Month: October 2020

Friday Fictioneers – Down the Drain

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 © J HARDY CARROLL

Down the drain

I had packed my things carefully into my locker when Myers from Personnel materialised.

“Okay. Open it.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

“I think you should tell me why.”

“We can do this the easy way, or I can call in the factory manager. Your choice.”

I fumbled the key, dropped it. Myers clicked his tongue against his teeth. I opened the locker.

Myers rummaged behind my clothes and pulled out a flask of bourbon. We both looked at it, then he poured away the liquor.

The heady fumes tormented me.

“You’ve no right…” I began.

“Next time you’ll be fired.”

Inlinkz – click here to join in the fun!

Friday Fictioneers – When Dad gets home

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

When Dad gets home

I walked into Mom and Dad’s room without knocking. Dad choked as he swigged from a flask. When he’d caught his breath, he said, “Must dash. Don’t tell Mom, will you?” He winked at me, ran downstairs, and into the car.

I went to breakfast and sneaked myself an extra spoonful of sugar.

“No more sugar! said Mom.

As she left the room. I dug into the sugar bowl for some more – but it slipped and shattered on the floor. Horror!

Mom was back in a flash.

“You just wait till your Dad gets home,” she said.

Inlinkz – click here to join the fun!

Friday Fictioneers – Boat for Sale

PHOTO PROMPT © C E AYR

Boat for sale

It’s an immaculate vessel. The fishing tackle in the bow looks brand-new. The engine fires at the first attempt. The paintwork is almost unmarked. It’s also pink. Hmm.

I ask the agent who is handling the sale how long it has been on the market. He shrugs.

“A few months, maybe.”

“Who owned it?” I ask, curious.

“A lady.”

“Did she ever use it?”

The agent shrugs again.

“She took it out every day, monsieur, sometimes more than once.”

“Did she catch many fish?”

He grins.

“Not fish, monsieur. She had a large, pink bed in the hold!”

Vive l’amour!

Inlinkz – Click here to join the fun!

Friday Fictioneers – I let them be

I let them be

The sun dropped towards the sea. Its glare dazzled me as I looked out from my apartment.

A couple of lads were lounging on the rocks below. Every so often they would crumple an empty can of cider and toss it onto my balcony; I heard a girl giggling.

I let them be.

It was dark when I heard shouting and went onto the balcony.

“What’s the matter?”

“My mates went for a swim and I can’t see them.”

The girl burst into tears.

I called the emergency services but it was no good. They didn’t even find the bodies.

Inlinkz – click here to join the fun!

Friday Fictioneers – The Fan

The Fan

Wu Chang lounged against the lacquered cabinet, which was decorated with intricate marquetry and held the finest of linens and silks. He was a bold rascal, black hair held in serpents’ tails by silver clips. His armour gleamed.

Zhang Chynna, attendant to the Empress, flicked her fan.

“Come no further,” she said.

“That wasn’t your song last night!”

Leering, he stepped forward a pace. “I wonder what your mistress would say about that?”

Zhang Chynna stared directly into his eyes. She gestured minutely with her fan.

Five arrows pierced Wu Chang. Regrettably, the sixth chipped the lacquer of the cabinet.

Inlinkz – click here to join the fun

Autumn Leaves