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29.3.18

FAMILY TREE - fiction in one hundred words


FAMILY TREE

Kirsty raised her glass to Andrew, mouthing “Happy anniversary” over the buzz of conversation – despite everything they’d made it through twenty-five years. With their first grandchild on the way, she was content, if not deliriously happy.

The dappled shade reminded her of a distant afternoon beside a river, making love hidden by willow tree fronds, young and carefree.
Careless, too. Her smile faded as she recalled the subsequent loss and heartache.

Andrew’s voice shattered her reverie. “Kirsty – who’s that young man?”
Kirsty could only watch, trembling, as the consequence of her stolen afternoon walked towards them across the lawn.
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This week's photo prompt comes from Fatima Fakier Deria via the good offices of Rochelle at https://rochellewisoff.com/  and is one of about 70 stories which you can find by following the links from her blog.

I was very pleased this week to find that my local library in West Sussex are now listing my novel A Volcanic Race, which I hope will lead to more people reading it before the sequel, which I am now working on, comes out. You can buy your own copy by clicking on the image of its cover on this page.

21.3.18

ESCAPING - a story in 100 words


ESCAPING

I know it won’t be an easy road, but there’s no turning back now.

I loved him once, but he soon knocked that out of me. The kids, poor little sods, tiptoed round the place like mice, scared to say a word. I tried to hide the bruises but they guessed anyway.

With no money I couldn’t see any way out, but last night Mikey, my little hero, tried to stop him, and he hit Mikey. Knocked him clear across the kitchen.
So now we’re leaving, making our own way, and however rough it gets he’s not going to stop us.
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Bjorn Rudberg's photo, which Rochelle used on her blog  https://rochellewisoff.com/  this week, reminds me of some of the mountain roads in Tenerife - the ones the tourists don't see - where you can't turn round even if you want to. Those tracks prove that vehicles use it regularly despite the dangers - I wonder what's round the corner that could be worse than the road itself?
That thought prompted my story - what faces this mother is scary, but if she stays...



15.3.18

MAN WALKS INTO A BAR - a story in 100 words


MAN WALKS INTO A BAR

“Evening, landlord! A pint of your best, please, and one for yourself. I hear there’s been a UFO sighting?”
“Saw it with my own eyes. It came out of nowhere, hovered just over my car, then whooshed off. Never been so scared in my life.”
“Where was this?”
“On the old quarry road.”
“Can you show me?”
“You won’t get me out there again.”
“Then I’ll find it myself. A photo like that will get me into the nationals.”
 Later.
Another man walks into the bar. “Anyone lost a camera? Just found it lying out by the old quarry road.”
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This is yet another story prompted by a photo taken by Ted Strutz and posted on Rochelle's site  https://rochellewisoff.com/  - thank you both. By following the links from Rochelle's blog you can read lots of other stories from the same prompt.

I'm off balance today. Getting up at 7am because the only slot my hairdresser had free was at 9am has thrown me - the stress we retirees go through!! 

On top of that, over the past week I have been writing new sections for my Work In Progress (WIP) revision, and rediscovering the thrill of having so many thoughts tumbling over each other that my fingers can't move fast enough to keep up.
 If you haven't yet read my first book, A Volcanic Race, now would be a good time, because the next one is on its way! The link to Amazon is on the top right of my page. Yes, up there!

9.3.18

GARDEN VISIT WITH DAD


GARDEN VISIT WITH DAD

Jed Fisheagle’s expression was stony as Patty wheeled him round the gardens.
“I had hoped you’d appreciate the nature and fresh air, Dad.”
“Air’s alright – I can smell the pines from here – but nature? Huh! Those ain’t trees, all chopped about like that.”
“They’re pollarded, Dad.”
“Whatever, they ain’t natural. And water should be free, not walled in a pond full of fish a man can’t eat. Where’s that coffee you promised?”
As Patty turned his wheelchair towards the house, Jed swung his stick, toppling several stacks of stones. “Even their signposts are wrong – this ain’t the way to the reservation.”
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Another picture prompt from Friday Fictioneers - thanks to https://rochellewisoff.com/
and to Sandra Crook who took the photo. I like trees to be natural - trimmed is okay, but never pollarded to within an inch of their lives - to this story couldn't be written any other way. 


2.3.18

STRANGER IN TOWN - a story in a hundred words


STRANGER IN TOWN

The saloon sign creaked in the chilly wind and Brad succumbed to its invitation. A dozen men fell silent as he entered and ordered a beer.
“Friends in town?” the barman asked.
“No, just passing through.”
“You expected somewhere?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Storm coming – we’ve got beds. You can get a bath at the barber next door.”
“Guess I could use one,” Brad laughed, drained his glass and went to get cleaned up.
As the door shut behind him, the barman said, “Right – who’s first?”
“I’ll have six, Todd,” said the Sheriff, “Best pies in the county.”
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Friday Fictioneers' prompt this week was so bleak that it made me think of an empty town in the middle of nowhere, and as I know nothing about boxing, I let my mind wander. Hope you like what I came up with.
Thanks as ever to Rochelle for hosting FF on her blog  https://rochellewisoff.com/  and to J Hardy Carroll for the pictorial prompt that inspired us this week.

My alternative thought was to write about the snow we have around our village in the south of England, but that would have involved me posting a picture of the massive bruise I acquired when walking 'off-piste' in search of my own photo opportunity - not a pretty sight! - so here's the photo I took when I'd picked myself up.


AND - for any of my readers who weren't brought up in England, or who have never encountered the wonders of theatrical melodrama, here's a clue to the story behind my story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweeney_Todd