WELCOME TO FRIDAY FICTIONEERS!
We are a growing global community of blogging writers founded by Madison Woods. Each week the challenge is to write a one hundred word flash fiction or a poem inspired by the photo prompt. The rules are as follows:
- Please copy your URL to the Linkz collection. You’ll find the tab following the photo prompt. It’s the little white box to the left with the blue froggy guy. Click on it and follow directions. This is the best way to get the most reads and comments.
- Please make sure your link works. If you find that you’ve made an error you can delete by clicking the little red ‘x’ that should appear under your icon. Then re-enter your URL. (If there’s no red x email me at Runtshell@aol.com. I can delete the wrong link for you).
- If your blog requires multiple steps for visitors to leave comments, see if you can simplify it. Please, for the sake or our writerly nerves, disable CAPTCHA –that wavy line of unreadable letters and numbers. It’s frustrating to have to leave a DNA sample, your blood type and your shoe size just to make a comment. (So I exaggerate. But hopefully you get the picture).
- Challenge yourself to keep stories to 100 words. (There’s no penalty for going over or under).
- Make note in your blog if you’d prefer not to have constructive criticism.
- Be kind in your comments to others. Please, exercise discretion.
- My story follows the photo prompt for those who would rather write before reading other stories. I appreciate your comments and critiques.
- *NOTE-If you’re not posting a flash fiction, please DO NOT use this site or anyone else’s page for political platforms or advertisements.
Thanks to Doug MacIlroy for sharing the photo prompt this week.
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Copyright -Douglas M. MacIlroy
Submitted for your approval…or disapproval. Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Although when my husband read it this morning he reminded me that we’re out of Cheerios. Read on, you’ll understand.
Happy Hanukkah to those amongst us of the Jewish persuasion. Good Yontiff or Hag Samayakh.
UNHOLY BONDS
Somewhere between “I do” and diapers Gavin’s winsome bride turned into a nattering, self-centered shrew. Everything he said or did she took as either an affront or lack of caring.
If he brought her flowers she accused him of seeing another woman. If he made overtures she accused him of treating her like a sex object.
Eventually he gave up trying to fix their relationship and escaped to his garage sanctuary.
One afternoon Lois stood over him, their three-year-old son in tow. “I’m leaving.”
“Pick up a quart of milk.”
“For good.”
He smiled. Peace at last!
WOW! this is definitely a challenge lol
Ditto that. This is the first one that leave me shaking my head in dismay. I wish I could read that computer screen! (Not to eavesdrop on Doug’s conversation, but to read the quote!)
Alright, going off to wait for inspiration…
Okay, I take it back. While it DID stump me, I realized while going about my morning routine that this makes a nice setting to host a little of Angelique’s history. Can’t wait to read everyone else’s stories! Happy FF to all!
this will NOT be easy.
Now we know how the Keck Observatory gets all those amazing shots of the planets.
Oh, I love this picture. Already have my story written.
yup. i take it back. something smacked me. mine will be posted early – otherwise i’ll spend another hour revising. grrrr. but i like it!
ugh! soooo annoying! i got mine finished – excited about it – but then i forgot i had already scheduled a post for today, so mine won’t be early because i don’t want to post twice in one day. grrrr. patience, young skywalker. patience.
i have mine here ^^ http://theeclecticeccentricshopaholic.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/friday-fictioneers-100-words-story-challenge-vi/ challenging photo! lol ^^
Rochelle seem to be having problems again with linking …SORRY here is my post
http://myownheart.me/2012/12/12/found-it-friday-fictioneers-12-14-2012/
Cool prompt. Too bad I could only use one part of it! I wrote so many versions but it was either 100 words or the whole photo… Damnit!
You could post two versions…
Hi Rochelle,
On or One? Edit and erase this and I’ll write something glowing. I live this story…or is that love? I forget which.
Aloha,
Doug
Doug, my mind read it as it should have been written. I was reading with an eye to enjoyment and not my editor’s eye. But I agree with the rest. Excellent story, Rochelle, but then I never expect less.
