Goatfather

Copyright Randy Maize

They say the death of an opponent is not a time to gloat.  It is one that should be spent in introspection and reflection.  How we treat our rivals in defeat is a measure of our character.

It is easy to be gracious in victory but how we handle ourselves in the sting of defeat can really define us.

Tish! Tosh! And bah humbug while we are at it.

Can I say that a life time of hearing fairy tales about evil trolls I am glad this goat is finally cooked.

Farewell Billy Goat Gruff, this troll does not forget.

***

Word Count : 100.

And before you know it the last Friday Fictioneer prompt for the year is here.   This should have been a serious and reflective piece and that is how I started it.  But then I did have fun with the writing prompts for this year so I flipped it around.  So wishing everyone a very happy new year and to read the other last words for this year, click here. 

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Discarded

Copyright – Adam Ickes

Those shoes had been waiting for a long time.  The location had not changed, on the shoe rack next to the staircase.  Each time he descended they were there, staring at him, a reminder of the last master of the house.

He had often asked her to throw them away but she refused each time, as if they provided legitimacy to her new relationship. 

Look I waited for him was the statement they made, held on to his memories, didn’t discard and throw his belongings..

He threw them out one night, next to the field where his secrets lay buried.

***

Word Count : 100.

So the prompt is a reminder that I have been participating in the Friday Fictioneers for a long time now.  This was my entry five years back.  To read the other old and new  Fictioneers this week click here. 

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Shady Deals

Copyright –Douglas M. MacIlroy

I blame the internet.  Really I do.  Suddenly Google has turned us all into experts.  Jack of all trades and masters of none. 

But I am ranting now. I’ve noticed it’s happening a bit after crossing certain age and I’ve really begin to appreciate my own opinions.

It all started with that book and him saying we too need to spice up our life.

Spice! It’s not enough that I cook those dishes with aromatic spices for him and tubby thinks I should turn tricks at my age!

Next time he won’t be ordering kinky ball and chain set online. 

***

Word Count : 100.

Here we are at another week of the Friday Fictioneers and heading into the new year's countdown.  I've gone the slightly cheeky route for this week.  To read the other Fictioneers this week click here. 

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On the Orient Express

PHOTO PROMPT © Dawn M. Miller

Sitting in a train compartment that’s moving in a rhythmic motion I find that the rumbling of the tracks talking to me.  That clanking sound I hear starts beating out words.

‘IknowyoudiditIknowyoudidit’

I dab at the sweat on my brow, furtively casting glances at the other passengers.

‘youleftherdeadyouleftherdead’

My throat feels parched as I wonder if anyone else can hear these words.

I catch that old lady sitting opposite me looking at me, our eyes meet and she puts her head down.

‘sheknowsyoudiditsheknowsyoudidit’

We will be passing through a tunnel soon.  My fingers caress the coiled wire in my pocket.  

***

Word Count : 100.

Welcome all to another week of the Friday Fictioneers.  To read what the other Fictioneers overheard this week click here.  My title today is a nod to one of my favourite writers ;-)

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It’s oil good

PHOTO PROMPT © Nick Allen

It’s getting close to Christmas and his presents have already started to arrive.  He was out during the day so the post has left a packet for him outside the doorstep.  His knees clank as he bends down to pick it up.  It’s probably an early gift from one of his old fellow adventurers. 

The postmark tells him it is from Kansas.  His eyes well up as memories that journey with his friends comes flooding back.

The parcel is heavy but he already knows what’s inside.

I don’t have the heart to tell her that my stock of oilcans is overflowing.

***

Word Count : 100.

Welcome all to another week of the Friday Fictioneers.  To read what the other Fictioneers overheard this week click here

You have probably guessed my inspiration for this week so here is a song by Tin Man.

Babel Creek

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson 

We listen to conversations on the train.  Oh OK, we eavesdrop, that is just what most of us do.  We spend our time listening to conversations that flow like water rushing down a mountain.  A crescendo of words gushing along. 

It’s not idle curiosity that drives us.  Oh no, we want to know what is going on in your lives.  That person you are flirting with right now, not your spouse we know as you just got off the phone with them five minute ago.

No we just want you to walk off the train into these pages we write.

***

Word Count : 100.

Welcome all to another week of the Friday Fictioneers.  I confess this is being written in a train where I did overhear some interesting conversation.  To read what the other Fictioneers overheard this week click here

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Relationships

PHOTO PROMPT © J.S. Brand

“So what do you think?” he asks, head tilted sideways and eyes seeking answers.

