THE GUEST

FFfAW – Week of 09-22-2015

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Priceless Joy

Welcome!

32nd Challenge for

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

Week of 09-22 through 09-29-2015

https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2015/09/22/fffaw-week-of-09-22-2015/

Click on the above link to find other contributors and join in the fun yourself.

This is a flash fiction challenge (stories in 100-175 words or less) and each story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Therefore, no serial (continuation) stories. They become too complicated for our readers.

This week's photo prompt is provided by Graham Lawrence.

THE GUEST

‘Aunt Jemima is in the garden painting again,’ said Helena to Charles. 

Charles harrumphed as he shook out The Times broadsheet newspaper, folding it neatly beside his plate.   He passed the toast rack to Helena as she settled herself at the breakfast table.

‘How long is your aunt staying with us?’  Charles tried to leave any vestige of accusation out of his voice.

Taking a sip of her Earl Grey tea, Helena needed a moment or two before she voiced her reply to her husband.

‘Well.......’  Helena’s voice faltered as she looked in his steel grey eyes regarding her over the crockery.

Charles sighed, shook his head slightly, concentrating on his boiled egg and Marmite toast soldiers.

Helena was grateful he didn't make an issue of it.  

It wasn’t an ideal situation. It was alright in the summer when Aunt Jemima could stand in the walled garden and paint to her heart’s content but what on earth would happen in the bad winter weather. 

Where would her aunt paint then?

Word count: 170

THE TREEHOUSE

Mondays Finish the Story – Sept. 21st, 2015

https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/mondays-finish-the-story-sept-21st-2015/

Our host Barbara Beacham provides a unique flash fiction challenge.

A photo and first line is provided and the  challenge is to finish the story using 100-150 words, not including the sentence provided. 

Don’t forget to use the opening sentence… 

This challenge runs from Monday to Sunday! Get creative and have fun finishing the story!

Please include the photo with your bit of flash and a link back to this post. 

Clink on the link above to find the blue froggy to have a go yourself.  It’s great fun. 

Photo credit: Barbara W. Beacham

Finish the story begins with:  “She lived in a mango tree.”

TREE HOUSE

She lived in a mango tree. 

Her childhood dream had come true. She was the envy of the neighbourhood.  She lived in a tree house, not any old tree house but a mango tree house.  After all these years obtaining planning permission, architects drawings, false starts and many obligatory stops by builders who said it couldn't be done.  Now she had proved to everybody that if you dream long enough and hard enough you can fulfil your dreams. 

It was a shame about the insects that bothered her all day long. 

It was a shame that her knees were becoming arthritic and the climb up the white wooden stairs bothered her more than she would admit to. 

It was a shame that she became acrophobic. 

It was a shame she was going to have to sell her beautiful dream home.

Word count: 134

GRANDFATHER

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/18-september-2015/

The next photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Does it speak to you? What does it say? Tell me in a hundred words or less. 

PHOTO PROMPT © David Stewart

GRANDFATHER

Eddie arrived at his grandfather’s address, hot and crinkled in mind and attire.  His white shirt had stuck to his back, his tie was undone, his cuffs were rolled up to his elbow and his thighs were itching through his grey pinstripe trousers.

He stretched his long legs, bent his spine back gently to release the tension of the long, relentless drive.

He pushed the rusted gate open, the creaking depressing him more than he could cope with today.  Holding the keys to the house he took a deep breath ready to clear his grandfather’s effects from the house.

Word count: 100

JAKE'S NEWS

FfAW – Week of 09-15-2015 – 3

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Priceless Joy

Welcome!

31st Challenge for

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

Week of 09-15 through 09-22-2015

A reminder of the rules:

1. A prompt photo will be provided each Tuesday to be used as a base to your story. Please include photo prompt with your story.

2. Linking for this challenge begins on Tuesday and runs to the following Tuesday.

3. Please credit photo to photographer

4. The story word limit is 100 – 150 words (+ – 25 words). Please try and stay within this limit.

5. Pingback to the challenge post in your story's post.

6. This is a flash fiction challenge (stories in 100-175 words or less) and each story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Therefore, no serial (continuation) stories. They become too complicated for our readers.

7. Add your story to the InLinkz Link-up (Blue Froggy button). If you need link-up instructions, please email me at mepricelessjoy@gmail.com.

8. Remember, half the fun is reading and commenting on each other's stories.

HAVE FUN!!

This week's photo prompt is provided by Scott, author of the blog, Scott's Place

JAKE’S NEWS

Jake stood in front of the horses.  If anybody saw him they would wonder about him. They’d think he was very strange talking to the horses but he always believed in telling his animals whatever was going on.  The business of the ranch affected them and their livelihood as well.

He thanked them all for their continued support.  Goodness, what a prat he sounded he thought. They were horses after all but he continued on with his thoughts.

Last night after supper, he told them, I proposed to Mary-Beth and she graciously agreed to become my wife.

The horses nodded their heads and whinnied in acknowledgement.  One or two of them stamped their hooves gently on the ground. 

Jake continued, Mary-Beth wants you all to pull the carriage at our wedding.

To which statement the horses snorted their laughter at the thought of being primped, pampered and powdered at the whim of this Mary-Beth.

Word count: 154

IS IT SAFE

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2015/09/09/11-september-2015/

The next photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Where does it take you? Tell us a story in a hundred words or less. 

PHOTO PROMPT – © Jennifer Pendergast

IS IT SAFE?

