Every week, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (thank you, Rochelle!) hosts a flash fiction challenge, to write a complete story, based on a photoprompt, with a beginning, middle and end, in 100 words or less. Post it on your blog, and include the Photoprompt and Inlinkz (the blue frog) on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!
PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
For those in peril on the sea
“Please don’t go, Tom.”
“I must. The lads are depending on this catch.”
Everything was smothered in snow, after the worst storm for years. Mary sat by the fire, snug at home, fidgeting with her cell phone.
At sea, the wind howled, blasting spray which froze onto the boat’s superstructure. Tom, at the helm, was relying on instruments; visibility was almost nil. Although strong and fit, he was exhausted by the continuous struggle against the elements.
Mary breathed a prayer for Tom’s safety. A log shifted in the grate, sending sparks heavenward.
Her phone rang.
“Hi, Darling. We’ve made port!”
The lads live to fish another day but it is, as you show, a dangerous way to make a living
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Dear Neil
Thank you for reading and commenting. The sea doesn’t forgive errors of judgement, that’s for sure.
With best wishes
Penny
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Great job of conveying the peril and the love between the characters.
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Dear Josh
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, there’s a strong love between Tom and Mary.
With best wishes
Penny
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Dear Penny
You managed to pack a lot of drama into few words. I love he back and forth between them. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m delighted you liked the back and forth. The underlying feeling I had from the prompt was the contrast between a snug house and the hostility of the elements during a severe snowstorm.
Shalom
Penny
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Phew! This was short, but intense. I’m glad Tom made it; I was really worried for a minute there.
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Dear Spaceman,
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m pleased you found it intense.
With best wishes
Penny
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I feared the worst when the sparks showered heavenwards. Not this time, perhaps, but I wouldn’t like my man to make his living that way.
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Dear Sandra
Thank you for reading and commenting. Thank you especially for letting me know that the sparks showering heavenwards did their job of misdirection! Fisher families have a hard life.
With best wishes
Penny
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Such a stark contrast between “snug at home” and “the continuous struggle against the elements. A powerful piece of writing.
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Dear Edith
Thank you for reading and for your kind comments. The peaceful suburban picture of snow, with the promise of a warm fire within, immediately made me think of struggling in a blizzard to earn your living.
With best wishes
Penny
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Most dangerous job in the world. I’m glad they made it.
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Dear Sarah,
Thank you for reading and commenting. You’re right – it’s a very dangerous job, even today with modern weather forecasts and navigation aids, not to mention health and safety laws that stop the most dangerous practices.
With best wishes
Penny
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Good news.
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Dear James
Thank you for reading and commenting. It was the best news for Mary!
With best wishes
Penny
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Her prayers were answered. Nicely written, Penny, a good sense of atmosphere and her worry.
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Dear Iain
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you liked the atmosphere.
With best wishes
Penny
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I’m so glad that was a happy ending. I was expecting the worst. You built the tension so well.
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Dear Jen
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m delighted you thought I built the tension well.
With best wishes
Penny
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Your story left me breathless.🙂 so beautifully written! It’s amazing how you come up with so many different plots and create unique artistic narrative for each.
Splendid storytelling, Penny.
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Dear Moon
Thank you so much; you’re very kind in the praise you give my stories. I think Friday Fictioneers is a wonderful forum for stimulating ideas and allowing writers to step outside their comfort zone if they wish. For example, have you read James’s story this week? Normally he writes SciFi, but this week he’s written a little gem of literary fiction; it’s truly beautiful. And your stories, week after week, show subtle insight into human nature that you express with great delicacy and skill.
We all owe Rochelle a debt of gratitude for her hard work in moderating FF!
With very best wishes
Penny
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You are one of the writers in FF that I really admire. It’s truly a wonderful forum and has some wonderful writers that one with the ability can learn from. I love participating but learning is yet to start for me. I have wanted to contact you personally via email and have wondered if it would be okay with you.
James is a very talented and knowledgable writer, I am yet to read his story this week. Thanks for telling me.
I too admire Rochelle’s hard work and commitment and am very grateful to her.
Thanks so much for reading my plain stories. I truly appreciate your feedback and encouragement. 💕🙂
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Dear Moon
I would be delighted to correspond with you by email. My email is pennygadd51@gmail.com
You praise my writing and talk of learning from me, but I think I probably have more to learn from you than you from me!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Great build-up of tension. So glad they made it to port.
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Dear Jilly
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the build-up of tension.
With best wishes
Penny
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Often when I watch the fishing boats head out to sea from our beach I wonder if they’ll return. Somehow they always do, as did the subject of your tale. It’s not something I could do, nor wish to. Excellent Penny.
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Dear Keith
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Yes, they nearly always come back. But every four or five years in SW England we’ll hear of a fishing boat that is lost. A great tragedy. I think most people who work in that industry are born into it, don’t you?
