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 © ROWENA CURTIN
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.
Autumn Leaves 
Wu Chang shouldn’t have pressed his luck! Fun read, Penny, and cautionary 😀
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Dear Dora,
Thank you for your kind comment. I agree – Wu Chang should have remained discreet!
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Nice, unique work. A lot in a few words.
Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you for your kind words, Bill. I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
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I hope that errant archer was scourged
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Bastinado, Neil. Hurts a lot but won’t impair his archery.
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Wow – that was a brilliant take on the photo prompt – so inventive!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you, Susan. I thought is was a good prompt – full of possibility.
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Dear Penny,
And by your skillful writing hand I feel more remorse for the lacquered cabinet than the fallen Wu Chang.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle, that’s a lovely compliment.
Shalom
Penny
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How irritating! Will need to get the expert cabinet fixer in now! Wonderful take Penny, something very different from the other stories this week.
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Thank you for your kind comments, Iain. The divergent sunbeams immediately conjured up the image of a fan for me. It was fun, trying my hand at a different genre!
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Very entertaining take on the prompt. This must be what they call fan fiction 😉
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Love your comment, Subroto – made me laugh out loud!
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I think Wu Chan had been lured into the trap… but I pity the cabinet.
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You may be right about a trap, Bjorn. And I agree about the cabinet – such a beautiful piece of furniture…
Thank you for your kind comment.
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That one was a little “outside the box.” I think it would have worked out better for everybody if Zhang Chynna made Wu Chang pay royalties. Of course, that wouldn’t have made for such an entertaining story.
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I’m glad you enjoyed the story. Thank you for commenting!
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Easy come easy go when you’re an Empress. Good writing!
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Thank you for the nice comment. An Empress can only afford obedient servants.
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You’re welcome.
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Beautifully casual last line, Penny. And a tale well told.
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Dear Sandra, Thank you so much for your kind words.
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a fan shooting arrows does come handy.
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Dear Plaridel
A fan shooting arrows may be quite handy, but I’d prefer to be protected by archers concealed behind screens!
With very best wishes
Penny
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ah, hard to get a well done cabinet repaired these days … 😉 Well done!
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Now this story was thinking outside the box! Great job P, an original.
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