 ‘Is it safe?’

Natasha looked at the flimsy boat with trepidation.  They were supposed to sit on those flimsy wooden struts?  They would certainly have numb bums after a few minutes.  She sniffed.  The smell of the resin and the wood impregnated her senses and stayed with her as her eyes roamed the horizon.  The still blue water was an unknown quantity, deep, dangers lurking underneath the calm exterior.

Mark looked at his niece.  If only he had been able to have children he would have shared this moment with them but now Natasha looked very nervous. 

‘Climb in, darling.’

Word count: 100

ONE DAY

FFfAW – Week of 09-08-2015

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Priceless Joy

Welcome!

30th Challenge for

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

8 September – 15 September 2015

The prompt photo will be provided each Tuesday to be used as a base to your story. Please include photo prompt with your story. the link remains open for one week, Tuesday - Tuesday.  Please credit photo to photographer.

The story word limit is 100 – 150 words (+ – 25 words). Each story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Therefore, no serial (continuation) stories. They become too complicated for our readers.

Pingback to the challenge post in your story’s post.

If you need link-up instructions, please email our host mepricelessjoy@gmail.com.

Remember, half the fun is reading and commenting on each other’s stories.

Here is the photo prompt:

photo credit: @pricelessjoy.co 2014 

ONE DAY

Unbidden tear drops fall from her slate grey eyes

As she hears the unspoken lies

Tumbling from his lips so easily

Hands and arms gesticulating freely

Slipping out like liquid syrup full of treacle

Viscous, sticky sentences full of shrapnel

Tracer bullets leaving cobweb scars

They light up in her mind like stars

She turns her back and prepares the tea

Acting normally in front of her young three

They will not know the sacrifices she makes

They won’t see or feel her heartache

One day when they are grown and strong

She will leave him and all that was wrong.

One day when he is gone

One day she will be alone

One day she will begin to heal

One day she will begin to feel

Love and affection

Not abuse and rejection.

Word count: 134

GAY PARIS

https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/mondays-finish-the-story-sept-7th-2015/

Mondays Finish the Story – Sept. 7th, 2015

Welcome to Mondays Finish the Story!

This is a unique flash fiction challenge where we provide you with a new photo each week, and the first sentence of a story. Your challenge is to finish the story using 100-150 words, not including the sentence provided. Don’t forget to use the opening sentence… This challenge runs from Monday to Sunday! Get creative and have fun finishing the story!

This week’s challenge photo comes to us from Marcy B. Ayanian along with the opening line.  Thank you Marcy!

Please feel free to upload your story by clicking on the link above to find the little blue frog below to add your story to the list!

Finish the story begins with:  “As her mount shifted uneasily under her, she grasped the brim of her old felt Stetson, gazed upwards and remembered Jean Pierre.”

Photo credit: Mary B. Ayanian

GAY PARIS

"As her mount shifted uneasily under her, she grasped the brim of her old felt Stetson, gazed upwards and remembered Jean Pierre.”

Caroline patted Beauty’s neck as they stopped for a breather on the ridge.  Her mobile vibrated in her jacket pocket.  Damping down feelings of resentment of being bothered she looked at the phone, it disclosed a beautiful picture of the Eiffel Tower stretching up to the sky.

Those days with Jean Pierre were over but not lost.  He texted her every day, sometimes she was in bed while his day had just begun, sometimes she replied when she knew he was partaking of his petit déjeuner.  She could almost smell the strong coffee, black as night, offset by the sweet brioche and croissant crumbs all over the tablecloth. If only her father hadn't suffered a stroke and needed her to run the ranch she would still be in gay Paris.

Shelving her romantic dreams for another day Caroline spurred Beauty back to the ranch and another full work day ahead.

Word count: 150

WORK DAY

FFfAW Challenge – Week of 09-01-2015

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Priceless Joy

Welcome!

29th Challenge for

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

 1- 8 September 2015

Guide for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

1. A prompt photo will be provided each Tuesday to be used as a base to your story. Please include photo prompt with your story.

2. Linking for this challenge begins on Tuesday and runs to the following Tuesday.

3. Please credit photo to photographer

4. The story word limit is 100 – 150 words (+ – 25 words). Please try and stay within this limit.

5. Pingback to the challenge post in your story's post.

6. This is a flash fiction challenge (stories in 100-175 words or less) and each story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Therefore, no serial (continuation) stories. They become too complicated for our readers.

7. Add your story to the InLinkz Link-up (Blue Froggy button). If you need link-up instructions, please email mepricelessjoy@gmail.com.

8. Remember, half the fun is reading and commenting on each other's stories.

This week's photo prompt is provided by Louise with The Storyteller's Abode. Thank you Louise!

WORK DAY

Marianne stood at the edge of the platform, aware of the chuntering of the steam engine, the aroma of coal smoke tantalising her nostrils.  It was such a big beast to control, it needed constant attention even while idling waiting for permission to leave the station.

Dreaming of a golden age, of times gone past she shook herself out of her reverie; her practical self acknowledged that those times weren’t as romantically painted as everyone thought. 

Her husband, Joe, leaned out of the cab, his face grimy with smoke dust, smeared and streaked,  he gave her a big wink, blew her a kiss, tooted the whistle, pulled the lever down to release the brakes and let the big beast start to roll down the rails, gradually picking up speed. 

She would wait another 12 hours before he was home again and in her arms, loving her as he did every day.