With very best wishes,
Penny
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Yes Penny, I know that many of the boats here in Hastings have been passed from father to son,
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You writing put me right there with Mary, feeling her fear and tension, so what gratitude and relief I felt to “hear” Tom’s words, “We’ve made port.” Amazing where you took us in only 100 words!
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Dear Jan
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m so glad you empathised with Mary as she waited and worried. You must be a very warm person.
With best wishes
Penny
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I held my breath until Tom rang to say he was safe. I’m so relieved! (That’s how brilliantly you sucked me in !)
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Dear Vivian
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m delighted that you found the story convincing!
With best wishes
Penny
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Sone lovely descriptions Penny – especially of that perilous fishing trip. I believ it’s stil one of the most dangerous ways to make a living, even now. Lovely build of tension and a happy release at the end
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Dear Lynn
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you liked the descriptive writing for the fishing trip. Yes, fishing is one of the most dangerous industries, and fishing communities are all acquainted with tragedy.
With best wishes
Penny
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My pleasure Penny
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Yaaayyyyyy 🙂
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Dear Anurag
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the story!
With best wishes
Penny
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What a great story in 100 words Penny. Loved your characters and the flow of the story. Thank God! he made it…a happy ending. 🙂
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Dear Norma
Thank you for reading and for your nice comments. I’m glad you liked the flow of the story – that’s the bit I find most difficult with only 100 words.
With best wishes
Penny
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There are many poems and songs about the tough life the fishermen face. Glad this one ends on a happier note.
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Dear Varad
Thank you for reading and commenting. It was a risky voyage, but luck, skill and possibly prayer brought them safe home to port this time.
With best wishes
Penny
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You captured both stressors beautifully. Her fidgeting with the phone made it all so real.
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Dear Laurie
Thank you for reading and commenting. We all fidget with something when we’re waiting helplessly, don’t we?
With very best wishes
Penny
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😊
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I was holding my breath, dreading an awful end. Thank you for NOT doing that to me!!
Well done!
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Dear Dale
Thank you for reading and commenting. It was touch and go for the happy ending!
With best wishes
Penny
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Seriously!
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Very descriptive, I could see the action unfold right before my eyes.
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Dear Subroto
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the descriptive writing.
With best wishes
Penny
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Penny, I’m happy for Mary. Great that her prayers were answered.
No storm can affect the believers. True love triumphs.
Happy belated Valentine’s Day!
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Dear Anita
Thank you for reading and commenting. Mary prayed for Tom, even though she didn’t really believe; it was the only thing she could do. I’m happy for Mary too.
With best wishes
Penny
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The log in the grate, the message,the happy ending (for now)….The sequencing of events really drew me in. And I like that it’s a good ending. Happy endings are much harder to write well – so double praise!
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Dear Miranda
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you found that the sequence of events drew you in, and that you enjoyed the happy ending.
With best wishes
Penny
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Intense and elegant.
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Dear Yarnspinnerr
Thank you for reading and for your lovely compliment.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Oh, you had my heart hanging onto the cell phone right along with her.
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Dear Jelli
It must be awful to sit by the phone, knowing your man is in danger and being unable to do anything except wait for news.
With best wishes
Penny
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I’m a big believer in prayer, but I think Tom should’ve stayed home and helped with the bellybutton lint harvest. It’s a lot safer.
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Dear Russell
Thank you for reading and commenting. I agree that harvesting bellybutton lint would be safer, but I feel grateful to men like Tom who risk their lives to feed us. Bellybutton harvesters, fishermen, poets and even (just possibly) accountants, all add to the rich tapestry of life!
With best wishes
Penny
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I couldnt help wondering how so many people live their lives daily under such difficult and physically trying situations. And that’s the power of your piece and the images drawn were very vivid – very well done Penny 🙂
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Dear Dahlia
Thank you for reading and for such lovely comments. I’m so glad you found the images vivid.
With very best wishes
Penny
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I could feel Mary’s worry and I was just as relived as her when the good news came through!
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Dear Fatima
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you felt the relief
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Sorry – my finger slipped on the cell phone! I’m glad you felt the relief when the good news came through.
With best wishes
Penny
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I agree with Rochelle – you’ve packed so much drama into few words. The details you chose to include (e.g. the wind, the frozen spray on the boat, and the nil visibility) bought this story to life. The ending provided such euphoric relief! Excellent writing, Penny.
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Dear Magarisa,
Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly. I’m glad you felt the descriptions added to the drama, and that the ending brought relief.
With best wishes
Penny
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A most atmospheric and gripping story. I felt I was there, the anxiety building up, the cold weather, the what if’s… great last line, all those fears vanished as she hears his voice.
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Dear Francine,
Thank you so much. I’m delighted you enjoyed the story.
With very best wishes
Penny
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