Friday Fictioneers 1-25-2023

PHOTO PROMPT ©  J Hardy Carroll

“I dare ya!”

“There is nothing in there.”

“Then go in and see.”

The boy snuck into the dark doorway, shining his flashlight around in a circle.

“Nothing in here,” his voice echoed.

Something moved in the dark.

“Who’s there?”

Another movement.

“Gary? Anton?”

“All right, guys. Funny.”

Nothing.

“Guys?”

Another movement in the dark.

The boy flipped the flashlight back and forth but saw nothing.

A sound.

He burst out of the darkness, expecting his friends to be laughing but they were nowhere to be seen.

“There is nothing in there,” he called out loudly and then began to run.

Friday Fictioneers 1-18-2023

PHOTO PROMPT © Na’ama Yehuda

“Tiny spin and go cycle.”

“It’s for Barbies.”

“I’m not much into Barbies.”

“I should hope not. A full-grown man.”

“You’d be surprised.”

“Maybe not,” she replied. “Some people collect anything.”

“I’ll leave the Barbie collecting for other men, thanks.”

“Ah, I could see you with Miss Barbie World.”

“Too small for me.”

“Should I get it for Stacy?”

“Why not. Every Barbie needs a mini washing machine.”

“That’s true. Barbie is a working girl you know.”

He laughed.

“Not that kind of working girl, silly.”

“I know. She can be anybody she wants.”

“Who knows? Maybe this will teach Stacy to help her Mom with the laundry.”

 

Friday Fictioneers 1-12-2023

PHOTO PROMPT © Fleur Lind

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“Maybe they are aliens,” Bob said, shielding his eyes with a hand.

“If so, they are rude,” Pete replied, blinded.

Bob tried to stay on the road, but the next thing they knew they were bumping
down into the ditch. The car lurched to a halt.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, you?”

“Yeah, but I’m going give them a piece of my mind!”

“Pete, wait!”

Bob jumped out and joined Pete at the back of the car. The lights were gone.

“Huh,” said Pete. “Maybe they were aliens.”

“Or ghosts.”

Both boys scrambled back into the car. “Let’s go!”

Friday Fictioneers 1-4-2023

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

“It’s a disgrace how people litter,” he said, looking down the
stairwell.

“Not much different than Mother Nature,” she replied.

“Yes, it is different. The leaves are natural. They decompose. The
trash lasts for a long time.”

“Why don’t you clean it up then?”

“This gate is here.”

“Climb over it.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.”

“I can’t,” he insisted and walked away.

“Apparently it doesn’t bother you that much then,” she called, hopping over the gate
and starting to pick up the trash

Friday Fictioneers 11-5-2021

PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

“How many things are in the circles?”

Katie counted. “Four.”

“There are four things in this circle and this circle, but what about this circle?”

Again she counted. “Five!”

“Right.”

“What about this?” she asked, picking up the matchbox truck.

“Where would that go?”

Katie placed the truck on Santa.

“How about here?” he put the Matchbox truck on top of the Lego truck. “They are both trucks.”

Katie paused, then shook her head. “No. Santa’s truck.”

“He must have a lot of toys to deliver to need a big truck like that.”

“All for me!”

Friday Fictioneers 10-22-2021

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Field

Sam glanced down at the table, the scattered remains of their lives abandoned among the discards and empty dishes. She hadn’t touched her water and he was leaving half a beer.

He’d never go home again except to get his suitcase.

Amicable was a funny word. He didn’t understand how to leave her behind like a friend. She wasn’t a friend and maybe that had been the problem all along. Maybe if she’d been a friend he’d fight to save whatever remained. As it was, he had no fight left in him anymore.

Stepping to the street, he raised a hand for a taxi and was gone.

Friday Fictioneers 10-15-2021

PHOTO PROMPT © Brenda Cox

Jeanette stepped off the tram, rushing to keep up with Harriett.

“I want the white pony!” Harriett yelled, racing for the merry-go-round.

“Hold up,” Jeanette ordered, taking the little girl by the arm. “First we need to buy you a ticket.”

“One please,” she said at the ticket-window.

As soon as she was free, Harriett ran for the white horse and clambered on board.

Standing to the side, Jeanette smiled at a man waiting with a wheelchair. Both their smiles said, ‘little girls. And ponies.’

If only the ponies weren’t just for little girls.

Friday Fictioneers 10-8-2021

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

“This is the place to get music,” Rob said, stopping in front of the small store.

“I don’t know. It looks a little eclectic.”

“That makes the music all the better.”

“Usually it just makes the music weird.”

“Come on in and see,” Rob invited, opening the door with the inviting twinkle of a bell.

Once the man as eaten by the Thing in the basement, Rob accepted a small purse of coins.

“Pleasure to do business with you as always,” he said with a wave, heading back out the door. Tomorrow would be another day.

Friday Fictioneers 10-1-2021

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

The swell entering the church began to die down and yet I still hung on the edges. I didn’t need to sit down to feel the watershed of disbelief which overwhelmed me even now, months after she passed. We were going to grow old together, sitting on a beach somewhere or maybe in the mountains. Reading and writing. Playing.

Maybe she is waiting for me now.

Friday Fictioneers 9-24-2021

PHOTO PROMPT© Liz Young

Joe walked off the elevator to the front door, stood for a moment looking out into the cold. He’d never done this before, obviously, and he wasn’t sure how things would work out. Stepping outside, he set off down the sidewalk, coat wrapped tightly around his body. He didn’t want to be late.

Later that night, he sat in his room, nursing a drink. The phone rang twice and then fell silent. Finishing his drink, he headed out to drive home. He didn’t want the kids to be the ones to find her.