Category: Flash Fiction

50 Words Thursday # 58

Deb Whitman is the host of 50 Words Thursday this week.

The Rules:

  • Find the muse within the photo or line provided and follow where it leads. It can be a story, anecdote, poem. Anything!
  • The Story must be between 50 and 250 words, in 50 word increments. (so 50, 100, 150, 200 or 250 words)
  • Link back to this post with the tag 50WordThurs so that everyone can find it, or post your response in the comments below.

58

“To be at liberty and out in the London streets was like being out of prison”.

– Mrs Budley Falls From Grace – MC Beaton

~*~

Joan Smith had been saving and planning for a visit to the old country. Her parents were from England and visiting London was her life long ambition. She worked as a librarian in a high school in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. It was where her parents had settled way back in early twentieth century. She was raised there and later married a nice local man, Jacob Smith. They were happy, but after her husband’s death, she longed to go and see England.

Finally she was there. She flew to London on a fine Sunday. To be at liberty to roam about and out in the London streets was like being out of prison. It was all that she had imagined and much more.

It was karma that, she met Peter in the pub her first night.It was love at first sight! The decision to visit London changed her life!

~*~

Word count; 150

#Keepitalive

#50WordThurs

Fandango’s February Expressions #10

Fandango is the host of FFE

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Barking up the wrong tree

~*~

Tony grabbed the man by his sleeve and stopped him from exiting the store.

Very understandably, he became very upset at this invasion of his personal space and rude treatment.

He asked angrily what was the issue, why was he being manhandled and not allowed to leave the store. Tony said that the store manager would be there shortly and she would explain everything. In a little while, Sandra hurried over to where they were standing. Her face flushed and she was breathing fast as she had literally ran the entire length of the store to get there as fast as she could.

“I am so sorry sir, it’s all a big misunderstanding. I apologize on the behalf of the store and our security guard. Please you’re free to go now. If you like we can offer you free discount vouchers?”

The man looked confused but relieved. ” What was it all about anyway?”

“It was a case of mistaken identity. A man who was dressed in clothes similar to yours has been shoplifting here for a couple of days. Tony, our security guard mistook you for him. But I just saw on the CC TV that he had left from the south exit a few minutes ago”

“You mean to say you were barking up the wrong tree!” The man said sarcastically and turned to leave.

~*~

#Keepitalive

#FFE

Sunday Photo Fiction – Feb 2 2020

DONNA is the host of Sunday Photo Fiction.

~*~ 83

The Fox Inn

It looked like any other inn in that area of Britain. Both Meg and Ryan were tired and since their car had broken down it was the obvious choice to put up for the night. The check-in was slow but since they were the only guests, they were done soon enough. The lady who checked them in lead the way to the first-floor room. It was quite shabby and not very clean. But they had already paid so they accepted with good grace. The bathroom, they were told was at the end of the passage. After having a bite to eat, both of them retired for the night. Tomorrow was going to be hectic as they had to get the car fixed first before moving on with their sightseeing journey.

It was during the night that they became aware of the reason, why the rooms seemed unused and dirty….. But it was too late.

The next morning, a chap from the traffic department was knocking at the doors in the neighborhood to see who was the owner of the abandoned and broken down Corolla!

~*~

The Prompt;

Please be sure to post the photo along with the photo credit
plus a link back to this post.

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#SPF

Crimson Creative Challenge # 64

Crispina is the host of Crimson Creative Challenge.

CCC#64

~*~

It was scary, yet intriguing. Polly stood there staring at the two giant insect-like creatures. They appeared to be sleeping or hibernating. But she still felt a shiver go through her spine. She quickly turned to go home. She had taken just a few steps when she heard a shrill whistle coming from those “things”. Very cautiously she looked behind only to find that they had moved. She broke into a run and could hear clanging and whistling behind her. Luckily her home wasn’t far and as she turned into her driveway, she gave another quick look behind her. And stopped. Though she still heard the noise those things made, there was no sign of anything or anyone behind her.

Suddenly there was a big whoosh and looking up, she saw those creatures coming at her at great speed from above her. She ran for shelter but doubted that she would make it.

She waited……. but nothing happened. It became very quiet. And then she heard laughter.

A group of teenagers was there with strange-looking devices in their hands.

“Were you frightened, ma’am? We were just testing how real our hologram looked to ordinary people. It was just a computer-generated image and sound effects”

Polly was too angry to reply.

~*~

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#CCC

Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge #51

Fandango is the host of Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge.

FFFCWelcome to “Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge.”

The image below is from Cottonbro at Pexels.com.D44395F1-1C23-46AB-96F8-5FA8ACBFE5A4(For the visually challenged writer, the photo shows a woman holding up to the light and looking at a strip of film negatives that seems to show images of two people outdoors.)