 “Interesting” I reply to this child who is now mine.  This is our time to bond.

“I call it ‘Relationships’.  Relationships can be complicated you know” he adds, “A bit like the human body inside.”

“How so?” I take the bait.

 “Inside we are all a complex mix of blood, bone, muscles and sinew.  Sustained by a beating heart. “

“And?”

 “Relationships are a complex mix of emotions and feelings but in the end we are all sustained by love”.

And there he gets me again.

***

Word Count : 100.

Welcome all to another week of the Friday Fictioneers.  I started writing this in an airport lounge shuttling between cities on work.  The story was done in the flight and then completed at home.  I have a feeling that the rest of the stories this year are going to follow this pattern.  While I love the 100 words format, sometimes you have to leave it open to the readers without clearly trying to spell out what you want to say.  Hopefully it worked.  To read what the other Fictioneers are seeing this week click here

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Prawns on a Chessboard

PHOTO PROMPT © Jeff Arnold

“Sometimes,” he said “I feel like a prawn in a game of chess.”

“Pawn,” I replied “you mean ‘pawn’ in the game of chess.”

He looked pained at the interruption.  We were only half an hour into the long story of his domestic problems.

“Sorry,” I said “that was shellfish of me.  Do carry on.”

“It’s this insane competition that my wife and her sister are carrying on social media.  At their age both think they are sex thimbles.”

I opened my mouth and closed it quickly.

“What’s your plan?”

“What can I do but wait?  Patience is a virgin.”

***

Word Count : 100.

Looking at the photograph for this week I wondered if I could write a story from the pigment of my imagination.  As our ex Prime Minister Tony Abbot had once said, "No one however smart, however well-educated, however experienced … is the suppository of all wisdom."

So welcome all to another week of the Friday Fictioneers.  To read what the other Fictioneers are seeing this week click here

Initially I was going to recycle this story written in the past for Narrator International but decided to have some fun instead.

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Eye in the Sky

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

“It’s the eye in the sky” muttered Alan in my office.  He was there because the warden was concerned about his erratic behaviour.

Alan and I went back a long way. He had a history of arrests for crack cocaine use, but now his last known date of use was five years ago.

It is not unusual for patients with visual hallucinations to report visions of monsters or other supernatural objects, so I sent him back after prescribing medication.

Loud screams sent the guards to his room in the night, where only ashes were found with no trace of Alan.

***

Word Count : 100.

Eye spy another episode of the Friday Fictioneers.  To read what the other Fictioneers are seeing this week click here

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The Drop Off

PHOTO PROMPT © Jilly Funell

We meet in the area next to the shops.  Not my idea but the counsellor had suggested a ‘neutral ground’.  For my own sanity I’ve cut off all communications except discussions regarding the children. 

It’s the children I’ve come to pickup for the weekend.  Seeing her brings emotions flooding back again.  Before the shock discovery I’d really thought that our life was soaring high.

“You’ve finally lost some weight” she comments.

“It’s the infidelity diet,” I can’t help myself “not really recommended but it works.”

Her face hardens, “I’ll pick them tomorrow”.

Maybe one day we will make small talk.

***

Word Count : 100.

We are hanging around the tower for this week's episode of the Friday Fictioneers.

I am going for two submissions this week. The first one can be found here -> Maxed Out

To read other stories by the Fictioneers this week click here

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Maxed Out

PHOTO PROMPT © Jilly Funell

Edited Version follows:

I was at my usual spot at the wharf. The couple behind me were conversing.

“Darling the thing about true happiness is that it does not ask for much.”

“I just desire luxury goods.  It makes me happy.”

“Well people often confuse desire with happiness.  It was true of my past life when I was more intent in chasing the material aspects of things.  The designer labels, the fast cars and various items of luxury.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“My credit card is over the limit.  We can’t shop here anymore.  Hey wait where are you going?”

***

Word Count : 100.

Original Version below:

I was at my usual spot at the wharf. The couple behind me were conversing.

“The thing about true happiness is that it does not ask for much.  Then there is desire, which doesn’t work the same way, but people have often confused the two.  It was true of my past life when I was more intent in chasing the material aspects of things.  The designer labels, the fast cars and various items of luxury.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“My credit card is over the limit.  We can’t shop here anymore.  Hey wait where are you going?”

***

Word Count : 100.

