Friday Fictioneers – Prince Charming

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 (C) SANDRA CROOK

Prince Charming

Dillon saw Sally blink with surprise. Her mouth twitched.

‘You’re asking me out?’ she said.

Hot-cheeked, Dillon looked at the ground. ‘If you like,’ he muttered.

Sally laughed. ‘I’d rather date a frog,’ she said, and skipped away.

Desire, despair, mortification, Dillon’s feelings twisted him. He could hardly see; but he could hear.

They were laughing. The girls were laughing. The girls were laughing at him. Anger oozed like crimson blood from the cut of a razor.

‘But I love her,’ he thought. ‘I can’t hurt her.’

He slunk home to his bedroom – and wept.

Inlinkz – click here to join the fun!

What Pegman Saw – The Marriage Deal

“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. You can read the rules here. You can find today’s location on this page,  from where you can also get the Inlinkz code. This week’s location is Oman.

The Marriage Deal

Adhara’s mother stood silent. She held her hands behind her back, hoping that no one would see the way she twisted the fabric of her abaya between her fingers. Her face, hidden by her hijab, was calm, solemn, a mask within a mask.

“The report of the matchmaker was satisfactory. Do you confirm, Basam, that in the event of marriage between our Jumah and your Adhara, your business will pass to our family on the day of your passing (may it be long delayed)?”

Jumah smirked as he looked at Adhara. Modestly clad though she was, Jumah remembered how pretty she had been as a child. He imagined the young woman’s body, its desirability enhanced by concealment.

“Alas, I have no sons to continue my business. It shall be as you say.”

“Then we have an agreement.”

The two men shook hands.

Behind her hijab, the tears rolled down Adhara’s cheeks.