Category: Fiction

Identical?

Neighbours – Image by KL Caley

For visually challenged writers, the image shows two houses with matching doors, railings and winter decor.

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Two best friends, grew up together, married nearly at the same time and by luck found jobs in their hometown.

On a whim, they decided to find homes near each other. As luck had it, they found houses next to each other and identical too.

At first, things were good. The wives also struck a friendship and would get together to go shopping or for other activities. Peter and Susan were soon expecting a baby but John and his wife, Cindy decided to wait a while before starting a family.

With the arrival of the baby Molly, things started changing. The new parents were often too busy to go out with their neighbors and friends. Gradually the bonds weakened and in a few years, John and Cindy found living next door to their former friends very boring, especially when they never had a child and there weren’t many things they shared with them anymore.

Then one day, John told Peter that they were moving abroad as he had found a very good job opportunity.

Now the next-door, identical house stands empty, waiting for some family to brighten it up.

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Written in response to WritePhoto # Neighbors, hosted by KL Caley

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Obeying orders

The image is from 8machine_ at unsplash.com.

For the visually challenged writer, the photo shows four giant stone sculptures of heads, perhaps religious in nature, with a man wearing a red outfit walking toward them.

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He was a tertiary commander. But the rank wasn’t important as long as he was recognized as the intrepid leader of the troops.

He got off the bus and crossed the sandy, arid area to enter the temple. The sight there struck him like a lightning bolt. The four giant heads were a part of their folklore and now seeing them in front of him had a big effect on him. He stood attention in front of them, paid his respects, and turned around.

Stories of ancestors were one thing and orders from his leaders were another. He stepped out of the temple and ordered the demolition squad to open the guns. Soon that legendary temple was reduced to rubble and with it the stories of a savior that would save them from this war of self destruction they had fallen into, were also obliterated.

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sandy | tertiary | intrepid | lightning | bus

Written in response to FFFC # 295, hosted by Fandango

Also included Greg’s 5 words weekly challenge

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Sometimes brewing behind these naughty faces

two boys pulling funny faces (a three line tales writing prompt)
photo by Austin Pacheco

They were very quiet and that was a sign of trouble brewing.

Martha stepped outside to look for them and found them at the back of the yard, hands hidden behind their back and eyes brimming with suppressed glee and mischief.

Before she could ask them what they were up to, they brought their hands forward and opened the jars they held in them, releasing a lot of butterflies, which flitted in the air creating a rainbow.

🦋🦋🦋

Written for Three Line Tales, hosted by Sonya

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Consequences

The image is from shutterstock.com

For the visually challenged writer, the photo shows a skeleton wearing a tie sitting behind a messy desk typing on a keyboard. There are cobwebs s between the skeleton, the desk lamp, and the papers on the desk.

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Karen went ballistic when she found out that her husband, Kenneth, had gambled away their entire life’s savings.

Though she was no carnivore, she felt like taking a bite out of her pretentious husband who had rocked their ship leaving her in desperate situation.

But Karen was no ordinary woman that a slight change would lead her astray like a blind person. She had plans for revenge and to regain the lost fortune.

She lead the depressed Kenneth into the room behind the study that was seldom used. “Now you stay here and think of a way to retrieve our lost fortune. Maybe you can go online and play those games that are always promising huge returns on very little investments. I don’t want to see your face again till you’ve at least won back some of that money”.

She locked the room and went to visit her mother to share her tragic story with her. On the way to her mom, she met an road accident and died on spot. As for Kenneth, no one knew where he was and years later his skeleton was discovered when the house owned by the couple was demolished!

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Written in response FFFC # 194, hosted by Fandango

Also included FSS # 73, hosted by Fandango

Also included Greg’s 5 Words weekly;

carnivore | pretentious | slight| ship | blind

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Love heals all

November 21, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using the phrase, “Oh, my.” It can be used in storytelling or dialog. What is the cause for such a response? Have fun with this one! Go where the prompt leads!

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Coming home after a shopping trip, she stopped in her tracks as she entered the living room. Oh my, what happened?

The chaos in the room spoke for itself. The toys littered everywhere, and a glass of milk spilled. A child could be heard crying, somewhere.

With concern, she went to her daughter’s bedroom. Her grandson was crying, and his mother admonishing him.

She entered after knocking and a silent look passed between the two grown-ups. Her daughter left the room. Hugging her grandson, she said nothing. The love poured from her heart to his and the crying stopped.

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Word count: 99

Written for 99 words story- Oh my, hosted by Charli Mills of the carrot ranch

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On the ledge

Standing here on the verge of a big change in her life, she looks deep inside her heart to find the courage to take the next step.

Life has given her a big opportunity, disguised as a challenge and she had recognized it for what it was, but to go forward she needed guts and chutzpah.

She remembered her dad’s oft-repeated saying, “nothing in life worth having comes easy”, yes! she promises herself to at least give it her best shot.

The next morning she went to her CEO and accepted the promotion and the relocation that came with it. “Will you be alright living in Kenya, all by yourself? “he asked with genuine concern.

“Yes, she said I have thought about it and find it an acceptable option, after all, that’s what I signed in for, to help the poor and needy” she replied with confidence.

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Written in response to Six Sentence Story- Verge, hosted by Denise

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Pensive thoughts

photo by Lerone Pieters

Jason always felt a sense of ease when he came and stood near the golden gate bridge, somehow the serenity of flowing water was symbolic of peace for him.

Today he was very perturbed, life was proving more troublesome than usual, and the issues at work and problems at home both combined to make him happy to stay here and avoid both home and the office.

He took out his phone and called Simon and ordered him to sell all his shares and liquidate all his investments, it was time to reinvent himself.

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Written for Three Line Tale, hosted by Sonya

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A hideaway

Deep in the little forest

Is a place few know of

I go there often with my friends

My special friends who only I see

We have tea there, a bit of chat

And we leave the place as we find it

Undisturbed and hidden deep in the

Little forest, the confidant of all those

Who want to keep their secrets hidden

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Written for CCC # 210, Hosted by Crispina Kemp

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A little white lie

November 14, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that includes a lie. What is the lie? It can be subtle or blatant. Who tells the lie and why? Is it an unreliable narrator? Go where the prompt leads!

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“What does it matters, it’s just a little white lie”

“That’s how it starts my dear and then one becomes two and two becomes too many. Lying becomes a habit that is hard to get rid of”

“But nan, I meant no harm. I just didn’t want to hurt Mel’s feelings by telling her I won’t come to her party, I’d already promised Cindy that I’ll hang out with her”

Then my sweet, you should tell her the truth, gently. If we start to hide behind lies, we will lose our true selves!”

“Okay nan. I promise, never again!”

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Word count; 99

Written for 99 Word Story- A lie, hosted by Charli Mills of the carrot ranch

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Boats in a row

Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra ACT
photo by Ellery Sterling

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The paddle boats were arranged meticulously, each color inviting the patrons to choose one for a spin on the lake.

Sheldon chose the yellow one as it was his favorite color, and took it on the water after getting a short introductory lesson from the guy who was leasing them out.

But unfortunately, he didn’t grasp the basics very well and a short distance from the shore the boat capsized, and he ended up in the water, the life vest and the lifeguard saved him before he swallowed too much of the lake Burley Griffin; this was the end of Sheldon’s water adventures!

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Written for Photo Challenge # 439, hosted by Weejars

Also included Three Line Story, hosted by Sonya