It’s time for Friday Fictioneers. Thank you to Rochelle Wisoff Fields for graciously hosting this group every week, and to Sandra Crook for this week’s inspirational photo.
My 100-word story follows. For other fabulous stories from the Fictioneers, click HERE.
Why not give it a try yourself? Everyone is welcome to participate.
Genre: Humor (100 words)
Harmony in Haydale
When farmers fled the land, their flocks followed. And so Hemsdale became Haydale, not to be confused with “hay bale.”
Goats milled about happy and lost. Cows, paying no mind to the daily business, clogged the main arteries for hours, stopping time as they chewed hay incessantly. Chickens fluttering on tavern tabletops became tomorrow’s stew.
The pungent aroma cloaking the village became impossible to escape, and around the clock fecal maintenance created many jobs. Villagers wagered bets over the slaughtering of one’s favorite sheep, and thus, blood detail was added to the duties.
And of course, hay. Always more hay.
Wonderful description.
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Thanks, J.D.!
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Maybe their tourism slogan shouldn’t be “Hay There! Come To Haydale!” anymore…
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Maybe not! I don’t think I’d last very long there myself. I guess they just get used to it.
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Ugh – “fecal maintenance” 🙂
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Just part of the job! You can wear a mask though. That would be permitted.
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Hehehe! — “Fecal maintenance!” I see the humor in this piece — nice Amy!
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Thanks, Sandee! Shit maintenance might not sound as important.
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I like the new layout, Amy. Nothing shitty about it at all! (shit was tough to resist this week)
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Thank you kindly, Perry! Yeah, I like it. The change feels good. Shit was the first thing I thought about!
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Hey! Love the site! Congrats! I am moving my writing itch to a new scratching post the first of April!
Great story. Living in a rural area, I get the odors now and then but mainly I smell the solvent aroma of the industrial park across highway from the house!
Regards
Jim
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Thanks, Jim. Hey, well congrats to you, too then. I’ve noticed you’ve been changing things up a bit. I look forward to your new site.
I think the odor would bother me more than anything. But yeah, take your pick. Industrial waste is probably much worse than the organic kind!
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Fecal mainenance, such an evocative phrase. 😦
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I think it sounds a little more lofty than poop maintenance. 🙂
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Don’t know if you know about this but it’s a great idea…. http://designthroughstorytelling.net/periodic/
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I didn’t know about it. Do you use it? Thanks for sharing. Looks really interesting.
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One big barn yard hey? haha. Good vivid writing Amy!
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Exactly. One big barn! Thanks, Jackie.
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“Chickens fluttering on tavern tabletops became tomorrow’s stew”–Loved this line, Amy! I happen to have one of those chickens simmering in the crockpot now. Nothing like homemade soup on a rainy day.
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Thank you, Anka! I know, it’s finally raining. Yay!! Don’t you just love it?! It’s about time. I hope it puts a dent in our drought. I’m coming to your house for dinner 🙂
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Fecal maintenance…I tend to avoid discussing politics lol great images enjoyed this
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Great comment! Ha ha. So true. Me too. I avoid it all costs. Thank you.
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🙂
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You Friday Fictioneers are so creative! Love your take on the picture, Amy. A tad gross, but fun. 🙂
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Ah, thanks Maddie. Gross, definitely! I’ll just take that as a compliment. 🙂
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It was a compliment!! I grew up with three brothers. Fecal matter, blood, all things gross – bring it on. 😉
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All right, Maddie! More gross things coming your way then. And three brothers! I bet you can handle anything.
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I guess you can give any job a nice sounding name, from pooper scooper to fecal maintenance. 🙂 This is really funny; the people of Haydale must be an easy-going lot.
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Easy going and smelly! Ha ha. And any job can be important although I imagine the job of fecal maintenance is pretty high up on the priorities! I just hope it pays well.
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haha nice piece of humor. i love this: “Chickens fluttering on tavern tabletops became tomorrow’s stew.” your new site is lovely, btw 🙂
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Thanks, KZ! Glad you like the new digs.
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So amusing and brief with that hint of macabre that you love. Keep it going Amy.
Love,
Shalagh
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Thanks, Shalagh. I’m glad you liked it.
Love, Amy
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Not to be confused with hay bale–love it. One would need to be careful where one stepped, I imagine.
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I imagine so, Patti. Watch your step, and you’d probably need waterproof boots so you could wash them off! Thanks.
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Can never have enough faecal maintenance in my book.
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Oh, no? There’s always plenty of it too, Jim! Ha ha.
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Loved the story by the way – just the right side of spooky but believable.
