Friday Fictioneers – Romance

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 hyperlink on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!

FF - Romance 190306

PHOTO PROMPT © CEAyr

Romance

The job had been messy. To escape, I’d ridden my scooter three hundred kilometres through heat and dust to the quiet town of Medville. At the bar “Le Soleil d’Or” I found a much-needed drink – and her.

She had black hair and green eyes – unusual here, where bottle-blonde and sunbed-bronze are the norm.

What fun we had!

Walking hand in hand along the beach. Sampling the produce of local wineries. Eating pizza, ratatouille, bouillabaisse.

But now she nags me.

She asks questions.

And yesterday I saw her visit the gendarmerie.

The pistol in the carry-box of my scooter isn’t licensed.

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64 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Romance”

    • Dear Plaridel
      Thank you for reading and commenting. There are, as you say, plenty of fish in the ocean. But how much does this particular ‘fish’ know of the narrator’s violent, criminal past?
      With best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Dale
      Thank you very much for reading and for your perceptive comment. My story was a conscious attempt at Mr Ayr’s style, and I’m delighted you spotted that. CE does it much better, though! Still, I enjoyed trying, and that photoprompt was too good an opportunity to miss!
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Like

    • Dear Sandra
      Thank you for reading and commenting. You may very well be right. On the other hand, she’s visited the gendarmerie, and who knows what she told them…
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Like

    • Dear Rochelle
      Thank you for reading and for your encouraging comments. I’m glad you approve my pastiche of Mr Ayr’s style – seeing that he provided the photoprompt I couldn’t resist trying my hand!
      Shalom
      Penny

      Like

  14. The very fact that she was different than the bottle blondes, should have been a sign for him. She isnt one to follow the crowd. She will ask questions. If only she knew how to silently slip away instead of challenge him.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Fatima
      Thank you for reading and commenting. You identify a significant part of her character – she’s not afraid to challenge. I do so hope it doesn’t bring her to a sticky end…
      With best wishes
      Penny

      Like

      • I imagine 300km seems like a long way when youre riding a scooter, but he might have to ride a bit more. Is it possible she could have slipped the gun in the box? If so they sound like a perfect match.

        Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Keith
      Thank you for reading and commenting. It’s always nice to read about a couple enjoying the simple pleasures of eating, drinking and showing affection. Still, into every life a little rain must fall…
      With best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Apparently, romance is dead. At least in this case… let’s hope nothing else ends up dead as well!!

    I too loved the ‘bottle blonde and sunbed bronze’… such great descriptions, you have a knack for words!

    -Rachel 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Rachel
      Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly. I’m glad you liked ‘bottle blonde and sunbed bronze’. As you say, let’s hope nothing else ends up dead as a result of this ‘romantic’ interlude!
      🙂
      With best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Francine
      Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you liked the way the story concisely showed the death of romance. I owe CE Ayr a debt of gratitude as I used his technique to do that!
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Like

    • Dear Laurie
      Thank you for reading and commenting. She may bring trouble – she may run into trouble. The roulette wheel is spinning, the ball is bouncing and it’s everything to play for!
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Like

    • Dear Patrick
      Thank you for reading and commenting. I may indeed ditch the gun – but not until I’ve used it one last time. And then onwards to Rome, perhaps.
      With best wishes
      Penny

      Like

    • Dear Margaret
      Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, she may definitely be an undercover detective. Let’s hope she has made arrangements for adequate back-up when he’s arrested!
      With best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Violet
      Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, I’m afraid the narrator isn’t looking for a long-term, committed relationship; it’s not the sort of thing hitmen are known for, really, is it?! 😉
      With best wishes
      Penny

      Like

    • Dear Subroto
      Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. I was indeed trying to imitate Mr Ayr’s style . I confess, though, that my plot is not as tight and accurate as his always are!
      With best wishes
      Penny

      Like

  26. Lovely structure, Penny, those hints at criminal activity, and every detail counts towards the story from her black hair and green eyes to the unlicensed hand gun. You hint beautifully and we know exactly what the tragic outcome will be. Fantastic

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Lynn
      Thank you for reading, and for your thoughtful comments. I’m glad you liked the structure. As you will have noticed, I was trying to learn from the way CE does it – his stories are always so pithy and effective, and very tautly plotted. I didn’t altogether succeed – his plotting is crisper than mine – but I found it a useful exercise.
      With very best wishes
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

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