~*~

The negatives were not in pristine condition and the chances of getting good prints off them weren’t great. But still, it was a chance. After the apartment and most of the stored stuff in it were damaged by the flood, Aunt May was heartbroken. And though Cathy had tried her best to cheer her up, it wasn’t working at all.

But she may have the very thing that could drive away the sense of tragedy her aunt was feeling. Last night while going through her parent’s attic, she had come across this roll of negatives. And looking at the pictures carefully, she could identify aunt May and uncle James in there. They must have been the ones taken on their honeymoon. She will get them developed and framed as a present for her.

~*~

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#FFFC

Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge #50

Fandango is the host of Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge.

FFFCWelcome to “Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge.”

The image below is from the New York Public Library at Unsplash.com.733729F9-B458-4A54-BD61-68E0D127E920(For the visually challenged writer, the black and white photo shows an old movie theater box office and part of the marquee with drawn images of movie stars)

~*~

The deserted building spoke of disuse and neglect. There were days in the long-gone past when coming here to catch a movie was the best form of entertainment. Young people used to flock here to watch the latest offerings from Hollywood. Red-carpet premieres were also held here a few times, with the stars come in big flashy limos to attend among the raving fans.

But now…. it was empty and sad. Soon the old billboards will be taken down and this old building will be razed to the ground, to make new condos which are in such demand nowadays.

~*~

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#FFFC

The Sunday Whirl- Wordle 439

BWarren is the host of The Sunday Whirl

~*~

Her slim form was wrapped in a black cloak. It prevented the evening chill to reach her body. The hood covered her hair except a few tendrils which has escaped. An owl flew overhead and it’s cry startled her. But the wait was almost over, as she espied the yellow wolf eyes staring at her from the bushes. She gave a merry laugh and ran towards it. The wolf gradually changed its form and soon a handsome dark man came forward with a swagger to embrace her. They only got the chance to see each other when the moon was full. They were together till the sun up. Now she will wait a month till next full moon to satisfy the itch to meet her beloved.

~*~

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#Wordle

FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER: 2020: WEEK #02

Rogershipp is the host of Flash Fiction

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Phillip Wyant 2020 Snowman

The picture this week is from Phillip Wyant, a local photographer.

ffpp

~*~

Frank was not fond of doing physical work. He was a nerd or a geek you could say but you wouldn’t expect him to do anything around or outside the house which needed him to use his brawn instead of his brain.

But he was forced into cleaning the driveway and the walkways as his dad was too busy, and the car had to be taken out of the garage.

On a whim, he started piling the snow and ice into small mounds. And then an idea struck him, why not make a snowman. Haphazardly he piled on the dug out snow into a rough snowman. He found an abandoned piece of wire which made a lopsided mouth. The eyes were his dad’s golf balls and as a triumphant finale, he took off his scarf and wound it around the showman’s neck.

His efforts were rewarded by delighted squeals of joy from his sisters and neighborhood kids.

~*~

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Carrot Ranch- Flash Fiction Challenge- 2nd January

Charli Mills is the host of Carrot Ranch Flash fiction Challenge.

~*~

A dusty hutch was standing in a forgotten corner of the house. Susan ran her fingers over the glass, making patterns in dust with her fingers. Her mom came over and scolded her for making her hands and clothes dirty. But she was intrigued by what she saw behind that dusty glass.

She opened one glass door and was transfixed by what she saw there. Original Wedgwood bone china plates displayed in old fashioned style! There were bowls, salad plates and whole tea service. Jacklyn called out to her husband. “Your mom was right, she had a treasure here!”

Word count; 99

~*~

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#CarrotRanch

January 2, 2020 Prompt;

In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about something found in a hutch. It can be any kind of hutch — a box for critters or a chest for dishes. Go where the prompt leads!

Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge #47

Fandango is the host of Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge.

FFFCWelcome to “Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge.”

The image below is from Unsplash.com.631C0C3A-17FB-4C14-80D2-14D7982C4696(For the visually challenged writer, the image shows a two lane bridge spanning two mountains along a coastal road high above a deep gorge or inlet)

~*~

Taking a deep breath, Zeke pressed hard on the accelerator of his two-seater. It was the final stretch. He will be there in less than half an hour. A lot of mixed feelings were swirling in his brain. Joy at seeing his parents again combined with showing off all the trappings of success were the positives. But the way he had cut himself off from his family was causing him to feel as if he wouldn’t be welcomed with open arms. Well, he’ll see what happens when he gets there.

He was home before long. Stepping out of his car, the first person he saw was his dad. He was shocked at how old and frail he looked. Without thinking he ran up to meet him, catching him in a bear hug. The joy and surprise he saw on his father’s face was validation enough for his return.

~*~

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#FFFC