Friday Fictioneers – Anything’s possible

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) DALE ROGERSON

Anything’s possible

“Why did you bring that wretched ball along?” grumbled Gerald. “I want to walk hand-in-hand.”

Grinning, Peter kicked the football away. It soared, then plummeted into the half-frozen creek.

Gerald clicked his tongue but said nothing. After all, Peter was holding his hand now.

“I’ll go fetch it,” said Peter.

“You’re barmy! Look at the ice!”

But Peter was already out of his sneakers.

One step, two steps, three steps, pick up the ball and back to shore.

“See? Anything’s possible.”

He kissed Gerald hard on the mouth.

“Now, let’s go tell our families that we’re a couple, huh?

Click here to join the fun!

Friday Fictioneers – Berkeley, and a Life

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) CAROLE ERDMAN-GRANT

Berkeley, and a life

“Wot’yer doin’, yer lazy bastard?” called his mother.

Caleb hastily fumbled the g_n out of sight.

“Goin’ out.”

He felt the money pouch under his clothes, stuffed with the proceeds of dealing. Soon, people would have to take him seriously.

“Don’ wait up, Ma” he said, and disappeared into the night.

He crept into the old factory where the gang met, concealed himself and waited, listening intently.

A motorcycle! But whose?

Very cautiously, g_n in hand, Caleb peered out.

Thank goodness! It was Steve. Caleb ran across, kissed him, and jumped onto the pillion.

“Next stop Berkeley and a life!”

Inlinkz – click here to join the fun!

What Pegman Saw – Gay Terror

“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 Chechnya.

Gay Terror

I can’t tell anybody. They would kill me.

Adam was a pupil from my school, older than me.

He was lovely. Sometimes I used to follow him.

He used to meet a friend in the forest, another boy. I saw them kiss each other. I was jealous. I wanted him to kiss me.

They had a special place. I would hide in a nearby bush, right out of sight, and watch them.

One day his friend came with a gang. They had pick handles and baseball bats. Adam screamed as they beat him. I stuffed my hand in my mouth so as not to cry out.

When they had finished, they dug a grave and threw him in. They hit his friend then, several times, until he sobbed.

“If you ever kiss another man we’ll kill you, too,” said one of them.

Letter received by the Guardian newspaper March 2017

Author’s note

This is entirely fiction. Unfortunately, the actual situation in Chechnya is far worse.

Friday Fictioneers – Breaking the News

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 © NA’AMA YEHUDA

Breaking the News

As Rick and Tamara stood centre-stage, bowing, Rick’s mom beamed. What a lovely couple they made! They could marry in the church where her father had been Minister! After the show, she chattered all the way home.

“Mom! Can we stop? I’ve got something to tell you.”

She pulled over. “Won’t it wait?”

“Mom, I’m gay.”

“Oh, no, Honey!” She clamped both hands over her mouth.

Rick flushed crimson.

“My boyfriend’s called Dexter. May I introduce him to you on Sunday?”

Rick’s mom fidgeted, then nodded.

“Okay. Invite him to tea, only…” she hesitated, “let’s not tell Gramps yet. Please?”

Inlinkz – click here to join in!

What Pegman Saw – Parting

“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using 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 on this page,  from where you can also get the Inlinkz code. This week’s prompt is Asuncion, Paraguay. It’s related to my story “Happy ever after” published on December 21st.

Image by Bernhard Post from Pixabay

Parting

Asuncion market gleamed with thousands of coloured lights celebrating Christmas.

Carlos looked miserable. He hated seeing Jose upset.

“Look,” said Jose. “I love you. I want a lifelong partnership. I will never go with anyone else; I swear by the Virgin! What more do you want?”

Carlos laid his hand gently on Jose’s.

“I love you too,” he said softly. “But AIDS terrifies people.”

“But there would be no risk, because I’d be faithful!”

“I don’t think they’d see that. Do you remember that doctor last year? When he came out as gay, he lost all his patients.”

“Don’t you trust me, Carlos?”

“I would trust you with my life,” said Carlos, fiercely, and then he sighed. “Perhaps we had better not see each other again.”

