It’s time for Friday Fictioneers, a weekly link up that challenges writers to compose a 100-word story based on a photo prompt. Thanks, as always, to our gracious hostess Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s photo was provided by Dee Lovering. Thank you, Dee.
The place in this photo looks really familiar. If it’s the place I’m thinking about, it’s a park in San Francisco. I’m wondering if it’s the same place! That’s what my sparked my imagination for this story. My initial story came in at 300 words. I had a yipping Pomeranian dog who had to go, as well as lot of description of the snow. I hope it makes sense. Enjoy!
If you would like to participate, here are instructions. All are welcome.
Genre: Fantasy/Horror (100 words)
Ride of a Lifetime
“Look, Nana. A carousel!”
“I can’t believe it’s operating.” Snow, unheard of in these parts, blanketed the earth. She couldn’t deny her granddaughter a ride of a lifetime.
Riders hoisted onto clowns and horses. Julia jumped onto a bear, grinning in her white dress with pink ribbons in her hair. The revolving carousel undulated in gracious dips.
One rotation Julia was there; the next, gone. The ride expired and everyone disappeared. Nana ran to the bear. Blood dripped from its claws, holding a doll wearing a white dress with pink ribbons in her hair, her eyes dark pools of terror.
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Yikes, remind me to avoid that carousel. Nice job. 🙂
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I knew there was a reason I didn’t like carousels, Carrie! Thanks. 🙂
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Oh boy. That’s a cliffhanger! Circuses, carnivals, carousels, all can be perfect creepy settings! Great job, Amy. Very vivid imagery. I could see everything clearly in my mind’s eye.
Speaking of carnivals, did you see last season’s American Gothic. If so, you know what I mean about creepy carnivals. Sheesh.
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Thanks, Brigitte! I agree circuses and the like can be downright scary. I haven’t watched that one! I’m still on the witches! I will be watching that one in the future though, I’m sure. I think it’s a great series, very well done.
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Oh, and I meant American Horror Story. You knew what I was saying. It’s one of those stories you can’t look away from but disturbing!
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Right! That’s the one. I did know what you were talking about. Is there an American Gothic? That sounds familiar, too. All their stories are disturbing. They push it as far they can. 🙂
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That’s Central Park? Right?
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Oh, is it? You’re probably right. I really don’t know, Stephen. I’d rather not know until after I write my story anyway. 🙂
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Ding! Ding! Ding! You are correct, sir! That is, indeed, the Central Park carousel. Here’s another fun tidbit: that’s the carousel illustrated on the iconic first edition dust jacket of Catcher in the Rye.
http://flavorwire.com/206111/the-20-most-iconic-book-covers-ever/5
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Thanks for clearing this up for us, Mark! Of course, you would know. You are the resident New York expert. It looks so much like this other place in San Francisco. I’ve never been to the one in NYC. That is a fun tidbit about Catcher in the Rye. Thanks for that! Love that book and I know that cover.
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Love what you did with this Amy! Carousels have always evoked an eerie feeling in me ever since I saw a movie called, “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” where the carousel spins backwards and the people get younger. Which isn’t a bad thought at all, actually…ha! But in the movie, it was kind of creepy. Love that you chose a bear for the girl to ride on, too. Great set-up for a horror story. 🙂
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Thank you , Kelly. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never seen that flick! It’s on my list. Ooh, that sounds like a great set up in that movie. Here, I guess, is the makings of the carousel itself. Like you, I’ve always found them to be a little eerie, going around and around and then the animals can be very strange sometimes. 🙂
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I agree! Always thought that about the animals, too! So funny!
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And then along with that carousel music…just creepy! Ha ha.
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Yes! Why do they play that kind of music? Now I have it in my head! Too funny! I will probably have a nightmare tonight based on your story!
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Oh, no!!! Play some nice soothing music before you go to bed. Of course, that’s kind of compliment, isn’t it?