Dear Janet,
I know what she meant, just trying to get the word to her right out of the blocks. I don’t know where she comes up with these stories. Very true to life.
Aloha,
Doug
I knew you knew (or is that “Eye new U gnu”??). Just exchanging a bit of early morning (for me) banter.
Dear Janet and Doug,
Maybe if someone had been paying better attention in an earlier banter exchange (it was “on” then, too) I wouldn’t have to suffer all this humiliation. I live you, too, Doug.
And on shall be one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I actually had to use Ctrl+F to find what you were talking about
It takes a lot more than Ctrl+F with some of these people, Abraham.
ONE! Can’t fix it from phone. The word is ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like another real life situation here. Maybe she will get as far as the store and come back and think how fortunate she is to have one that brings her flowers and tries to enrich their love life.
Hehe – Excellent story, Rochelle, but your ONE!!!!!!!! comment is what has me grinning;-)
Poor Gavin… and poor Lois… and poor kid. The first few sentences, in particular, serve as a reminder to wives to appreciate what they have. I think there’s a verse in Proverbs along the lines of, “Better a crust of bread on the rooftop than a feast inside with a nagging wife.” Something like that… Whatever it is, I’d hate to drive my husband to the garage!
As for your little typo, be thankful it wasn’t a query letter. A blog post you can edit, but once you hit send… You just have to duck your head and hope the agent doesn’t see it. (Not that I’ve ever left an entire word out of a query letter or anything…) Anyhow, I do feel your pain. Take comfort in the knowledge that, while you may not be able to edit from your phone, you WILL be able to fix it, and none of us will think the less of you in the meantime!
Love this comment! A lot of wise words there,,,
wow there’s a Proverb that kinda goes like that? awesome ^^ haha
I didn’t think you were capable of making a mistake…I am in shock…Truthfully I didn’t notice it I read it as one. This was down to earth and reminds me of my a past life….Nice work.
Tom
I so need sleep…”my a past Life”. You one.
Hahahaha. So easy to do, isn’t it, Tom? thanks for your support and kind words.
Well done Rochelle, very good.
Don’t hold me to it, but I think it says “In life we never lose friends, we only learn who our true ones are.”
Bingo.
Hi Rockstar – Another good one purple addict. I’m glad Lois decided to leave on her own and probably just in time. I have a feeling hubby was planning to do something with the tape, pliers and chains. You know where to find me.
Rocks! Love the story.
♪♫♪What’s love gotta do, gotta do with this…♪♪♫
Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!! Peace a last!
Cute, Colby…real cute. Peace a last on afternoon.
That was a great story. Made me laugh really hard.
I had a garage sanctuary once… nice story, Rochelle… I liked ‘pick up a quart of milk’.
I must join the Thursday Fictioneers, as I will not be around tomorrow… http://tedstrutz.com/2012/12/13/friday-fictioneers-cooking-with-the-ancients/
Peace at last…lol…so wrong…so right…
i agree… haha that must’ve been one heck of a nagging wife for one to say something like that
what great realistic story and i so love that last line ^^
So Gavin’s taking hi laptop and soccer ball and moving back into the house, I suspect.
Fun tale.
BTW control F?
Is that a dirty word or a computer key?
I control my F all the time… (almost)
Okay, so I’m control F lying.
Randy
Sigh!
Great Leader,
You miss one lousy letter and the Fictioneers write more than 100 words about it.
Leadership must be tough!
It sounds bad, but I remember that feeling once or twice!
Scott
Mine: http://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/friday-fictioneers-10/
Garage sanctuary. Nice work! I feel happy for Gavin.
Milk?? Where did that come from? Beer I say-bring back beer! She can at least drop it off on her way out of town.
Good for you Russell. You know how to reconcile a good bad relationship.
Brought to mind these other ten great parting lines:
• Okay, honey – and I’ll see you later in court.
• Okay, honey – and I’ll see you later in hell
• That’s good, honey, whatever you want.
