Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – Act of Faith

This is a story for the flash fiction challenge, Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. We are given a photo prompt that is kindly photographed by our participants and approximately 75-175 words with which to create our stories. It’s fun and everyone is invited to participate. For more information, click HERE.

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Jade M. Wong. Thank you Jade!

Act of Faith

“Oh. It’s you. I might have guessed. Come in, Dave, come in.”

Dave shuffled past Father Joe into the presbytery. Joe wrinkled his nose.

“Would you like food first, or a bath?”

Dave blinked as his eyes adapted from the pitch-black night, but he said nothing. Father Joe sighed.

“Come into the kitchen, then. Bacon sandwich suit you?”

Dave grunted. Joe sighed, inaudibly. Dave had always been taciturn.

A tantalising aroma of frying bacon filled the kitchen.

“I expect you need a bed for the night?”

Dave nodded.

“Then you have a bath first.”

Dave scowled, but nodded again.

It was eleven o’clock before Dave was fed, bathed and arrayed in an old pair of Joe’s pyjamas.

“Will you say your rosary before you sleep? Would you like me to say it with you?”

Dave nodded. Father Joe recited the prayers in firm, compassionate tones. Dave mumbled. They prayed together, the father and his illegitimate son.

Word count 156

 

What Pegman Saw – A resourceful rogue

A Resourceful Rogue

“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using the 360 degree view of the location provided, you must write a piece of flash fiction of no more than 150 words. You can read the rules here. You can find today’s location, St Petersburg, Russia, on this page,  from where you can also get the Inlinkz code.

“So many tourists, and not an ounce of piety among them,” thought the babushka, as she pushed her way into the gorgeously decorated interior of the church. Sergei, the beggar, didn’t bother to call to her. He knew she would give him nothing; she was probably nearly as poor as he was.

Ah! Americans! Sergei checked the police weren’t watching. He noticed a young woman’s eyes flick over him. “I’ll try the ‘Sick child’,” he thought.

“Please! My child is sick.”

“Oh, how awful!”

Stella pressed a ten-dollar bill into Sergei’s hands, smiled at him, and entered the church.

“Which icon is Jesus?” she asked. The babushka sniffed at the woman’s ignorance.

Jesus gazed down compassionately on them, the old woman remembering hunger from the long-distant past and the young one hungry for culture and the future. He grinned as he looked at Sergei. He’d always loved a resourceful rogue!

For those who are interested in Jesus’ love for a resourceful rogue, the biblical reference is Luke 16 vv 1 – 13