Friday Fictioneers – Memory’s Mirror

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) Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Memory’s mirror

I first met Stephen at a concert in the Albert Hall. The shocking revelation that this man was my soul-mate almost battered me to the floor. I don’t know how I hid my emotion from my husband.

Of course, the whole thing was hopeless. I had children, Stephen had children, and, in any case, we loved our spouses, we really did. There was never more than the occasional silence, or a shy smile.

Now I’m old, a widow. My children live faraway; we see each other a few times a year, no more.

I often think about Stephen – and wonder.

Inlinkz – click here to join the fun!

What Pegman Saw – A chance to serve

“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 the Palace of Versailles, France.

Note This story does not pretend to any form of historical veracity whatsoever!

Word count 150

A chance to serve

Galloping music urged on the swirling dancers, covered the sounds of dalliance, and hid the whispers of sedition. Ten thousand candles flared, splendid chandeliers shattering their light into a million shards that sparkled like fireworks on the many-coloured silks and satins of the guests.

The king looked sidelong at the Vicomte de Picardie, beckoned his chancellor and pointed.

“What’s he plotting?”

The chancellor considered.

“Highness, I’ve heard he wishes his son to marry your brother’s daughter.”

“So he’s seeking my mother’s support and forgetting to tell me?”

“It would seem so, Highness.”

“What do they grow in Picardie, Henri?”

“Potatoes, I believe, Highness.”

“Ha! Give Monsieur le Vicomte the chance to serve us by supplying our army with potatoes. Don’t pay him too much. And make sure he leaves Versailles tomorrow. We need the stabling.”

The dancers whirled, their dazzling reflections kaleidoscopic in the many mirrors. The music ground on.