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 © Anshu Bhojnagarwala
The final meal
The embers still glow, but the flames flicker and fade and there are no more logs. I swirl the cognac in my glass. Its bouquet is exquisite, its flavour majestic; a magnificent vintage. The unearthly shriek of a peacock rends the air.
It’s midnight. The bank now owns my restaurant. And my house. And my car. Damned if I wouldn’t have to ask my lawyer before I could be sure they don’t own my britches as well!
Gourmet meals served on the terrace under the stars had seemed like a great idea…
So, I was wrong.
But I’ll be back!
Good scene…
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Dear Jelli
Thank you for reading and commenting.
With best wishes
Penny
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The idea may be climate-dependent
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Very true, Neil. You couldn’t do it in England; not dry enough, not warm enough! Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Dear Penny,
My that was a unique take on the prompt. Unexpected and delightfully different. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly. When I looked very hard at the prompt, I could make out several tables in the background, which suggested the restaurant idea.
With very best wishes
Penny
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well done…but how oppressive!
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Dear anie
Thank you for reading and commenting. Do you mean that all the misfortune is oppressive?
With best wishes
Penny
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Cash poor but life rich, I like it, the story that is
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Dear Michael
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you liked the story.
With best wishes
Penny
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Nice job, Penny (no pun!) 🙂
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Dear Na’ama
Thank you for reading and commenting.
With best wishes
Penny
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🙂
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A last, exquisite meal. Who could blame her?
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Dear EagleAye
Thank you for reading and commenting. I don’t know about blame, but I suspect the bank manager would have raised his eyebrows at the cognac!
With best wishes
Penny
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At least there’s hope at the end. Being dead broke isn’t really the end of the world.
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Dear Alice
Thank you for reading and commenting. No, this isn’t the end for our hero – merely the end of one phase. He’ll have a new bright idea just as soon as he recovers from the hangover!
With very best wishes
Penny
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The fate of so many a well thought out dining experience. Sadly.
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Dear Violet
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, along with all the good skills and character traits, I think you need a big dollop of dumb luck to succeed in the restaurant business!
With best wishes
Penny
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Penny, I really enjoy the atmosphere you set here. Nice job!
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Dear Dawn
Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly. I’m glad you enjoyed the atmosphere as it was the aspect I worked hardest to make effective.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Hope springs eternal! 🙂
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Dear Jennifer
Thank you for reading and commenting.
With best wishes
Penny
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Put it down to experience and rise again – I like her attitude!
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Dear Iain
I think you have to be very resilient to attempt life as a restaurateur. The MC’s attitude is very positive; he’ll have another bright idea – just as soon as the hangover has worn off!
With very best wishes
Penny
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i think it was all worth it. treating yourself isn’t a bad idea. tomorrow will take care of itself.
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Dear Plaridel
Thank you for reading and commenting. I agree with you about treating yourself when you can!
With best wishes
Penny
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I’d have gone to eat there, damn things shut now! Good imagination on the prompt
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Dear Minister
Thank you for reading and commenting. You have to be quick if you want to dine at the smartest places!
With very best wishes
Penny
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I think it was a great idea. One should always go out in style.
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Dear Anurag
Thank you for reading and commenting. Style is good (although I have a sneaking suspicion that business acumen is more effective!)
With best wishes
Penny
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Poor guy, one mistake can change EVERYTHING! This was fun!
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Dear Nan
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you thought my story was fun!
With best wishes
Penny
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Was his joint burnt down or was it sued for serving meal outdoors?
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Dear Abhijit
Thank you for reading and commenting.
He borrowed a lot of money from the bank to start the business, using his house as security for the loan. Unfortunately the business was not successful and the bank foreclosed on the loan; so the bank owned the business and his house – pretty much everything. Strictly speaking, the bank owned the cognac he was drinking too…!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Thank you for explaining.
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Tasty little tale, Penny
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Dear CE
Thank you for reading and commenting. For this style of fiction, praise from you is praise indeed!
With best wishes
Penny
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I like her confidence. I am sure she will be back.
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Dear Priya
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m sure the narrator will have another good idea – just as soon as he’s recovered from the hangover!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Running a restaurant that’s a bit different ‘ain’t easy, I know!
Click to read my FriFic tale!
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Dear Keith
Thank you for reading and commenting. I think opening a new restaurant must be even more difficult than most start-up businesses!
With best wishes
Penny
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Lessons learned, start again! I bet a mobile gourmet barbecue would be a better business bet.
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Dear Ali
Thank you for reading and commenting. Isn’t ‘gourmet barbecue’ an oxymoron?!
With very best wishes
Penny
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“I will be back” – Love the positive tone! Hope is uplifting.
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Dear Kislaya
Thank you for reading and commenting. I agree that hope is uplifting, and I enjoyed the hopeful tone of your story.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Sounds like an excellent idea for a restaurant to me — depending on what the weather’s like there, of course. But then, most restaurants fail, it seems. Great job painting that scene of the one last bitter celebration. Makes me root for the narrator and hope they *will* rise back from the ashes!
