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.
................................................................
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!
Oh. That was a puzzler.
ReplyDeleteWhy? Because it's not clear what kind of creature he is?
DeleteI always say it's safer when the humans are asleep
ReplyDeleteDo you? Now you have me worried.
DeleteGreat twist ending. I was left wondering what sort of creature he is - mythical perhaps? Lovely story anyway.
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
I haven't decided.
DeleteI think it's best if the humans stay asleep for this..
ReplyDeleteProbably the wisest move.
DeleteThat would be me!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAs for this poor creature - what an unpleasant surprise to find that sound was created by a machine and not by one of his kind...
Such a shame, after waiting for years.
DeleteThat read like a fairytale at first! Lovely, Liz.
ReplyDeleteThanks helen, i did have fantasy in mind - or maybe not?
DeleteI'm curious...a lizard? A bird? A creature from a deep abyss?
ReplyDeleteYour choice, though the seduction dance is lizardish.
DeleteI 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!
ReplyDeletePerhaps he will meet the female of his dreams next mating season.
DeleteOh the futility of it all... Maybe he should try the local park instead.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably a better bet!
DeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately he doesn't realize that - perhaps he'll make the climb every night until the weather cools down.
DeleteI love Air Con too but enough to climb a wall to flirt with it! Nice one Liz.
ReplyDeleteClick to read my FriFic tale!
Thanks Keith - air con is fine but I would turn it off to sleep as they did.
DeleteI love that each reader has had a different interpretation. I imagined birds, but now I'm doubting myself. ;-) Nice job, Lizzy!
ReplyDeleteAnd ahh, I think maybe Penny got it!
DeleteI love that so many people were intrigued!
DeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteSo he's answering the mating call of an air conditioner? Hilarious.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Hilarious - and very sad. Thanks Rochelle.
DeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteThanks Brenda. Odd that you should think about living abroad - i started this story thinking of him as an alien.
DeleteThe poor fellow is doomed for a permanent case of unrequited love. And he put on such a fine show!
ReplyDeleteYou watched it, then! Great, wasn't it?
Deletei'm a human and i didn't fall asleep reading this story. it kept me awake to the end. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful compliment, plaridel!
DeleteI'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.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great positive view of things!
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteA gargoyle? That didn't occur to me! Thanks for commenting .
DeleteOh the poor critter. I saw a bird, bobbing his head up and down... but reptile would work as well, I guess. Fun story!
ReplyDeleteThanks GaH, it is sad, i agree.
DeletePoor thing. Seduced by the siren call of. . . .an air conditioner! Pretty lonely, and I feel sorry for him. It. :)
ReplyDeleteTugs at the heart strings, doesn't it?
DeleteOh... what a sad way to be tempted. Sounds like someone utterly alone.
ReplyDeleteAnd probably destined to remain so 😢
DeletePoor fellow, he needs to keep practising his mating techniques by the sounds of things, whatever type of being he is
ReplyDeleteShould have gone to SpecSavers!
DeleteAaaw, that's sad.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, patsy.
DeleteSad funny story.
ReplyDelete