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 © Jean L. Hays
New Life
It was the depressing period between seasons when dirty snow clings to banks and sere grass hides the shoots that will soon scatter colour across the meadows. The wind had been howling for days.
Klah felt lonely. He didn’t call it that, but that was what it was.
The battered Pontiac pulled up as he was loading provisions into his pick-up – bread, gammon, beans, whisky – the necessities of life. A woman climbed out, broad hips swaying, reminding him of – it couldn’t be, surely? Not after ten years.
He followed her into the store.
“Hello, Klah!” beamed Ajei and kissed him.
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Autumn Leaves 
Dear Penny,
Soon Klah won’t be lonely anymore. Love the descriptions and the unexpected happy ending. (It is happy, right?) Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you for reading and commenting. It is, indeed, a happy ending! I’m delighted you commented so kindly on the descriptions – thank you.
Shalom
Penny
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You taught me a new word. “Sere.” I wasn’t familiar. I love reading things that increase my vocabulary. ❤
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Suddenly Klah’s world has become a little brighter 🙂
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Dear Ali
Thank you for reading and commenting. A friend will always brighten up the day!
With best wishes
Penny
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Enough to brighten up a bleak grey day. Nice one Penny
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Dear Iain
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad my story brightened your day!
With best wishes
Penny
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Looks like life took a turn for the better.
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Dear Sascha
Thank you for reading and commenting. A turn for the better? Well, I should just say that it did!
With best wishes
Penny
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This was wonderful, Penny!
I so love a happy ending (they are few and far between in this here challenge 😉 )
Beautiful descriptions, as per.
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Dear Dale
Thank you for reading and for such kind comments. I love a happy ending too!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Beautifully described, Penny. Loved it.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Dear Susan
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. I’m very pleased that you liked the description.
With best wishes
Penny
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You made it very easy to visualize these characters and their reunion. I’m glad Klah’s loneliness is coming to an end.
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Dear Linda
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. I’m glad you found it easy to visualise the characters.
With best wishes
Penny
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Everyday life – getting the groceries for one person, suddenly transformed into a joyous re-union between Klah and Ajei. A lovely, uplifting story. Thankyou.
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Dear Francine
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. Friends can be such a blessing, can’t they? I’m glad you found my story uplifting.
With very best wishes
Penny
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A lovely reunion. And a lovely story. I love a happy ending
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Dear Laurie
Thank you for reading and commenting. I love a happy ending too!
With very best wishes
Penny
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You painted a really bleak and emotional setting, capturing winter.
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Dear Tannille
Thank you for reading, and for your helpful comment. It’s good to know that the description evoked a bleak setting, both physically and emotionally.
With very best wishes
Penny
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So much promise! Excellent write!
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Dear Violet
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment.
With best wishes
Penny
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Love this imagery – the store and his purchases and his loneliness. Just perfect. I wondered, though if she was trouble walking back into his life… Lovely stuff Penny
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Dear Lynn
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Ha! You’ve been reading the back story, haven’t you? Trouble walking back into his life? I should say so! Still, I think it’s trouble that he’ll welcome…better than whisky, anyways.
With very best wishes
Penny
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At least life will be interesting for him, if not peaceful! Always a pleasure to read your stories, Penny
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Life is looking up for Klah. Another ‘feel good’ story from you Penny.
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Dear Sandra
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, Klah shouldn’t need to drink himself to sleep anymore!
With very best wishes
Penny
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A lovely story, and I especially like how nature mirrors Klah’s life: from bleakness to warmth and light.
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Dear Gabi
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m delighted you noticed how I used the seasons changing from bleakness to warmth and light as a metaphor to describe what was happening to Klah!
With very best wishes
Penny
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An old lover, perhaps. Nice ending.
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Dear Shirley
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, an old lover was how I imagined Ajei.
With best wishes
Penny
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