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Yes it is! Talk about leaving a lasting impression! Good for you, bad for me…but only if I dream of haunted carousels now
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Sweet dreams, Kelly…later tonight. Just don’t hug any teddy bears. Oh dear, I’m probably not helping. 😉
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LOL!
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Ooooo…Amy, I wasn’t expecting you to go dark.
And you killed a kid!
Who are you?!
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Oooh, and I can go a lot darker, Dawnie. I did what? That’s horrible!! I don’t know what got into me.
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LOL…oh wait, that’s not funny. 😉
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Oh, now I know…you laughed. Dawnie. (said in a lower voice).
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Why! Oh Why did you have to kill that little girl? On second thought maybe you didn’t re-reading your last line. Nice suspense at the end there.
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Of course, Ansumani…she could always come back. Although, I doubt that she will be the same sweet, little girl. You might not want her to come back. 🙂 To think she just wanted an innocent ride on a carousel. Thanks!
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Wow Amy, that was a quite a dramatic shift from paragraph 2 to 3. You caught me off guard. I like the creepy ending though, although now I want to know what happened. Probably best for them just to burn that carousel to the ground, just to be sure. 🙂
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Well, I’m so pleased to hear I surprised you! Thanks. I think you’re right. It would probably be better to burn it. It’s something about dolls, too, that have always been a bit scary. My son can’t look at dolls.
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Amy, Amy, Amy
Why you gotta be like that?
I liked it.
Tracey
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This picture just horror to me. I do what I gotta do, I guess. Write what I see. 🙂 Thanks, Tracey.
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I love how different writers see a story out of a picture. Did not expect you to turn so gruesome this week (though I suspect you were feeling overdue!) Muahahahaha!
Great job!
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Yes, Muahahaha!! Long overdue, Dale. I’ve just been waiting for the right photo. 🙂 Thank you.
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I hear ya…you and your twisted dark side. ..😉
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It’s got to come out once in a while, Dale.
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Yes…for some strange reason, I’ve not gone dark in a while…gonna be a doozie when I do!
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I’m sure it will be!
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This is creepy in the best way. The ghost carousel, the sudden loss of the girl… Great stuff.
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Thanks for the compliments, KT. I appreciate it. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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Woah that is super creepy and scary!
https://awesomeastic.wordpress.com
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Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
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Reblogged this on awesomeastic and commented:
CREEPY
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Thanks so much for the reblog. I appreciate it!
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Dear Amy,
Ouch. This is creepy at its creepiest. Children, carousels bears, oh my! Great vehicles for horror.
BTW, the photo was taken in Central Park…other side of the States. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I hope you’re not too disturbed by it. 🙂 Oh, of course! It looks so much like this place in San Francisco, but snow wouldn’t make any sense there! Actually, I’m really glad you don’t tell us about the photos and I know that’s key. If I had known it was Central Park, I probably would have written something completely different.
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Keep well away from clowns!
Rosey Pinkerton’s blog
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Absolutely! Even the happiest ones. Thanks.
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Creepy horror! I don’t know why, but half way through I was waiting for something horrible to happen 🙂
Carousels, circuses… I find all that sort of stuff rather creepy anyway.
Great story!
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Ooh, I wonder is that a good thing you were anticipating something horrible would happen? Perhaps, it’s my super innocent set up? I agree that carousels and circuses are freaky. Why is that?! Thanks, Ali!
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Circuses? Clowns. Carousels? Remind of circuses. See “clowns”.
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True, Ali! I see where you’re going with this.
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I didn’t anticipate the turn toward terror. Well done.
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Thank you, Frank. Glad I could surprise you.
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Sounds like something out of the Twilight Zone, but bloody. (They didn’t do blood.)
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Thanks, Adam. You’re right. I don’t recall any blood and they didn’t need it. They had scary music though.
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We have a lovely old carousel in Port Dalhousie that has been a special part of all the locals lives since my grandmother was a girl. I will be thinking more than once now before I hoist my grandniece up on one of the animals.
