TWENTY-FIVE YEARS - 100 word story

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

Twenty-five years we’ve been married, all but a month, and I’m not sure I can face pretending we’re a loving couple at a big party.

We met in that square ugly diner outside town – I served him coffee and doughnuts – and I was pregnant before I even knew his surname. So here we are, trapped by a mortgage and by three kids neither of us can bear to part with.

That was yesterday. Today he brought me flowers. And there’s a lovely dress in the boutique that might fit me. I suppose a silver wedding anniversary deserves some recognition.

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This week's photograph by Jean L Hays didn't inspire me to write anything cheerful, though I have done my best. Other writers have managed better, which you can judge for yourself by going to https://rochellewisoff.com/  and following the blue frog link.

GILDING THE LILY - a 100 word story

GILDING THE LILY

Lucy’s father took her out for a pizza on her birthday and spoiled her, as usual. A computer game she’s been on about for weeks, a cashmere jumper that will need hand-washing, and a box of make-up.

Lucy saw my expression. “Mum! I am ten now, you know.”

“We discussed this already, darling – no make-up till you’re a teenager.”

“It’s not fair – everyone else wears it.”

“None of your friends do.”

She smiled reluctantly, knowing she’d lost. “Okay – I’ll swap it – Boots have some really cool sunglasses.”

It seems only yesterday she was in nappies.

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Exquisite though these are, I prefer roses au naturel, hence my story today.

Thanks to Rochelle for the photograph and for hosting Friday Fictioneers. To read how other writers interpreted the prompt, go to  https://rochellewisoff.com/  and follow the Blue Frog trail.

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!

ROCK MAN - a story in 100 words

Today's image from Rochelle for Friday Fictioneers - a photograph taken by Anshu Bhajnagarwala - brought volcanic eruptions to my mind. Partly due to a TV programme about Hawaii I watched last night, but also because I have started on Book Three of my Living Rock series.
This piece of flash fiction is adapted from a story told by one of my characters in the first book - A VOLCANIC RACE, and severely cut to fit the hundred word limit!
This book and Book Two, WOLF PACK, can be found on Amazon.

ROCK MAN

Pepe held his son to his heart, every cell in his body screaming with fear, as the huge creature erupted from the volcano.

The giant knew instinctively these humans couldn’t live in the molten rock which had given him life, and threw himself in the path of the boiling lava, holding firm until the flow divided around his back.

Then he discovered he was fused to the ground – his brief moments of life were over.

Roaring his anguish over the din of the eruption, he only just heard Pepe shout, “Thankyou!” before he and his son raced out of danger.