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 on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!
PHOTO PROMPT © RONDA DEL BOCCIO
Happy Birthday
“What are we going to give Mum for her birthday?” asked Sandra.
James shrugged.
“A brooch?”
“What good is that? She never wears a jacket.”
“I dunno. Helen’s your mum not mine.”
“We’ve got to think of something special. It’s her seventieth after all.”
“A track day in a supercar?” James ducked. “No! Only joking!”
By eight o’clock on her birthday Helen was looking down at Buckfast Abbey, all sharp-angled shadows in the sunshine. The hot air balloon carrying her drifted serenely over the Devon countryside. She sipped vintage champagne whose bubbles prickled her nose.
“What a birthday!” she murmured.
Autumn Leaves 
Sounds like she might have liked the track day too
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Dear Neil
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m sure Helen would have been up for the track day, but slow reactions and general physical wear and tear might make it hazardous! Besides, you can’t drink champagne and drive…
With very best wishes
Penny
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it was a moment to be cherished for a long, long time indeed.
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Dear Plaridel
Thank you for reading and commenting. You’re right – it was a very special occasion.
With best wishes
Penny
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Nice birthday present.
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Dear Danny
Thank you for reading and commenting. It was a wonderful present.
With best wishes
Penny
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Sounds like a lovely day all round 😊
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Dear Laurie
Thank you for reading and commenting. It was delightful, and rather exciting!
With best wishes
Penny
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We did exactly this for my mum’s 60th a few years ago! 🙂
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Dear Iain
Thank you for reading and commenting. Good for you, getting such an exciting present for your mum!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Between the balloon, and the champagne, she’s going to get high. 🙂
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Dear Archon
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, she was high alright!
With best wishes
Penny
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Sounds idyllic. Track day next year?
Here’s mine!
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Dear Keith,
Thank you for reading and commenting. Track day next year? Hmmm. Drinking champagne would void the insurance I feel sure!
With best wishes
Penny
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Dear Penny,
What a birthday indeed. 😉
Our congregation did give our rabbi a NASCAR track day for his 70th birthday. He loved it.
Good story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you for reading and commenting kindly. Your rabbi has a great congregation giving him a track day like that!
Shalom
Penny
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Thankfully they decided to swap the supercar for a balloon, though she may have enjoyed that too!
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Dear Ali
Thank you for reading and commenting. I think she may have enjoyed the supercar provided she didn’t have to park it. And of course she does like a glass of champagne, which doesn’t go well with driving a 200 mph machine…
With best wishes
Penny
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This made me laugh, Penny.
Do you know that, in Scotland, Buckfast is the drink of choice for what we might call the less desirable elements of society?
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Dear CE
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad the story made you laugh. And thank you for reminding me about Buckfast being the choice of the less desirable elements of Scottish society.
Cheers!
Penny
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Lucky Helen 🙂 Not many people get birthday presents right.
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Dear Jolly
Thank you for reading and commenting. You’re right, it’s very difficult to find the right present. Helen was lucky that her daughter was imaginative.
With very best wishes
Penny
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I am sure the birthday surprise was appreciated, and the champagne. At one point in your story I thought you might have given her Buckfast Fortified Wine – Uugh.
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Dear James
Thank you for reading and commenting. Buckfast Tonic wine – hmmmm! Don’t think so. That would be a bit harsh even for a fictional character. But the view of the Abbey from above was stunning!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Such a lovely story Penny, I really liked the kindness of it. I’d love to get her birthday present !
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Dear Francine
Thank you for reading and commenting so thoughtfully. It’s lovely when children know their parents well enough to give them such an adventurous birthday present!
With very best wishes
Penny
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What a terrific birthday present! This was delightful, Penny.
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Dear Dale
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, it was exactly the present she’d have chosen for herself!
With very best wishes
Penny xx
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🙂
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What a perfect gift… it must be wonderful to get that as a surprise.
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Dear Bjorn
Thank you for reading and commenting. For an adventurous 70 year old it’s the perfect present!
With very best wishes
Penny
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I’d love a balloon ride for my birthday too. Thanks for the lighthearted tale.
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She was fortunate to have calm and sunny weather on her birthday, allowing her to enjoy the hot air balloon ride. I like your description of Buckfast Abbey as “all sharp-angled shadows in the sunshine”.
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Dear Mags
Thank you for reading and commenting. You are so right about being lucky with the weather! I’m glad you liked my description of Buckfast Abbey.
With very best wishes,
Penny
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What a thoughtful gift! Very sweet story, Penny.
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She probably already has a million brooches. Much better gift choice. I enjoyed the visual of her in the air, sipping vintage champagne 🙂
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Sweet story. Buying meaningful bday presents can be such a challenge. I think they nailed it.
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