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!
The boat trip
I snooped. I confess it. Was Marcus going on the boat trip? I get sea-sick and I wasn’t going to risk it if there was no hope of even a brief time together.
I followed him on board. But, oh dear, it was so windy, and the waves were choppy. Marcus leaned against the rail taking endless photographs.
‘Gosh, it’s breezy!’ I said.
‘Is it? I suppose it is.’
‘Do you fancy a coffee to warm up?’
His eyes focussed on me. He smiled, a friendly smile.
‘I’d enjoy that,’ he replied.
I swallowed, hard. Please, not seasickness – not now!
Autumn Leaves 
A great snippet of a bigger sounding story
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Thank you for your kind comment, Michael.
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Of course, if she’s sick he may feel sorry for her, comfort her, and then he’s in the bag
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Thank you for your kind comment, Neil. I think the strategy you outline is a bit high risk!
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Nothing ventured …..
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Oh no! Bad timing! Hopefully Marcus sees the funny side of it!
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Thank you for your kind comment, Iain. I think she’s just about holding on at the moment…!
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Her timing is a bit off — as is her stomach. A cup of tea (better for the tummy than coffee) and a hug is in order. Hope she gets both.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Lorraine. You’re probably right about the cup of tea and the hug (I’m sure she’d love a hug!)
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A lovely story of expectations, I think this will work out for them. I am sure he will understand if the sea sickness happens.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, James. There’s attraction on both sides, so there’s every possibility of things working out for them.
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A great story from the deck of a ship, well done, Penny.
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Thank you for your kind comment, Mason. I hate travelling by boat!
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You’re welcome.
Why? I love being on the water. I used to sail a little skiff most weekends.
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Because I get seasick very easily and copiously! I wish I didn’t – but that’s just how it is.
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Aww, thats annoying for you.
Oh well, staying on land isn’t so bad
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Dear Penny
Poor girl. Not exactly perfect timing. Nonetheless a well written and entertaining story. Dramamine for all. 😉
Shalom
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you for your kind comment. I think the woman must have found Marcus very attractive, to risk the horrors of seasickness.
Shalom
Penny
xx
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I fear a few of us have gone this route!
My guy really loves his gal 😉
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Thank you for your kind comment, Dale. The things we all do for love!
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Indeed! Also the very unimaginative title of mine… eesh!
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no matter what happens, i hope he’s worth the risk. 🙂
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Thank you for commenting, Plaridel. I think she feels he’s worth the risk!
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Penny,
I’m on board with her: great planning, great results. Keeping my fingers crossed — No sea sickness!! 🤞:>)
pax,
dora
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Thank you for your lovely comments, Dora. Yes, let’s hope she avoids seasickness!
Pax,
Penny
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If I offered someone a coffee and they were sick, even on a boat, I’d worry if it that was the effect I had on them!
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Thank you for your fun comment, Keith. I’d feel just the same as you!
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Heh, nice little scheming here. If you want to be noticed by someone, some risk may be involved and there sure are worse things than getting seasick (although not many as embarrassing). Maybe s/he should take up photography and aks Marcus for advice?
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Thank you for your detailed comments, Gabi. I’m sure an interest in photography would appeal to Marcus. I love that you’ve noticed that I didn’t specify that the gender of the pursuer. It wasn’t intentional, but it opens up a whole new angle.
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Sea water and I are not friends. I get seasick on… well, the sea! But not on rivers or lakes. Apparently it has something to do with the motion of the ocean so to speak. Good story! Hope THEY don’t get sick!
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Thank you for your interesting comment, Courtney. I hadn’t realised that the motion was significantly different on rivers and lakes.
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I grew up on the lake and we took a river cruise in Europe… no problem. But every single time I have been on the ocean or sea (regardless of the size vessell) I have gotten seasick 🤷♀️
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I guess if she throws up and he sticks around, he’s a keeper!
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Thank you for your warm comment, Ali. Yes, anyone who can cope with sick without being nauseated themselves has a lot going for them!
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Timing CAN be everything, eh? 🙂 Well, I hope it ended up … well … swingingly … 😉
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Na’ama. Timing is indeed important. I like to think that the pleasure of Marcus’s company was enough to fight off seasickness – but I have my doubts!
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Ha! Well, if he’s the right dude, he’ll be there after the swaying ends … 😉
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🙂
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Oh right. Those damn butterflies working so hard. Well done.
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Thank you for your kind comment, Bill.
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You are welcome, Penny.
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I like the way you capture the hopes of the woman, sense she is quite young. Tough choice — feeling sea sick or budding romance. Nicely done.
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Thank you for your insightful comments. A tough choice, but romance won this time!
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Hopefully, drinking something warm will settle her stomach. I feel nervous for her.
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There was arrangement for coffee on the boat?
Tough to balance the cup of coffee on a rocking boat! 🙂
Sea-sickness is something even seasoned sailors have had to deal with.
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