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Thank you, Jim.
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Hmmm…if the farmers fled without their livestock, was it due to some disease or toxin in the water /soil??? I would be afraid to consume them!!!
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That’s true!! I knew you would ask these important questions, Jan. My reason was because of war and bloodshed, but you can supply another one if you like.
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Indeed Haydale is harmonious. I might visit someday as long as I’m not made to work in fecal.maintenance 😀
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Me too. Pass on the fecal maintenance! Thank you.
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That could happen! Where do all the animals go when farmers give up? They must move to town.
Love this piece.
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Right? Were would they go, especially if they were loyal to their farmers. Ha ha. Thanks, Michelle.
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Hmm, Haydale smells a lovely place to be. At least the goats are happy. 🙂
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I’m sure the fragrance is lovely. And don’t goats always look so happy with that permanent smile on their faces?! I always think they’re so cute. 🙂
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And here I though cholesterol clogged arteries! I know a cow, even a small one, would certainly clog mine. 🙂 Love the new site, Amy.
janet
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Hee hee. Those cows are tricky that way. Oh thank you, Janet. Still tinkering with it!
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I just love city life and here are more reasons why. Thanks for this.
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Me too, Patrick, me too! The country would be a big adjustment for me. Thanks for reading.
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Whimsical and fun, Amy! I got a little confused at the start… when you say the farmers and flocks fed the land, I imagined it all abandoned. Then I caught up again, and loved the playful imagery! Nice!
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Thanks, Dawn! Well, you can make up your own reason there. Mine was war and bloodshed. Thanks for the kind words!
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Ahh… interesting! I didn’t have a reason in mind, I just kind of had this fantasy in my head, and thought (Pied Piper’ish) they’d all just gone… the imagery really stays with me!
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Oh, good! I like yours better. It’s not so harsh. Thanks! I’m so happy to hear that.
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Great fun to let your spry personality shine from time to time. This made me smile from beginning to end.
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Cool! I’m so happy to hear this. Thank you, Dawn.
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Fantastic, Amy! This reminds me of the town I’m now living in 😀
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Thanks, Dianne. Oh really?! I hope this is a good thing!
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Ugh that’s what happens with too much hay.. but fecal maintanence … wonder if I should hav business cards like that.
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Yes, ugh. Hmm…maybe Bjorn, maybe. You might get a few extra phone calls with that on your card!
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Hay, I mean hey this is awesome Amy
and what a treat, thank you for the fine
read my sweet cheerleading friend 😉 🙂
Have a lovely evening dear 🙂
Andro xxxx
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Hay you!! Thanks, Andro. I’m glad you liked it. I hope you’re having a lovely evening as well. Thanks for reading. Amy xoxo
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I am hoping to get back to your Space often 🙂 Have a wonderful start to Tuesday and enjoy everything Amy 🙂
Andro xxxx
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Thanks, Andro. You, too. Have a lovely day. Amy xox
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It’s interesting, I always think details in writing are either incredibly boring and over-used, or so well-positioned that you’ve barely realized that you’ve just read one. I think you’re in the latter camp, even when describing “fecal maintenance” – that’s a phrase and a detail that says a lot.
Do you ever write longer pieces, Amy?
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Why thank you, Trent! And thanks for all your comments. I need to catch up. Thank you for the compliment…well-positioned. That’s very generous.
I do! I have several that I’ve started and haven’t finished. But you must have read my mind because I was just going to put something out. Maybe tomorrow or Monday. I hope you can read it.
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I will absolutely read it, Amy. Looking forward to it.
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Cool! Thanks, Trent.
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Great work, Amy!
Hay rocks!
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Thank you! As long as there’s no poo in it!
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Tongue in cheek humor, Amy! Be careful what you wish for.
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Dear Amy,
One summer my brother worked for parks and rec. He referred to himself as a weed control engineer. And when my children were small I called myself secretary of the interior. Titles are fun and I think you could’ve titled your story “Wild in the Streets”. Quite a chaotic scene. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Weed control engineer, I love it. Here can we have “Fecal Maintenance Engineer.” Yeah, I like it. The title of Engineer can enhance any job title.Secretary of the Interior is also quite weighty! Thanks, Rochelle.
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I prefer to think of the position as fertilizer collection specialist. Cute story, Amy.
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Thanks, Russell. Yeah, I like that title a lot better! It certainly sounds better.
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Well done and good use of description. It paints a picture of a village I’d just as soon keep my distance from though. I guess you’d get used to it if you lived there.
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Thanks, Patricia. I’m with you. I’d want to keep my distance from this place!
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Thank you! I will check out your site.
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