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I’m sure your carousel in Port Dalhousie is nothing like this one, Michelle. No worries! I bet the two of you will have a wonderful, memorable experience. 🙂
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Not as memorable as your character! 😉
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Thanks, Michelle! 🙂
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I didn’t expect this ending. Poor Nana would be cursing herself.
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Ooh, quite right. She would be quite distressed. Poor Nana.
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Great and creepy take on the prompt. Love the idea of the doll in the bear’s mouth.
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Thanks, Alicia. Glad you liked my creepy story. 🙂
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A man-eating carousel is novel. I can’t imagine where you got that from.
Good piece.
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Something about snow and a carousel. I honestly have no idea! Thanks, Mick.
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Very, very frightening. I had a perfect mental image of this – so well done.
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Sandra, thanks for those kind words. It means a lot to me coming from you. Thanks so much.
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Scary, Creepy
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Thanks, gravadee!
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Gosh! I would hate to be the Nana. What is she going to say to the girl’s parents?
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Nana is not in a good place, Jolly. It would be terrible to be in her shoes!
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Terrific and terrifying piece of writing.
From family fun to screaming nightmare in 100 words.
Love it.
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What wonderful comments! Thanks for the kind words.
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That’s bloody awful (albeit so well written). Some of us are squeamish, you might know. Seek redemption.
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You wouldn’t be squeamish, would you? Yes, redemption. How can she not? Thanks so much, Patrick.
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Lord that’s creepy… I love me my horror. I think you should make this one into a full-blown story, Amy.
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It definitely could be extended! Glad you liked it. Thanks, Trent.
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Wow–I mean, what everyone else said. Starts out so sweet. I would have shrugged away the bear, the blood, the disappearance (what does that say about me?)–but the terror in the doll’s eyes, that’s still giving me goosebumps. Movie in my head now. I admire! 🙂
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Thanks for your feedback, Gah. Oh, you’re a tough one to scare. Doll’s eyes always seem a tad disturbing to me. Glad it had an impact. Thanks!
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Clowns and carousels…never did like either of them! Scary story…
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Me, neither! Thanks, Lorna.
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Then why are they so darned popular?
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Was the bear’s name Chucky? If it had been Smokey, we’d have had a pile of ashes I suppose.
Sorry, Amy. I couldn’t help myself. 🙂 I felt the terror swell in Nana’s throat.
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Chucky is always a good name in a horror story, isn’t it? It could be! Smokey is too sweet for this story. ! Thank you, Russell!
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Truly gory and interesting, Amy! It caught me by surprise and would make a great thriller 😀
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Glad it caught you by surprise! Thanks so much, Dianne. I plan to write one eventually. Thanks for the feedback.
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Maybe taking a kid to a carousel on a snowy day wasn’t such a good idea … Yeah, like Mark, Amy, I recognized Central Park. I also grew up in San Francisco. It never snowed once in the 23 years I lived there. In fact, it doesn’t even rain in California anymore, now. That’s another horror story.
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I know all about the drought horror story, V! We need three years of above average white stuff at least to get out of the drought, which doesn’t sound so bad if it would only happen! Thanks for reading my story. 🙂
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Wow, Amy, that’s a real horror story. And it all looked so innocent. Stephen King would love it. Well written. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I would be touched if Stephen King loved it! Gee, thank you. Thanks for that high praise. I’m glad you liked it, Suzanne.
(Sorry for the delay in responding. I’ve been on vacation.)
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Oh my good gracious. Talk about horror! Surely that ride will be shut down. Yikes!
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Perhaps, it will, but I have a feeling that ride runs itself! Thanks, Melanie. 🙂
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Wow. That was a clever and horrifying twist. Well done.
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Thank you, Margaret. So sorry for the delay. I’ve been away!
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Whoa! Amy, sometimes I can’t believe you’re the same cheery, fun gal I met! Seriously… creeeepy! But very well done!
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Thank you, Dawn. Oh, there’s a dark side….Thanks for your lovely comments, as always!
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