Friday Fictioneers

Passing the Torch – Friday Fictioneers

It’s time for Friday Fictioneers. Thank you to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting and to Roger Bultot for this week’s photo prompt.

Friday Fictioneers is a weekly writing group, challenged to write a 100-word story with a beginning, middle, and end. Everyone is welcome to give it a try.

My 100-word story follows.

from-roger
PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

Passing the Torch

Miranda stared at Scarlett starring at herself half-dressed in the mirror. A lacy bra hugged her delicate curves and her lashes fluttered amid a patchwork of highlights and shadows.

It was yesterday all over again. Miranda choked on the musty dust of backstage and held her breath.

“Oh,” said Scarlett.  “Your last performance. But you don’t look ready.”

“It’s just a cameo.” She placed a pair of dangling, diamond earrings in her palm. “These are sitting in for my last performance instead. Wear these tonight. For me.”

“Such an honor.” Scarlett’s hands shook as she put them on.

“Keep them.”

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For more stories from the Fictioneers, click here.

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A Day in the Life of a Ballet Seamstress – Friday Fictioneers

Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting the Friday Fictioneers, a group of writers who gather to compose a 100-word story based on a photo prompt. This week’s photo was brought to us by Sandra Crook. Sandra, thanks for the inspiration.

When I look at a sewing machine, I think of costumes. My story is a tribute to all the costume makers out there. They work hard and, of course, there’s always drama!

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook
PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

(100 words)

A Day in the Life of a Ballet Seamstress

Reza didn’t look up as she pumped the foot plate of her sewing machine.

Marilyn entered with a notebook pressed to her chest, “Alain wants the birds blue, not green, and not so shiny.”

“So, we’ll throw some powder on them,” Reza said, and then squinted at her.

In the corner, a sea of tulle swallowed Liliana’s tiny frame. Her tutu hung on her like a potato sack. “What happened to my costume!”

“Again! Just eat already,” Reza said.

Liliana erupted, her body shaking with tears, and dropped her head on Reza’s shoulder.

“There, there. Of course, I’ll fix it.” 

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For more stories from the Fictioneers, click here.

Fireworks Sessions – Friday Fictioneers

Thanks to our lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting the Friday Fictioneers, a group of writers who meet weekly to write 100-word stories based on a photo prompt. Check them out!

Thanks to Vijaya Sundaram for this week’s spirited photo. Happy Labor Day to those who are celebrating!

vijaya
PHOTO PROMPT -© Vijaya Sundaram

(Humor: 99 words)

Fireworks Sessions

“You don’t actually see them. It’s more of a feeling.”

“I know,” Anna said.

His tongue felt like a lizard tail in her mouth and so she heaved her hot dogs.

They didn’t attempt another fireworks session until the following weekend when Tommy arrived smeared in mud.

“You owe me,” Tommy said.

They sat on the wet grass on a torn blanket. She kissed his muddy mouth and the moon disappeared under a veil of fog.

“No big deal,” said Anna.

“Yeah, nothing compared to your vomit.”

“Tommy, something tells me we’re going about this fireworks thing all wrong.”

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For more stories from the Fictioneers, click here.

Beneath – Friday Fictioneers

Happy Friday Fictioneers! I’ve missed everyone. I have been away for a spell.

This is a repeat for me, but I reworked this a bit. I don’t know if I made any improvements.

As always, thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for keeping everything afloat. Congratulations to Rochelle for completing her edits for her third novel in a series entitled AS ONE MUST ONE CAN. Way to go!

Thanks to Georgia Koch for this week’s photo.

Do you believe?

Copyright – Georgia Koch
Copyright – Georgia Koch

Beneath

“We got a boat. No excuses,” Joe said. “Old man Cassel is still out there.”

“Paddling in that pea soup makes about as much sense as surfing a tsunami. You ain’t gettin’ me in that boat.”

“That Nellie business is nothing but a campfire story.”

Heavy air shrouded them, erasing their shapes. The skiff knocked around in the choppy water like driftwood as they attempted to steer in one direction. The water swelled, pulling them toward the center of the lake.

