SPF-Stoned

There is an ancient legend in the old country that there is a rare bird, named letcholin vondala, (letchy, for short) that seldom is ever seen. When it is seen and it poops on you, you will turn to stone. Honestly, I thought the legend was just that, a legend and nothing with substance. I mean, who ever heard of being turned to stone because of being pooped on by a bird? Hahahaha!

Then one day I was sitting at the beach watching the surf and enjoying the peaceful feeling and beautiful ocean when I saw a letchy. As soon as I saw the bird, the bird took aim at me and plop!

I am a sad and lonely stone statue with petrified bird poop on my stone arm.

My heart is heavy and I feel the weight of my regret for laughing at the letchy.

(145)

Thank you to Alistair Forbes for our photo prompt today and for hosting the challenge, Sunday Photo Fiction. Al gives us the photo prompt and approximately 100-200 words with which we are to write our stories. The challenge is fun and addicting and everyone is welcome to participate. If you would like more information about this challenge, click here.

To read the other participants’ wonderful stories, click here.

 

The Island House

Izzie lived in the island house for thirty years after her husband passed away.

*****

Albert was so excited about his 20th anniversary gift to Izzie; a passage on the majestic ship, the Titanic.

*****

When the infamous ship hit an iceberg, Albert quickly put Izzie on a life raft, assuring her he would catch a life raft later, knowing there wouldn’t be enough for him.

Watching the “unsinkable” ship sinking, Izzie felt her spirit descending right along with it. Shaking with fear and gasping for air through a huge knot of tears and sobs, she frantically searched for sight of her beloved husband.

The women began singing, “Amazing Grace,” and the men standing on the doomed ship began singing too,

“Amazing grace how sweet the sound…”

Still singing, the men stood stoically, sinking into the deep, dark, and desolate ocean.

…”And grace my fears relieved;”

Watching in tearful horror and shocked disbelief, the women and children witnessed their husbands and fathers slowly descend into their icy tomb.

…”And grace will lead me home.”

(175)

Thank you to TJ Paris for our photo prompt this week.

This is my 175 word story for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers Challenge. We are given a photo prompt and approximately 100-175 words with which we write our stories. The challenge is fun and addicting. Everyone is welcome to join in. For more information, click here.

To read the other participants’ stories, click on the blue froggy button below.

SPF – The Potty Throne

King Henry VIII had several thrones but one of the most memorable thrones was his bathroom throne.

Kings don’t go outside to “outhouses.” No, they have potty chairs (also called thrones) and they have servants that dispose of the foul wastes.

These servants were from the lower rung of the ladder and King Henry VIII wouldn’t think twice of beheading them if they didn’t do their job promptly and properly. His “waste” was as important as he was and God forbid if they ever forgot that.

Liddy waited quietly as the King finished doing his “important business.” Then she waited to hear his call, “Finished.” She would promptly run into his quarters pick up the chair and take it outside and bury the waste that was in it. She would clean the chair properly and then take it back inside to the King’s quarters, all to the satisfaction (hopefully) of the “very important” King.

Liddy hoped that one day she would be removed from this position and learn to work in the kitchen. Even though this was harder work she wouldn’t have to work directly with the king who was infamous for beheading women.

(195)

Thank you to Al Forbes for our photo prompt this week and for hosting, Sunday Photo Fiction. He gives us a photo prompt and approximately 200 words with which we write our story with. It’s fun and addicting and everyone is invited to participate. For more information, click here.

To read the other participants’ stories, click here.

 

MFtS – The Petroglyphs

The petroglyphs told the story of an unusual event.”

Professor Baird challenged his class to try and translate the message of the petroglyphs. I was anxious to meet his challenge but found it to be a lot harder than it seemed.

I scratched my head as I tried to decode the drawings and nothing I came up with made sense. I desperately hoped this wouldn't count against our final grade. Then I came up with this interpretation:

“We rode our horses to capture our targets, our enemies. We had trouble communicating with them, but we find them to be very friendly. They raise goats. Taught us to raise goats. Then we have a feast and Native Tribal Dance to our Great Spirit that we be successful in the end.”

I was in trepidation waiting for my grade. This is what Professor Baird wrote on my paper,”I think you are very close to what they might be saying here.”

(150)

Thank you to Barbara Beacham for our photo prompt today and for hosting, Monday Finish the Story challenge. She gives us a photo prompt, the first sentence to our story, and approximately 150 words with which we are to write a story with. The challenge is fun and addicting and anyone is welcome to participate.

To learn more about this challenge, click here.

To read the other participants' stories, click on the blue froggy button.

 

FFfAW – Ice Swan

Google image

The swan pond, on the edge of my property, was inhabited by the marriage of two beautiful swans, a cob (male) and a pen (female).

My favorite thing to do was to sit on my back porch, relax in the porch swing, and watch these magnificent birds glide on the surface of the pond. They were so contented and peaceful. I was drawn into their lives.

I watched as they raised their swanlings, and I watched these swanlings grow up, leave the nest while a new bevy of swanlings came along. I witnessed the miracle of “swanmanship,” and it was truly remarkable.

No surprise that I chose a swan as my ice sculpture for my wedding anniversary party. After all, swans represent fidelity and loyalty.

Everything was wonderful until the ice sculpture began melting.

I couldn’t find my husband – or my best friend.

(145)

©pricelessjoy.co 2015

Thank you Sonya O. for our photo prompt this week

This is my submission for the challenge, Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. It is a fun flash fiction challenge. We are given a prompt photo and approximately 100-175 words with which we use to build our stories. It’s fun and addicting. All are welcome to participate. For more information, click on this link: FFfAW

To read the other participant’s stories, click on the blue froggy button:

 

MFtS: Flying

“Delphine always wanted to pilot her father's plane and when he forgot his keys on her tenth birthday, she knew that taking off would be easy.”

