Happy New Year, Friday Fictioneers! It’s good to be back. And what a lovely photo to come back to, provided by Melanie Greenwood. It brings to mind a life full of adventure.
My story this week is not quite that. I’m not sure it’s a complete story, but I think it could make an interesting longer one.
Thanks again to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for leading our group and flying us into the new year. I know we are in good hands, Captain!
All are welcome to give this challenge a try. The objective is to write a 100-word story based on the photo prompt. Here are instructions.
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Mystery (99 words)
Gone Missing
They would talk about her plane ride first, undoubtedly, and move on to particulars about luggage and where she would sleep; her bad back with bits about her latest fashion accessories. I would chime in with a morsel about my latest date with the only available single man in the office. A landslide failure. From then on out, her kids’ accomplishments would take center stage. Disappointments were such a bore.
Waving my arms at her, she walked right past me and looked me up down when I embraced her. As I looked into her eyes, I wondered where she’d gone.
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AmyReeseWrites 
It doesn’t look like it’s going to be a great reunion. At all. Nicely done, Amy.
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I just thought it might be an interesting idea to explore if the person you knew just vanished! As if, this person she met is someone else entirely. That’s kind of hard to capture in this space, but that’s my idea. Thanks so much, Sandra.
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Some people love to hear about others’ misfortunes – especially bad dates!
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You have to laugh about bad dates, right?! Eventually. Thanks, Ali!
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Sadly, that seems how a lot of reunions go. We take different paths and each time we cross over again we are different, inside and out.
There becomes a disconnect. However, I believe there is always something inside of us that will hang on and find the connection. Lovely piece, My Friend. Lovely.
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Perhaps these two will find that connection somewhere. I think you’re right, there’s always that connection between great friends even if you don’t know what it is. Sometimes we bring our preconceived trappings to a reunion. It’s comfortable in its own funky way even if we don’t like it. This time, she’s at a loss. Thanks so much for your feedback and your nice comments, Michelle!
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Not pleasant and I’m sure it happens like this too often. Nicely written!
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I think it can happen in subtle ways, especially at the beginning of a reunion. It might take a bit to get back into the groove of a relationship, especially if a lot of time has passed. Thanks so much, Trent!
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Sad how humans change.. the joy and sparkle missing (and maybe for both of them) I recommend to bring a glass champagne.
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Ha! Maybe the champagne would help. At least lighten the mood!
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I love this, Amy. A very poignant end/beginning… I think you should keep going with it!
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Thanks so much, Ixchel!! Good to hear from you. I always enjoy your comments. Maybe I will.
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Definitely a dose of sadness to me.
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Perhaps, Frank. People lives change before they even realize.
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Time changes relationships, or not. I love when I get together with an old friend and it seems like we saw each other an hour ago, although it’s been over a year. Then there are the other meetings . . . Well written story.
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It’s great to have friends like that, Alicia. It’s like magic when you see them again. Other times, maybe too many things have changed. Thanks so much.
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Sometimes I wonder if I can recognize a long lost friend if I walk past her? Good one.
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I’m sure that happens a lot, especially when people move away like they do. I know faces, but I forget names sometimes. Thanks!
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I get it. You’ve got a new hairdo and lost 15 lbs. No one recognizes you. Everyone keeps asking your boss, “Who’s the new girl?”
2016 is going to be a good year for you, Amy. You’re off to a great start.
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Ha. Yeah, that’s it. She’s the new girl. Thanks, Russell. I hope so. Happy 2016 to you, too!
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Nicely written – you always have a great point – I love reading your blog…amazing
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Oh, you’re so kind, Mihran. Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!
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Dear Amy,
I’ve been a few reunions where I wouldn’t have known certain people if we’d run into each other on the street. It can be awkward.
Well captured.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I guess that’s probably one of the scary things about a reunion, not knowing or remembering someone. Thanks for your nice comments, Rochelle.
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I think meetings like this happen all too often, and I think all of us can relate to it at one point. Nicely done.
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I know it’s happened to me before, Tiffany. Thank you.
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That’s why I never go to reunions… 😉 You’re right, this could go so many ways, and certainly asks for being explored some more. Great setting of the scene, and Happy New Year to you, too, Amy.
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Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments, Gah. I concentrated on the few details that depicted their relationship. Beyond that, I can’t really tell this story in 100 words. But, I like when I get ideas! Glad you enjoyed the scene. Happy New Year to you, too!
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I recently picked up my niece form the airport. I hadn’t seen her in ten years and my sister-in-law said ‘you can’t miss her – she’s very tall and she dyed her hair purple.’ So a tall woman with purple hair got off the plane and I went to hug her. She didn’t know who I was and it was really embarrassing! Then my niece came up and tapped me on the shoulder. She recognized me. Her hair was green and she said she had re-dyed it the previous day because she didn’t like the purple. Your story reminded me of this. Well done! 😀
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That’s hilarious, Dianne! You have the funniest stories. What are the odds that someone would be on that plane with purple hair and NOT be your niece? You can’t make that stuff up, or you could I suppose. It’s a story I wish I could have written. Thanks so much for sharing it with me! 😀
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Reunions can be awkward. I like the reflection at the beginning – how she thinks the conversation will proceed, the topics, the back and forth. They seem to have been very close, once. Your turnaround at the end is a big shock, and works brilliantly. Definitely a fascinating back story in there.
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I liked this a lot! It reminds me of a couple of “reunions” I have had *sigh*
Well done Amy! 🙂
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Oh, sigh. I hope you could reconnect at some point with your friends and that they weren’t lost forever! Glad you enjoyed my story. Thank you, Courtney.
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Time passes, people change, and you wonder what happened to the person you knew. Sometimes there’s a great loss when it happens to close friends, children, spouses. Well written, Amy.
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Time does have a way of changing people, sometimes to point where they become someone else. Thank you, Perry and thanks for the nice comments.
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Reunions can be so bittersweet. I think you’ve really captured that reality, Amy.
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Thanks so much, Dawn. I’m glad you’re getting just a sweet reunion with that adorable grandson of yours. 🙂
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I think this stands alone well but would be good to expand.
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Thanks, Louise and thanks for that feedback.
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I was thinking this morning about how I am not the same person I was ten years ago. I wonder if you can see it in my eyes.
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That is a good question, Dawn. Can you see such a thing in someone’s eyes? I think you can, especially if you really know someone.
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I think so too. There are more stories there Amy…I can feel it!
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Thanks, Dawn!! I feel it, too.
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And that’s why I’ve never gone to a school reunion. That’s no doubt why a lot of people don’t. As my son said, “I kept in touch with the people I liked. That’s enough.” She probably wonders if she every really knew this woman. Well done, Amy. 🙂 — Suzanne
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A real slice of life – so sadly true.
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Sadly, I think so. Thanks for reading!
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Amy, I’m a bit late reading this week, but better late than never. I like how you built up the beginning of this with all the mundane details of life that we all recognize with meeting relatives. I got the impression that she had dementia, perhaps.
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You’re never late to read a story in my book, David! Thank you. I think we all get caught up in the minutiae at some point in a visit. It just seems to happen and sometimes in preparation. Dementia could definitely work into this story. Thanks for reading!
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