KEEPING IT ZIPPED - 100 word story

I looked at this week's Friday Fictioneers photo prompt and sighed. What do I know about New Mexico? It took me a while to find an angle. I'd be interested to know what you think of my effort.

PHOTO PROMPT © Jean L. Hays

KEEPING IT ZIPPED

Badger and Mickey are proper scary dudes.

Many stories about them are fabrication, but some are the god's honest truth. And we're talking seriously bloody bone chilling stories.

There's a rumour about Chunky, hideous enough to give you nightmares. Dismemberment is one thing, but did they really make Chunky do those other things?

But the shop is shut. Chunky hasn't been seen for weeks and his wife is walking around like she's got the devil sitting on her shoulder.

I don't show curiosity. Word gets around. Speculating could trigger Badger and Mickey to come a-calling, so I keep it zipped.

I hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments. 

If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE

If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 

- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.

On a final note - I always try to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been able to find your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign in first. 

ILLICIT - 100 word story

Here's my Friday Fictioneers photo prompt story. I thought the building looked quite institutional, hence my subject matter.

PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

ILLICIT

'Wait under my window. I'll throw it down.' Spider cradled his forbidden phone.

'Why don't I come and pick it up?' said JJ.

'You crazy?'

'Well.'

'How the hell would you get on my floor, JJ?'

'Um.'

'I'm in the Secure Wing, idiot.'

'Oh, yeah.'

'Look, you're allowed in the garden. Go outside after dinner. I'll throw it down.'

'Okay.' JJ was about to hang up. 'Uh, Spider, I don't know which window is yours.'

Spider sighed. 'I'll hang it on the outside of my window. Don't forget.'

'Okay.'

JJ tucked his phone away. Within minutes, he'd forgotten the conversation.

I hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments. 

If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE

If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 

- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.

On a final note - I always try to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been able to find your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign in first. 

LOST WORLD - 100 word story

This week's Friday Fictioneers photo prompt made me think of remote areas and being lost in the landscape. And what would happen if you saw something unexpected?

PHOTO PROMPT © Renee Heath

LOST WORLD

They found a perfect camping spot.

'Let's picnic over there,' said Amanda.

The companions set up their chairs.

Amanda unpacked cheese sandwiches, coleslaw, cherry tomatoes and mouth-puckeringly salty olives.

'Here.' She gave Ray and Alice paper plates and plastic forks.

Alice bit into her sandwich and looked around. 'Now this is what I call remote. It feels like we're the last people on earth.'

'Or the first,' said Ray.

'Hey, yeah. Like we've discovered Conan Doyle’s Lost World,' said Amanda.

They exchanged goofy grins.

A scalp-raising screech reverberated. They looked up and blinked as the pterodactyl flapped straight towards them.  

I hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments. 

If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE

If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 

- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.

On a final note - I always try to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been able to find your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign in first. 

BROKEN - A 100 word story

When I looked at the photo prompt for this week's Friday Fictioneers, I started thinking about thieves robbing a house. But that was a bit obvious, so my thoughts turned to a different type of robbery.

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

BROKEN

She was like a drug, a perilous habit he couldn’t kick. Intoxicated, he succumbed again and again to her allure. He marvelled at her ability to offer a different experience every time. Her changeable moods were addictive, unquenchable. Her unpredictability beguiled him.

But this romance was hazardous. He must stop the affair or risk destruction.

He stared at her. She waited quietly.

'I can't do this any more,' he said.

She sighed.

'My wife knows.'

He touched her cheek and left.

Too many broken hearts. He could no longer keep papering over the cracks. It was time to make amends.

I hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments. 

If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE

If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 

- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.

On a final note - I always try to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been able to find your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign in first. 

BEATING WRITER'S BLOCK - a 100 word short story

Happy New Year to you all. I've used the Friday Fictioneers photo prompt to kick off 2019 (and hope it isn't a bad omen!)

PHOTO PROMPT © Priya Bajpal

BEATING WRITER'S BLOCK

It was a clever idea.

Jenny meticulously wrote down storylines on little pieces of paper and dropped them into a jar.

The ideas were now there for the taking. She couldn't wait to get started. She was finally going to beat her writer's block.

Jenny pulled out the first piece of paper and read the storyline. Oh my – it was good. She removed another piece of paper. Well, but this idea was brilliant. Or maybe she should consider another? It might be the one to really get her going. But what if the next idea was even better?

I hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments. 

If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE

If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 

- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.

On a final note - I always try to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been able to find your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign in first. 

Obsession - 100 word story

After writing a humorous story last week, this week's Friday Fictioneer's photo inspired something more chilling. 

I am going off vagabonding in December, so this is my last story for 2018. Seasons Greetings and see you in the New Year.

PHOTO PROMPT © Nick Allen




OBSESSION

It all began in childhood. The Wizard of Oz sparked her imagination and became an obsession. An obsession that continued into adulthood. An obsession that wouldn't be ignored. And so she studied to become a biologist.

...  ...  ...

She entered the home-made lab. The rasp of metal against metal masked the terrible moans emanating from the pens. She hadn't perfected her art but she continued to strive.

The oil cans stood in a row. She anointed each individual, giving them relief.

A man lay in the last pen. Time to turn him to tin, like the others. Perhaps this one would succeed.

I hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments. 

If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE

If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 

- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.

On a final note - I always try to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been able to find your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign in first. 

JIMMY THE JOKER - 100 word story

Here's a little tale for the Friday Fictioneer's photo prompt adapted from one of my travel essays that was originally published back in 2003.

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson




JIMMY THE JOKER

I once went hiking with Jimmy the Joker. He picked the trail: lonely and hemmed in by trees. Shadows danced. We heard a scuffing.

'Moose?'

'Probably a bear,' said The Joker.

Hah!

We found a river with a dinky waterfall. I unpacked our picnic.

'Uh-oh, bear.'

I ignored him.

'I'm serious.'

I sighed and looked up. And froze.

It stood on the opposite bank. The waterfall didn’t look so dinky now.

'Bears swim.'

'I know.'

The bear abruptly retreated.

'It didn't want to get wet!' I said.

'Maybe, but there’s a bridge up ahead.'

‘What?’

'Just joking,' said Jimmy.

I hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments. 

If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE

If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 

- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.

On a final note - I always try to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been able to find your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign in first.