• Make that Lite beer and a case of it – and some bourbon.
• Did you make the bed?
• Are you sure you know the way out of town?
• I just finally moved into the garage and now you’re going to leave?
• Yes, dear, you’re leaving me for good. It’s not only good but It’s like a national Holiday or a Governor’s reprieve.
• What’s your name?
• I was just busting your hump, dear, I didn’t want milk anyways
Randy
Randy,
I’ll file these lines away for future reference. All good…didn’t fit in the word count.
Rochelle
word count?
Please reference my story from last week.
wasn’t there a play by some englishman about this? The leaving of the shrew ?
Taming of the Shrew? Obscure play-write Bill Shakespeare.
thanks! ( smile ) I liked your story too!
hi Rochelle — I think my browser is confused I hate to leave an url, but can you add mine in?
http://bwfiction.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/they-want-the-world-friday-fictioneers-zeds-17/
thanks and Happy Hanukkah
bill webb
Dear Bill,
Sorry I didn’t respond sooner. My spam filter pegged your for spam. Don’t know why. I’m not sure I can add you into the linkz without name and email.
thanks for trying. I will dig deep and figure out what is being blocked before next week.
Shalom
Did you try copying and pasting your story URL into the Link box? Took me months to finally figure out I didn’t have to type the whole thing in every time.
thanks — I believe the computer is out to get me! ( laughing )
Internet Zombies. Beware, Madman!
LOLLLLLLLLL!!
Sorry for laughing but that cracked me up!
You used to type the whole URL?? Such patience! Or should I say longsuffering.
I would simply have have give up. Or used the shorter URL that WordPress gives.
I don’t know about longsuffering, Abraham. A little slow on the uptake sometimes. And it’s okay if you laugh. I am my own anecdote.
Are you sure you’re not just being mentally blocked?
Because an over-the-counter laxative works well for being physically blocked.
Randy
I had some Johnny Walker Blue last night, maybe that will help!
There you go… that explains everything!
Bill is spam…
The banter on here is almost as good as your story Rochelle… but not quite. Loved it. Agree about the beer though.
That’s a bad sign when your wife tells you she’s leaving and all you can feel is relief. Poor guy. Very well written story.
Very nice story. I even felt the relief myself.
Free at last! Free at last! Oh, thank God, I’m free at last. I can relate. It also speaks to how we often put up with known hells until others make the choice for us. Good piece.
Hi Rochelle,
Good portrait of a toxic relationship. Funny how marriage can ruin a good relationship, or maybe Gavin was just deluding himself. Bet he’ll be more careful before he gets involved again. Could be worse. Could have lasted 41 years! Ha! Ron
I wonder if Gavin ever stopped to think about why she turned into a nattering shrew. Might it have been because he was a self-centered jerk? ;-D
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/status-update/
Naw. I think she was a shrew to begin with.
She sounds shrewish.
Funny, she doesn’t look Shrewish.
“… don’t forget folks that’s what you get folks/For makin’ whoopee…” LOL
As my brother used to tell our mom, “You pay for your thrills.”
https://tedcurtis.wordpress.com/
I guess you could say: don’t cry over spilled milk…. Liked the story a lot.
I hope that Lois manages to find a garage sanctuary – sounds like she needs some peace too. Great story, Rochelle. I particularly love the first line.
Tough prompt this week, but you managed to craft a great story!
But who’s going to get his quart of milk?
Not that he cares, at this point!
can you spell d-y-s-f-u-n-c-t-i-o-n-a-l? they can! well done.
So cute. Makes me wonder if she’ll come back with the milk after all.
If he’s lucky she won’t.
took me until sunday night, but i finally got through them all. i think.
A warning for shrews and potential-shrews everywhere, Rochelle. Having enjoyed the story, I shall heed the lesson. Thanks for another great week.
Hi Rochelle. I’ve nominated you for an award – I hope you don’t mind. I hope this link works but if not maybe just copy into the browser. http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/12/18/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/
Very nice read. Quite a lot packed into such a short space!