Jose stared at him.

Carlos looked at his watch. “I must hurry, Jose. I’m meeting someone.”

Jose said nothing – but followed at a distance.

What Pegman Saw – Happy Ever After

“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using 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 on this page,  from where you can also get the Inlinkz code. This week’s prompt is Asuncion, Paraguay.

Image by Bernhard Post from Pixabay

Happy ever after

“I must hurry, Jose. I’m meeting someone.”

Jose raised his eyebrows, pouted, but said nothing.

Carlos sighed with exasperation. He walked away quickly, scarcely noticing the market stalls with their crudely carved nativity scenes and insipid plaster models of the Virgin. The scent of coconut blossom was strong.

“Oh, you’ve come then? I thought you’d stood me up.” Beatriz scowled at Carlos, her prominent eyebrows drawn together, her eyes narrow with irritation.

“Sorry. I’m sorry. I had to buy something.”

The waiter hovered.

“We’ll have the fixed price menu, and a litre of red wine,” said Beatriz. The waiter nodded.

Carlos fumbled in his pocket and went down on one knee.

“Will you marry me, Beatriz?” he asked. The diamond ring sparkled in the restaurant’s lights.

Beatriz smiled.

“Yes, of course. I thought you’d never ask!”

Jose, across the square, watched in silence. So. Carlos had made his choice.

Friday Fictioneers – Shuttered

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 © Roger Bultot

Shuttered

After that first time, Binyamin knew better than to tell his father how he felt about Asher. He shuttered his face and kept his tears for the dark hours of night, alone in his bedroom. Besides, what good would tears do? His father had moved the family across the continent to give them a chance of a better life. How could he argue against that? If only he could speak to Asher occasionally, or even just speak about him to his family…

Day by day his face grew harder.

Day by day his joy diminished.

The shutters rusted solid.

Inklinkz – click here

What Pegman Saw – Pride!

“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using 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 on this page,  from where you can also get the Inlinkz code.

Pride

“We must have gay rights!” declared Marcel, banging his fist on the bar. “Both parties pledged reform in the 2015 election. It’s time they lived up to their promises!”

Akeem watched him from his corner in the shadows. He loved Marcel’s courage, his forthright way of speaking. Less forgivably, in the eyes of most people, he loved Marcel’s strength, his beauty, his lustrous, curly black hair. He wanted to kiss him, but he was afraid. Besides, Marcel never noticed him…

“We shall have a Pride parade. Who’s up for it?”

Nobody stirred. Awkward conversations started. Everybody knew this was a gay bar, but Marcel had gone too far. Akeem’s pulse raced, and his breath came quick. He stood up and sidled to the bar where Marcel stood, dejected.

“I’m with you,” he said.

That June, he and Marcel danced hand in hand among the rainbow crowd of Guyana’s first Pride celebration.

Friday Fictioneers – Betrayal

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 (the blue frog) on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!

Copyright – Douglas M. MacIlroy

Betrayal

After the betrayal Samuel had hidden in the garage and turned to Facebook for consolation.

“In life, we never lose friends, we only learn who the true ones are.”

The truism had hit him like a bullet.

The one person – the one person he had entrusted with his secret, had told the world. Now everybody knew that Samuel was gay. Now he had no friends at all.

The daintily typeset words on the screen mocked him as his feet kicked and the noose tightened around his neck.

Friday Fictioneers – The First Time

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 (the blue frog) on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!

PHOTO PROMPT © Jan Wayne Fields

The First Time

Gerald marvelled at how strong Peter’s legs were, how supple, how beautiful, as he followed him up the steep path.

At the top, he gazed over the plain and exclaimed, “Great view!”

“Even better wi’ a beer. Get t’ bottles out, lad.”

Gerald smiled at him. Trust Peter to be thinking of beer!

They sat down, side by side, almost touching, and opened the bottles. Yeasty bubbles tickled Gerald’s nose as he drank. The warm sun caressed his skin.

His hand crept onto Peter’s. Peter looked earnestly at him. Suddenly, their hearts sang.

For the first time, they kissed.