Friday Fictioneers

Hardship creates Excellence

/ michaelwynnauthor / 39 Comments

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Kent Bonham

“Good job,” the foreman congratulated us, “Fit to produce the next England World cup legends.” I gazed at the all-weather pitch in its perfect rectangle with its spirit level flat surface. Climbing in my car, I wondered how I was going to manoeuvre through the ranks of other cars crowding the street and then I thought about the legends of 66. They honed their skills controlling the uneven bounce, dribbling up hill, judging the unreliable rebound from balls slammed into bins and lampposts. Hardship has always been the mother of invention and creativity. Maybe we’re missing the point somewhere.

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.

Just a Point Along a Line

/ michaelwynnauthor / 63 Comments

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

“The sunshine defined us then,” Reg remembered, “But it’s not funeral weather, somehow.”
His shadow cast a twisted figure on the wall. Fleetingly he glimpsed the bullish version of his former self.
He pressed both gnarled hands on his cane, suddenly needing support.
“Well you’re at peace now, Maria.”
His bowed head shrouded tears falling and instantly evaporating on the cobbles.
“Nothing in the grand scheme of things, just a point along an everlasting line, but we were everything then.”
“Are you alright senhor?” A young woman had appeared beside him.
He smiled, “Thank-you, I will be in a minute.”

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.

Davy’s On The Road Again

/ michaelwynnauthor / 80 Comments

 

 

 

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

Life had been going nowhere, which it will if not led. Work brought rewards, but then more work on top, the only respite, the every night monotony of the pub. Davy wondered how he hadn’t noticed the insidious dull routine invade, until it possessed him.
He pulled a large coat and a rucksack from his car before locking it and posting the keys to his company with a note.
The ferry’s loading doors gaped a welcome as he made his way round to the foot passenger entrance. He didn’t know where he was going except this time, it wasn’t nowhere.

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.

The Rest is all Illusion

/ michaelwynnauthor / 54 Comments

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

Carter lay back on his lounger lulled by the swaying palms and the soft lap of the water slapped by a kindly breeze, against the sides of the pool. Inhaling deeply the mingled aromas of suntan lotion and iced rum cocktails, he revelled in the freedom of cast off clothing and the warmth of the sun on his bare skin.
He sighed contentedly; he would stay here as long as he could deny the cell walls and the stench of incarceration. With eyes closed, he repeated his mantra, ‘perception is reality’ and settled to dwell in his tropical paradise.

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here

The Germination of a Career

/ michaelwynnauthor / 34 Comments

I’m not saying it did happen like this, just that it could have.

What’s happened, I can’t upload my picture. I do wish they wouldn’t mess with things.

 

 

 

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Sarah Potter

Wyndham placed a sliver of stem under his microscope. “The blessed order of xylem, phloem, sclerenchyma!..Revising’s so tedious.”
His eyelids drooped. “Stay awake, or forget being a botanist.” He reproached himself.
Suddenly, an avenging tendril sprung from the specimen plant and coiled round his neck. Another reached across the floor binding his ankles. Others grabbed at his arms.
Desperately, he flailed his scalpel. “Must…cut…vine…from neck.”
His hand trembled, one slip and he’d cut his own…

Choking, he started awake. Plants stood innocently in their pots; no wheal marked his throat.
He smiled, “Wow! Career change, I’ll be a sci-fi writer.”

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.

Zombie in the Kitchen

/ michaelwynnauthor / 59 Comments

 

 

 

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Karuna

“Dad! One of those things off the news…in the kitchen!” Nicky stammered.
Les reached beside his armchair and picked up a cricket bat. “I thought you’d checked the doors?” he berated his wife.
“Thought you’d done it.”
The thing sat on its haunches, gumming the hide of a cat.
“Poor thing, just a girl.”
She craned her sallow head upwards. Taking a long stride down the wicket, Les hammered a straight six.
Her head thudded into the ceiling before hitting the floor with a squelch.
“Everything alright, Les?” His wife shouted.
“Do these things go in the green or the black bin?”

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.

House Hunting Misunderstandings

/ michaelwynnauthor / 53 Comments

 

 

 

 

Image © J Hardy Carroll

“So much potential, darling.”
“Potential for a load of work and expense, you mean.”
“But look at the space.”
“Space? There’s only us two. You intend building a boat or something?”
“Us three.”
John sniffed, “Lovely thought but living with mother wouldn’t work, however much space.”
“Not your mother, silly.”
“Well who…oh, you mean?”
“Yes.”
His face cracked, he beamed, they hugged and danced a daft jig.
“Now…over there would be good for his train set and I’ll get some goalposts for the garden.”
She laughed, “She may not like trains and football.” They giggled and jigged until they dropped.

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here. 

First Date Nerves

/ michaelwynnauthor / 38 Comments

 

 

 

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

I love this place. The contrasting chrome and plastic. The shiny faux-leather seats. Huh, they’ve got a new bubble gum machine. This is my fried food-smelling world. I need to get a table.
Oh my God, she’s here already, on the high stool at the counter. She’s beautiful.
She’s smiling. Perfect teeth.
Suddenly, I ‘m Charlie Chaplin with blisters, my feet too big and the toes pointing at ten to two.
Oh God, how do I get from here to her?
Act cool, don’t mess it up. Ouch, the corner of that table hurts.
Deep breaths, you can do this.

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.

The Mechanic and the Butcher

/ michaelwynnauthor / 49 Comments

 

 

 

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Cyril inspected his car’s repair. “Marvellous, how much?”
“£615.”
“What? It was just a wing mirror!”
“Yes but we had to replace the whole door. To get the colour match, you understand.”
Needing the car, Cyril begrudgingly paid up.
As usual that Saturday, the mechanic entered Cyril’s shop for his weekly steaks.
“That’ll be £615, Sam.”
“But it’s just two steaks!”
“And I’ve had to butcher a whole cow. You can’t just harvest two steaks, you understand.”
Sam’s eyes narrowed, “I can take my business elsewhere, you know.”
“So can I. Who d’you think would be the biggest loser?”

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.

Revenge – Justice with Extra Chilli

/ michaelwynnauthor / 31 Comments

I missed last week due to entertaining some friends who, coincidentally were French visitors. So thanks to Sandra for a very welcome and apt prompt. My friends are retired French farmers,  a group notorious for knowing how to use their tractors as weapons of protest.

 

 

 

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

“Now you’re Mayor, you’ve put an extra charge on rubbish collection from our farms.”
“Unfortunately, that’s today’s world, the town can’t afford to come out.”
Giles’ incredulity sunk along with his derriere, into the overstuffed sofa .
He toed the luxurious shag pile and bawled across the huge mahogany desk.
“It can afford these new furnishings!”
“Different budgets. My predecessor let the place slide. A town needs to show the world the right image.”
Back home Giles filled his muck spreader with the contents of his bins and slurry tank.
Outside La Mairie, he set the spreader whirling.
“That’s re-decoration and image!”

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.