Joe’s radio buzzed. “We got Cassell. C’mon back. Over.”

“I can’t see anything—”

Spiky tendrils latched on, sending them under, below, beneath.

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For more Friday Fictioneer 100-word stories, click here. 

Katerina’s Kiosk – Friday Fictioneers

I remember this prompt, but for whatever reason I did not write a story for it. So, here’s a new one from me and it’s inspired by a story about Kiosks in Lisbon that I heard on NPR. See a description of the words below the story.

Thanks to our fairy blog mother Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting and to Ted Strutz for the remarkable photo. I’m five words over. Sorry about that.  I’m feeling a bit rusty.

icon-grill-ted-strutz
PHOTO PROMPT- ©Ted Strutz

(105 words)

Katerina’s Kiosk

Those from the old country knew “Katerina’s Kiosk” as simply “The Kiosk.” They nodded when they heard the words roll off Katerina’s tongue into the ears of her chosen ensemble of baristi, who prepared drinks with 100-year recipes.

Groselha. Capilé.

Patrons rubbing their temples, expecting their usual lager, received a frothy-white liquid of honeyed sweetness with crushed almonds and figs. Leite Perfumada.

A harpist played, plucking at your thoughts, inviting the gentle promise of new possibilities. After a visit here, patrons left jobs, wrote poetry, and traveled to faraway lands.

Don’t be afraid to get what you really want, a sign read above the bar.

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Baristi – baristas (plural in Italian)
Groselha – red currant refreshment
Capilé – maidenhair leaves with orange blossom water
Leite Perfumada – perfumed milk

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Click here for more stories from the Friday Fictioneers.

A Journey by Boat – Friday Fictioneers

Here’s a biographical sketch of  my grandparents’ journey to America. I never got to meet them, but I am grateful for learning about them from my father while was he living. Although it saddens me to think that when I first posted this, he was still alive, I’m still happy we had the chance to share this story and that I heard it from his lips. I consider that a gift. My dad is Michael in the story.

Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting the Fictioneers and to her husband, Jan Wayne Fields, for the wonderful photo.

the-boat-and-miss-liberty
PHOTO PROMPT- Copyright – Jan Wayne Fields

Genre: Biography

(105 words)

A Journey by Boat

Melchior, a carpenter, couldn’t have known his fate the day he walked into the church of St. Francis. He saw a smile in her eyes and heard his mother tongue of Swiss German once again. It was here that he met Elizabeth, a stranger in this foreign land, but a neighbor who had lived only twenty miles away in their native Switzerland. Six months later, in this same church, they married.

Their twelve children taught them English. Seven left to fight in the war.

At home by the fire, Melchior played the accordion with his youngest, Michael, while Blackie the dog howled at their feet.

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For more 100-word stories, visit the Fictioneers linkup here.

Manual for Bureaucracy – Friday Fictioneers

Step in line for a summer rerun. Thanks as always to our splendid host, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s photo was provided by Sandra Crook. Thank you, Sandra. If you haven’t read Sandra’s stories, you simply must.

Enjoy! It’s time to go look for Pokemon.

sheep-and-car
PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

(99 words)

Manual for Bureaucracy

1. File in, collect a number, determine destination.
2. Sit down, complete paperwork, wait to be called.
3. Talk to the hole in the glass, return paperwork.
4. Wait.
5. Talk to the glass; learn you need a Specialist.
6. Repeat Step 2, add paperwork.
7. Walk through long, white corridor. Hint: Turn left, left, right, no left. Just follow the red tape.
8. Repeat Steps 1 and 4.
9. Talk to the Assistant who talks to the Specialist.
10 Repeat Step 2.
11. Learn it is the wrong Specialist.
12. Repeat 2, 4, and 9.
13. Take multiple flights of stairs. Hint: Follow the red tape if you’re lost.
14. Read the sign: Sorry. We’re closed. Come back tomorrow.

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For more 100-word stories, visit the Fictioneers linkup.