She spied the keys lying on the lamp table next to the staircase. She had watched her dad fly the plane thousands of times. She felt sure she could fly the plane too. In fact, she felt so sure of it that she decided to walk to the hanger and do just that. She was going to fly that plane. Her dad would never find out, she would make sure of that.

When she got to the hanger, she got into the plane and put in the keys in the ignition and turned it on. She slowly crept the plane out of the hanger and drove it down the runway, gaining momentum to lift off. She finally was able to lift the plane off the runway. She was so exhilarated! She was flying the plane! Then she looked below her and saw two men in uniforms running down the runway yelling something she couldn't hear. They looked very upset. What does she do now?

Taking off was easy, but now, how does she land it? Help!

(150 words)

Barbara Beacham kindly hosts Monday's Finish the Story Challenge. She gives us a photo prompt, the first sentence for our story and approximately 150 words with which we use to build our stories. The challenge is fun and addicting. For more information click on this link MFtS.

Thank you to Martin Furman for providing the first sentence to our story:

“Delphine always wanted to pilot her father's plane and when he forgot his keys on her tenth birthday, she knew that taking off would be easy.”

To read other stories: MFtS Grid

 

 

SPF-Breaking Up

I read the letter begging for crumbs that he still loved me and that he would be coming back. I searched frantically throughout the letter looking for a crumb. Just one lousy crumb. That’s all I needed.

There was none. It was a dear Jane letter. Sorry, but it’s over and what we had together we have no more. Cut and dried and hurt me real deep. I threw the letter onto the bed and grabbed my cape to cover me from the autumn chill. It was time now.

The tower bridge seemed the perfect place to execute my plan. Seemed the weather was apropos with how I felt. Dreary rainy weather. I did everything I could to make him love me. Where did I fail?

The bridge was uninhabited and I was there alone. I took off my cape and folded it and laid it on the bridge. I stepped up onto the edge and performed my best swan dive. Too bad no one was around to see it.

(170)

 

Alistair Forbes kindly hosts Sunday Photo Fiction and has provided us with our prompt photo and approximately 200 words from which I based my story on. Click on this link to find out more about the challenge and to find the link to either add your story or to read the others fabulous stories. SPF

 

FFfAW – Coming to America

Juan Martinez had worked as a grape picker for a Winery in California. He had to work hard for the little money he was paid. Half of that money went back home to his wife and children and almost half went into saving to bring his family to America.

He came home deep-down bone tired from his hard back-breaking work picking grapes, where he slept on the floor of a shack and ate potatoes he cooked in a campfire. He spent very little money on himself.

It wasn’t easy for him to be away from the family he loved; from Magnalena, the wife he adored, his sons, Lil’ Juan and Je’sus, and his daughters, Juanita and Juanella.

He finally had enough money to bring his family to America and they settled in Arizona. There he purchased a modest home for them to live in.

They were together again and finally happy.

If only they didn’t have to worry about being sent back to Mexico.

(165)

Thank you Vanessa Rodriguez for our photo prompt this week.

This is my story for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. This is a flash fiction challenge hosted by me. We are given a photo prompt and approximately 150 words with which to write our stories. The challenge is fun and addictive. Everyone is welcome to participate. If you would like to know more about this challenge, please click on this link: FFfAW

Click on the blue froggy button below to read other wonderful stories for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers.

 

 

 

 

MFtS – Morning Coffee

“The barista shook his head, “That hedge couldn’t have moved closer overnight, could it?””

His friend Maynard took a sip of his steaming coffee and asked, “My Gawd mawn, whatcha put in your coffee?”

“It’s just that I haven’t been able to sleep well at night for several weeks now”, he replied as he reached for the cream, “I seem to have too much on my mind,”

Maynard looked at him from the top of his glasses, “What does that hedge say to you my friend?”

“Looks like some kids playing ball and having a good time.” He answered as he sipped his coffee.

His friend set his cup down, “Yes, it is telling us we need to get more exercise. Especially, that “special” kind of exercise at night, if you get my drift.”

“You’re a single man Maynard, do you get a lot of “special” exercise at night?”

Maynard focused on the hedge, “Hey mawn, I think I just saw that hedge move.”

(150)

Thank you to Barbara Beacham for providing our photo prompt this week and for hosting this challenge, Monday’s Finish the Story. For more information about this challenge, click on this linke: MFtS

Click on the above link and follow the blue froggy button to read other participant’s wonderful stories!

 

 

SPF-Waterfront Lighthouse

The old Waterfront Lighthouse has been there for many years, guiding in the lost seamen of the north.

Captain Mackey was one of those seaman that was guided into shore by the Waterfront.

“All of a sudden a huge storm came up and threaten to sink our boat. The water was overlapping the sides of the boat. While the boat was being tossed about the men were all on their knees, saying their hail Mary’s.

As the captain of the boat I had to remain calm and try to get the men to calm down too. Sure, I remained calm on the outside, but my insides were being battered and beaten along with the boat.

Suddenly we saw the glorious guiding light from the Waterfront and knew we didn’t have much farther to go to safety. We slowly limped ashore. Our boat was full of water and the men and I were trembling with fear and from being wet and cold. We owe our lives to the Waterfront Lighthouse.”

(170)

Thank you Alistair Forbes for the photo prompt and for hosting Sunday Photo Fiction. The challenge is fun and addicting and open to anyone who would like to participate in creating a story using a photo prompt and approximately 200 words. For more information or to read other participants’ stories, click on this link: SPF