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 © JENNIFER PENDERGAST
Short Growing Season
Jo sighed as Ruth finished helping with her cystic fibrosis exercises.
“Mom, I’d so love a garden.”
Ruth snorted.
“Jo, this is Alaska.”
But Jo and her dad, Mike, looked through catalogues and ordered some bulbs. As soon as the bulbs arrived, they planted them in the front yard.
“The snow will protect them from freezing,” explained Mike.
It wasn’t long before the ground was covered with one hundred inches of snow, and when the late spring came, the snow melted and the bulbs bloomed gloriously.
Even with a short growing season you can enjoy life and colour – and beauty.
Autumn Leaves 
Perhaps it’s specially important with a short growing season
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Indeed, I think you’re right, Neil. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
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That’s such a hopeful story
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Thank you for your encouraging comment, Shweta. I’m glad you felt hope in the story.
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You’re most welcome 🙂
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I liked the vision of flowers, under the snow
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Thank you for your kind comment, Michael. The vision of flowers under the snow is lovely, I agree.
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Beautiful image of the bulbs under the snow and then bursting into bloom.
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Thank you for your lovely comment, Athling. I’m pleased you liked the image.
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This is moving and inspiring. I love how you equate the chronically ill daughter with the plants blooming underless than ideal conditions and by hinting at a short life.
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Thank you for such a thoughtful and compassionate comment, Gabi. You’ve read the story exactly as I hoped it would come across.
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What an effective analogy. Beautifully done.
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Thank you for your encouraging comment, Sandra. I’m pleased you like the analogy.
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I enjoyed the trust in nature, that the bulbs would grow. Lovely.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Yes, gardening in Alaska is a question of trust in nature. If the snow comes late, bulbs and seeds are killed by the deep freeze; but if all goes well, the very long days and mild weather can create a splendid display.
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Such a sad and yet pretty piece. Well done.
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Thank you for your warm-hearted comment, Mason. I’m glad the pathos came across. Even though modern treatments have greatly improved the outlook of CF patients, there’s still a risk of early death.
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It is still a horrible thing to get no matter what treatment does. We can only hope for a total cure in the near future if such a thing is possible.
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I agree with you 100%, Mason.
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The shorter the season the more beautiful it seems. A touching tale indeed.
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Thank you for your empathetic comment, Keith. You’re right that transience is often a factor in the most beautiful experiences.
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beautiful. this reminds me of that beautiful song that ends with the lines:
far beneath the bitter snows
lies the seeds that with the sun’s love
in the spring becomes the rose.
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Thank you for your kind comment. Your reference to the Bette Midler song was a delight – thank you!
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Penny, I like the message your story holds. Very gentle yet powerful storytelling.
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Thank you for such an affirming comment, Jade.
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You’re most welcome.
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Dear Penny,
A very sweet and uplifting story. Alaska can be beautiful in the warmer months. Lots of sunshine long into the night.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you for your kind and affirming comment. I’m glad you feel the story is uplifting.
Shalom
Penny
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Sweet story. Little flowers of hope will grow anywhere 🙂
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Thank you for your kind comment, Ali. I like your description ‘little flowers of hope’.
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What a beautiful story and analogy, Penny.
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Thank you for your kind comment, Elmo.
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What a beautiful story about squeezing the most out of life and not submitting to expectations or limitations.
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Thank you for such a penetrating comment, Nobbin. I knew of a girl with CF who never let anything stop her doing what she wanted. I last heard of her activities about a year ago, and she was still going strong. Such people are inspirational.
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Oh how poignant, Penny.
‘Even with a short growing season you can enjoy life and colour – and beauty.’
In the flowers and in the girl with cystic fibrosis. Beautiful.
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Thank you for your kind comment, Jenne. Some CF sufferers are really determined to do as much as possible. Happily, too, treatment is improving and life expectancy is going up.
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The seasons are magical. Each one has their own personality.
Powerful message in this story. It’s funny how people with troubles are the ones that see the beauty of life — the here and now. Well done P.
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Thank you for such a thoughtful and kind comment. Appreciating the here and now is a good step towards happiness for any of us, isn’t it?
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It is. Quite the challenge when the world is in such a mess at the moment.
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