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13.2.19

SIREN CALL - a story in 100 words for Friday Fictioneers


SIREN CALL

Drawn irresistibly by her siren call, he scaled the wall with limbs born on a mountainside, clawed digits digging into the cracks like crampons.
For years he had ached to hear a female voice. Gaining the ledge, he began to dance, bobbing his head, inflating his purple throat, putting his all into the courtship display.

She didn’t respond, merely repeating her mating call over and over until dusk, when she fell silent. Night was a dangerous time to be out in this alien place – he slunk away.

Inside the apartment, having switched off the air-conditioning unit, the humans slept.
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This week's photo prompt comes from J Hardy Carroll via Rochelle's blog  https://rochellewisoff.com/  where she has hosted Friday Fictioneers for at least the four years I have been writing Flash Fiction.
Thrilled this week to have sold another copy of my latest book Wolf Pack - 
I hope whoever bought it enjoys it and spreads the word!
If you like my flash fiction you might like to obtain your own copy, in print or ebook. It couldn't be easier - simply click on the cover image on this page which will take you to Amazon. And thanks.
Oh yes - and Happy Valentine's Day, whether you receive roses and champagne, just a card, or simply bask in other people's glow!

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48 comments:

  1. Helen Baggott13/02/2019, 17:14

    Oh. That was a puzzler.

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    Replies
    1. liz young13/02/2019, 17:38

      Why? Because it's not clear what kind of creature he is?

      Delete
  2. Neil MacDonald13/02/2019, 17:47

    I always say it's safer when the humans are asleep

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  3. Susan A Eames13/02/2019, 17:56

    Great twist ending. I was left wondering what sort of creature he is - mythical perhaps? Lovely story anyway.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    ReplyDelete
  4. Iain Kelly13/02/2019, 18:40

    I think it's best if the humans stay asleep for this..

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  5. Dale13/02/2019, 20:14

    That would be me!! ;-)

    As for this poor creature - what an unpleasant surprise to find that sound was created by a machine and not by one of his kind...

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    Replies
    1. liz young13/02/2019, 22:01

      Such a shame, after waiting for years.

      Delete
  6. Helen Laycock13/02/2019, 20:25

    That read like a fairytale at first! Lovely, Liz.

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    Replies
    1. liz young13/02/2019, 22:02

      Thanks helen, i did have fantasy in mind - or maybe not?

      Delete
  7. Heather Austin13/02/2019, 23:46

    I'm curious...a lizard? A bird? A creature from a deep abyss?

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    Replies
    1. liz young14/02/2019, 09:01

      Your choice, though the seduction dance is lizardish.

      Delete
  8. KISLAYA GOPAL14/02/2019, 06:40

    I feel sorry for that creature! He misunderstood the sound of AC for a mating call. Many years of loneliness may have resulted in this confusion!

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    Replies
    1. liz young14/02/2019, 09:02

      Perhaps he will meet the female of his dreams next mating season.

      Delete
  9. Sandra Crook14/02/2019, 09:26

    Oh the futility of it all... Maybe he should try the local park instead.

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  10. Penny Gadd14/02/2019, 10:59

    I enjoyed the transition from thinking the climber was human to realising that he must be a reptile of amphibian of some kind. And what a blow that the 'mating call' came from the AC!

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    Replies
    1. liz young14/02/2019, 16:41

      Unfortunately he doesn't realize that - perhaps he'll make the climb every night until the weather cools down.

      Delete
  11. Keith's Ramblings14/02/2019, 11:08

    I love Air Con too but enough to climb a wall to flirt with it! Nice one Liz.

    Click to read my FriFic tale!

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    Replies
    1. liz young14/02/2019, 16:42

      Thanks Keith - air con is fine but I would turn it off to sleep as they did.

      Delete
  12. Dawn Q.14/02/2019, 12:47

    I love that each reader has had a different interpretation. I imagined birds, but now I'm doubting myself. ;-) Nice job, Lizzy!

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    1. Dawn Q.14/02/2019, 12:50

      And ahh, I think maybe Penny got it!

      Delete
    2. liz young14/02/2019, 16:43

      I love that so many people were intrigued!

      Delete
  13. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields14/02/2019, 15:35

    Dear Liz,

    So he's answering the mating call of an air conditioner? Hilarious.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    Replies
    1. liz young14/02/2019, 16:39

      Hilarious - and very sad. Thanks Rochelle.

      Delete
  14. Brenda Cox14/02/2019, 17:01

    I felt sorry for him. I don't know why but the story made me think about what it's like (sometimes) living overseas, within a different culture than your own. The way you interpret every life can be completely (and embarrasingly) wrong. =) Nice fantasy tale!

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    Replies
    1. liz young14/02/2019, 22:34

      Thanks Brenda. Odd that you should think about living abroad - i started this story thinking of him as an alien.

      Delete
  15. krawson14/02/2019, 22:17

    The poor fellow is doomed for a permanent case of unrequited love. And he put on such a fine show!

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    1. liz young14/02/2019, 22:35

      You watched it, then! Great, wasn't it?

      Delete
  16. plaridel14/02/2019, 22:38

    i'm a human and i didn't fall asleep reading this story. it kept me awake to the end. :)

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    Replies
    1. liz young15/02/2019, 12:29

      That's a wonderful compliment, plaridel!

      Delete
  17. lisarey1990@gmail.com16/02/2019, 00:22

    I'm sure someone's out there for him. He just needs to pick up the pieces of his broken heart & love will find a way. Great write.

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    Replies
    1. liz young16/02/2019, 09:03

      That's a great positive view of things!

      Delete
  18. Sascha Darlington16/02/2019, 00:59

    I have to admit that my first thought was that he was a gargoyle and that he was after the woman until I realized that the mating call was from the air conditioner. Well done. Love the mystery of it.

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    1. liz young16/02/2019, 09:04

      A gargoyle? That didn't occur to me! Thanks for commenting .

      Delete
  19. Gah Learner16/02/2019, 22:34

    Oh the poor critter. I saw a bird, bobbing his head up and down... but reptile would work as well, I guess. Fun story!

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  20. Linda17/02/2019, 19:48

    Poor thing. Seduced by the siren call of. . . .an air conditioner! Pretty lonely, and I feel sorry for him. It. :)

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    Replies
    1. liz young17/02/2019, 21:55

      Tugs at the heart strings, doesn't it?

      Delete
  21. brudberg17/02/2019, 20:19

    Oh... what a sad way to be tempted. Sounds like someone utterly alone.

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    Replies
    1. liz young17/02/2019, 21:56

      And probably destined to remain so 😢

      Delete
  22. Michael Wynn19/02/2019, 15:34

    Poor fellow, he needs to keep practising his mating techniques by the sounds of things, whatever type of being he is

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  23. Patsy19/02/2019, 22:11

    Aaaw, that's sad.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dawn20/02/2019, 09:28

    Sad funny story.

    ReplyDelete

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