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Dear Joy
Thank you for reading and for your kind and detailed comments. I’m so glad you were rooting for the narrator. He’s a chancer, but full of energy and enthusiasm. He’ll be back!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Hooray! I love stories with happy endings (or at least, where I can imagine them turning happy later).
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What an original idea and great scene. I admire the courage of the protagonist. No risk, no gain.
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Dear Gabi
Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly. It was the multiple tables that you can just make out in the photoprompt that gave me the idea of an outdoor restaurant. And yes – no risk, no gain!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Loved the way you caught the ambience of the evening – the exquisite cognac, the shrieking peacock, then the harsh reality hits home. Well told Penny, true to life I’m sure.
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Dear Francine
Thank you for reading and for your thoughtful comments. I’m glad you liked the descriptive scene-setting!
With very best wishes
Penny
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I like his positive attitude, down not out! 🙂
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Dear Brenda
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, his positive attitude is his best quality!
With best wishes
Penny
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Story of many a failed business enterprise. This character is down but not out, i think. I Like the metaphor of the fire, for a person whose every posession has been consumed by an ill-timed or unfortunate idea, but whose core, like the embers, is still alive and well, and ready to blaze up again, should he encounter the dry tinder of a new idea.
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Dear Andi
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m sure the narrator will have another bright idea – just as soon as he recovers from the hangover!
With very best wishes
Penny
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The peacock was a masterly touch in the portrayal the luxurious decadence he’s about to lose. Good one, Penny.
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Dear Sandra
Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly. I’m glad you liked the peacock!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Maybe it was the wrong time/place for such an idea. I hope he succeeds 🙂
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Dear Linda
Thank you for reading and commenting. Even if he fails, he will at least have given it his best shot. As writers, I think we all appreciate that pov!
With very best wishes
Penny
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I love the attitude of reflection and defiance in this. Nicely done.
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Dear James
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you like the narrator’s attitude!
With best wishes
Penny
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Sadly, not all great ideas work! Maybe the next one will.
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Dear Anshu
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m sure he’ll be working on the next great idea just as soon as he recovers from the hangover!
With best wishes
Penny
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I could taste the cognac from your description. YUM … afavorite drink for a wintry evening.
I like that you ended the story with him being optimistic. Sometimes, it’s the best way to look at things. I liked where you went with the prompt, Penny. Well done …
Isadora 😎
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Dear Isadora
Thank you for reading and commenting. Cognac can be delicious, and certainly a treat for a winter evening! I’m glad you liked the upbeat ending.
With best wishes
Penny
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The voice is great here.
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Dear Lisa
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. I’m glad you liked the voice.
With best wishes
Penny
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It sounds like a wonderful idea to me! Loved your sensuous writing Penny, those luxurious details. And I’m sure your narrator will be back
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Dear Lynn
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you liked the sensual writing. I’m sure you’re right about the narrator – in fact, he very nearly came back for this week’s Pegman, starting a business distilling ‘luxury, vintage rum’ in the British Virgin Islands!
With very best wishes
Penny
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My pleasure, Penny. Well, that actually sounds delightful! I’d get chummy with him for that.
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Did it rain too often? I love the upbeat ending.
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Dear Liz
Thank you for reading and commenting. It wasn’t so much the rain – he had some very effective awnings for dealing with that. But even those lovely fire-pits were unable to keep the chill away, and the delicious food was all-too-often cold!
With best wishes
Penny
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The protagonist’s resilience is inspiring. Lovely description of the cognac!
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Dear Mags
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the description of the cognac.
With best wishes
Penny
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You’re welcome, Penny.
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She may be battered but she’s not beaten. Love the optimism!
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Dear Sascha
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you loved the narrator’s optimism.
With best wishes
Penny
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🙂
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The determination in the voice is great, of course they’ll be back, better and stronger. never give up. Nice one
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Dear Michael
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad the determination carried conviction.
With best wishes
Penny
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I think it is a good idea (at least in places where nights are warm enough)… here in Sweden it would be disastrous
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Dear Bjorn
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, I could imagine the idea wouldn’t catch on in Sweden!
With best wishes
Penny
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Love the last line!
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Dear Dawn
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you liked the last line. There’s something heroic about persistence in the face of failure, isn’t there?
With best wishes
Penny
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Indeed!
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A rich life, after being dead broke…not bad.
I loved the way you introduced peacock sound in the night.
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Dear SLSM
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you liked my choice of the peacock’s scream to help set the scene.
With best wishes
Penny
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Very different take, Penny! As someone who has ventured in business ideas, I can relate. And I like how it ended too. There’s a fire in her belly for sure! One that no failure can put out.
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Dear Fatima
Thank you for reading and commenting. You’re right – the narrator is determined to succeed!
With very best wishes
Penny
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I like the positive attitude of the narrator. Though it may be the cognac talking 😉
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Dear Subroto
Thank you for reading and commenting. I love your comment about the cognac talking!
With best wishes
Penny
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Such an optimist! Resiliency is key!
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