’s only cracked,” Billy said, adding hopefully, “No harm done,” and they fled.


The Laceys returned to find all their designer lamps adorned with strange, unexplained holes, and their parrot lying in the bottom of its cage, dead.
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I can't explain why Victor and Sarah Potter's photograph made me think of a crime scene, but this story is the result of my weird imagination. Thanks to Rochelle at  https://rochellewisoff.com/  for hosting Friday Fictioneers. From her blog you can follow the link to read how other writers interpreted the prompt.

3.1.18

CONCEPTUAL ART - a story in one hundred words

CONCENPTUAL ART

Marcie wandered the exhibition, aware that her best frock was hopelessly unfashionable, but she didn’t care - when she cleared up afterwards she’d get the leftovers.
Meanwhile she eavesdropped as they told each other what it meant.
“Of course, it’s pollution – plastic resembling jellyfish and killing whales.”
“No, no – it represents the ephemeral nature of life.”
“I see a cloud of angels coming to gather souls.”
“How sweet! Isn’t she a darling?”

Suddenly Marcie could bear their braying voices no longer. “I’ve been sweeping round these bloody things for days – they just look like cotton reels and condoms to me.”
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Apologies to Roger Bultot, who took the photo and probably understood the exhibit, but once I'd seen cotton reels and condoms I couldn't write anything else. Thanks to Rochelle for posting the prompt on her blog https://rochellewisoff.com/  from whence you can follow the link to read how other writers interpreted the picture.
I would like to wish everyone who visits my blog a very happy and prosperous 2018. My own New Year got off to a good start as I had a pleasant surprise today - I've sold ten copies of A Volcanic Race already this year! This is probably nothing special for a seasoned novelist, but for a debut author it is wonderful - my family bought their copies last year so this means that people I don't know are reading my work. Have you bought a copy yet? The link is at the top of this page.