NOTE: Thanks to Penny's feedback I now have two versions.

We are hanging around the tower for this week's episode of the Friday Fictioneers.

I am going for two submissions this week. The second one can be found here -> The Drop Off

To read other stories by the Fictioneers this week click here


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The Bachelor Prince

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Now that they are breaking up, the time has come to confess, it was I who spread the tales of their romance.

You think all stories are just about sweetness and love?   Did you also think that human hair has the right tensile strength to be used as a rope? True her long attractive hair is all over her Instagram feed but none shows the prince climbing up.  And Charming? He can’t commit to just one happy ending.

He is filming the new season of the Bachelor Prince.  I hear the unlucky girl gets an apple from Snow’s step mum.

***

Word Count: 100

It's time to visit the old stone house for another week of the Friday Fictioneers.

I am going for two submissions this week. The first one can be found here -> Walled In

To read other stories by the Fictioneers this week click here

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Walled In

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

These days I am followed by whispers wherever I go.  Surreptitious glances cast my way and knowing looks exchanged.

‘What is the truth?’ they ask.

‘Why did you keep it hidden for so long?’

The air is thick with accusations that are dense like the morning fog. 

I built walls around myself the day innocence died.  Brick by brick I built an impenetrable fortress around my fears, feelings and emotions. 

They ask for details and mock me for remembering them. 

Your power and connections may set you free now but I know each night your guilt walls you in too.

***

Word Count : 100.

It's time to visit the old stone house for another week of the Friday Fictioneers.

I am going for two submissions this week. The second one can be found here -> Bachelor Prince

To read other stories by the Fictioneers this week click here

I'd love read what you think about this post...

Shell Shocked

Photo Prompt © Sandra Crook

The professor was distraught.  Only yesterday the young lady had agreed to his bumbling request of spending an afternoon together.

The day had started with great hope and anticipation.  So when she met him in his office he felt she was owed a tour.  Her obvious delight with the sea shells encouraged him in explaining the principles of Taxonomy.  Modern taxonomy emphasizes evolutionary relatedness.   By the first hour he was expanding on the topic of sorting shells by their morphological characteristics. 

“I have leave now,” she interrupted “I totally forgot a prior appointment.”

Her abrupt departure left him shell shocked.

***

Word Count : 100.

We have a fine shellection of stories at the Friday Fictioneers.  To read the other authors having a shell of a time this week click here

I remembered that I had another speshell story like this before, The Shell, but I decided not to recycle it.

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Been Stalked

PHOTO PROMPT © Yvette Prior

He strode into the room with his usual giant strides. What he really needed was shot of caffeine after his afternoon siesta.

He smiled indulgently as the room was filled with the sounds of the gentle strumming of the harp.

Good coffee and music that was all that he needed. He was glad that that coffee was always brewing, all he had to do was come into this room and it would be set up for him.

He stood and inhaled appreciatively. Something was different today. He stood there tentatively and twitching his nostrils sniffed again. “Fee fi fo fum…”

***

  Word Count : 100.

Time for a coffee break at the Friday Fictioneers.  To read what's brewing with the Fictioneers this week click here

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Under my umbrella

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

I am never going to that restaurant. There we were having fun on the karaoke machine and this waiter asked us to stop.  We told him to stop being cranky?

Then we all called him a killjoy. You know what he said?

“I love my music and I’d even say it’s not that bad a song.  Got a nice rhythm to it and before I worked here I might have even hummed it.  But if I hear ‘Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh-eh’ one more time, I’ll seriously open the umbrella where the sun don’t shine.”

***

  Word Count : 100.

Its Umbrella week at the Friday Fictioneers.  I may come back with a serious flash in which I discuss the meaning of life.  But lets have some fun first.

To read other stories by the Fictioneers this week click here

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Time Out

PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

He was in my shop again, the heartless man, but I suppose he was only doing his job.

He coughed discreetly, clearing his throat.

 “So you don’t know why she would be in a park at such a late hour sir?”

“No.  We don’t have any friends as such in this town, except Franz and Bertha who live next door”.

Franz that bastard! Did he think I would never find out?

I knew he would remain silent, Bertha’s family was not known for forgiveness.

“The weapon remains untraceable too”.

The cuckoo sang as the red tipped hand reached the hour.

***

Here we go clocking another week of the Friday Fictioneers.

Word Count : 100.

Like last week am going for two submissions. The first one can be found here -> Inheritance

To read other stories by the Fictioneers this week click here

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