Jack Woz Ere

Jack Woz Ere

Geraldine threw down her cap in horror. She’d returned from the pub after a quick pint to find the words JACK WOZ ERE carved into her favourite tree. People thought Tree Protection Officers watched trees all day … okay, she basically did. Now she’d failed at even that simple task.

I’m going to get fired, thought Geraldine. Maybe if I carve a little here, shave a bit there…

Hours later she stepped back, admiring her work. Not bad.

Even better, her hat had filled with coins while she worked. Enough for a pint, Geraldine grinned and headed back to the pub.

(100 words)

PHOTO PROMPT © JS Brand

Apologies to any Tree Protection Officers out there, I realise there’s more to the job than watching trees! I’ve been on holiday for a couple of weeks (did you miss me?). The wifi was bad and the company good so I didn’t try to participate while I was away but am looking forward to getting stuck into this week’s stories.

Click the link below to see what other Friday Fictioneers did with the prompt, or click here to head over to Rochelle’s place and join in.

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Pushing Up Daisies

Greta knelt in the flowerbed admiring the exquisite white daisies, they were truly spectacular this year. She was famed for her green fingers, friends joked that she could plant anything and make it grow: shoes, umbrellas, even money (she tried – no joy).

Greta was rarely allowed to buy seeds; her husband kept a tight hold on the purse strings, and on his wife’s strings. He enjoyed making her dance. Until she snapped and he found himself on the receiving end of her hefty garden spade.

Who knew he’d make such excellent fertilizer? Greta inhaled the daisy’s heady fragrance and smiled.

(100 words)

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

 I’m a day late this week. Busy, busy, busy! The picture made me think of an umbrella tree, and my story sprouted from there 🙂

Click the link below to see what other Friday Fictioneers did with the prompt, or click here to head over to Rochelle’s place and join in.

Boxed In

 We lived in Gothic House, seven squeezed in students. My room was the smallest, a cupboard really, barely space for the slatted single bed, but only a tenner a week. I kept my suitcase under the bed, wide open. When I needed anything, I’d sit at one end and roll up the mattress to get to my things. For a really good rummage, I’d drag the whole suitcase into the hall.

Now I wander through my country house, with its marble floors, balconies and double bedrooms, and I wish I could peel the mattress back to those Gothic House days.

(100 words)

Photo prompt © J Hardy Carroll

 Another Friday, another fiction. This one’s less ha ha and more wistful aah. Click the link below to see what other Friday Fictioneers did with the prompt, or click here to head over to Rochelle’s place and join in.

Square Peg

This story won first place in Zeroflash’s monthly flash fiction competition. The theme was 8-bit universes and it got my creative juices flowing. Why not pop over there and have a go at this month’s offering? After you’ve read all about Square Peg of course!

Square Peg

Mrs Peach sat in the doctor’s surgery and squeezed her daughter Peggy’s hand, trying to ignore the stares they were getting. Please don’t let anyone drop the P-bomb, she thought to herself, fingers crossed. A small boy pushed open the door, pulling his mother behind him. Spotting Peggy, he stopped abruptly. Hand outstretched, finger pointing, he uttered the word that Mrs Peach had been dreading.

“Mum, that girl’s all pixelated!”

Two red squares burned in Peggy’s low-res cheeks.

“We don’t use that word, Robert, we say ‘underdefined’,” said the boy’s mum, ushering him away. She turned to Mrs Peach, “Sorry, he doesn’t know any better.”

Yesterday was Peggy’s tenth birthday. The whole class was invited, although only a handful came, a pitfall of being the only underdefined child at a high res school. Mrs Peach had laid on all of Peggy’s favourites: Battenberg cake, Turkish delight, Kola Kubes and cartons of juice. Then Grandma ruined the day, calling Peggy “too jagged for cuddles”. Grandma’s was a different generation, but that was no excuse. Peggy ran outside. Mrs Peach found her hiding in the garage trying to rub off her edges with sandpaper.

Still, things were looking up. Dr Trenneman had had some success with cases like Peggy’s. When the doctor appeared Mrs Peach squeezed her daughter’s angular hand once more and allowed her to be led away.

Ten long minutes later

Dr Trenneman reappeared … Mrs Peach couldn’t believe her eyes … Peggy was fixed! She had curves, individual strands of hair, even teeth! And look! Eyelashes! She hugged, and hugged Peggy’s warm, soft body.

“Thank you! Thank you!” she said. “How did you do it?”

“Oh, it was simple really,” said the doctor, smiling. “I just switched her off, waited five minutes and then switched her back on again.”

(300 words)

Friday Fiction: The Ins & Outs of Love

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Photo prompt copyright: Kelly Sands

The Ins And Outs of Love

They lie on their backs in her garden, watching the storm clouds roll by. It was Kate’s idea, she saw it in a film and hopes Sam will think her quirky, cool and romantic. Sam thinks it’s weird, but stays because he’s hoping for some action.

Kate is in love; Sam is in lust.

He makes his move…

Kate is inexperienced; Sam is in luck.

Her clothes slide off and he slides on…

Kate is in the buff; Sam is in Kate.

Something’s happening deep inside her…

Kate is in trouble.

Sam is in a taxi, heading out of town.

 

(100 words)

 

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For those who don’t know, Friday Fictioneers is a challenge to write a 100 word story from a picture prompt. It’s hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, and anyone can play. Thanks for hosting, Rochelle! Check out the link below to see what other fictioneers did with this week’s prompt.

Need more Friday Fiction? Click the blue frog to read more stories from other fictioneers!

Friday Fiction: #callingmrcupid

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Photo prompt: Claire Fuller

 

#callingmrcupid

The words flashed on the screen, the ones she’d been dreading for weeks. She’d been thrilled to discover online dating, and even more thrilled when she’d been matched with Derek. They chatted every day, sometimes late into the night. But now the moment had come:

derek_132: Let’s meet.

Her heart raced and sank in equal measures. She knew it would be a disaster, it always was. Men changed when they met her, every man she had ever known, and she couldn’t bear to lose Derek. Still, maybe this time it would be different.

medusa_1: How do you feel about snakes?

 

(100 words)

 

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For those who don’t know, Friday Fictioneers is a challenge to write a 100 word story from a picture prompt. It’s hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, and anyone can play. Thanks for hosting, Rochelle! Check out the link below to see what other fictioneers did with this week’s prompt.

Need more Friday Fiction? Click the blue frog to read more stories from other fictioneers!

Need more stuff to read? Give Firewords Quarterly a go (there’s one of my stories in Issue One!) NOW AVAILABLE AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD – CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Friday Fiction: Perforated Walls

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Photo prompt copyright Mary Shipman

 

Perforated Walls

Maureen was suffering from palpitations, mood swings and night sweats. Her mother recognised the symptoms immediately.

‘The Change, Mum? Seriously? I’m too young!’

‘Nonsense, dear,’ said her wise old mum. ‘It comes when it comes.’

That night, Maureen felt worse than ever.

*

Come morning, Maureen’s mother clambered over what remained of the door, ‘How was your night?’

‘The facial hair’s pretty unpleasant,’ Maureen said, surveying the destruction of the previous night, the shredded curtains, perforated walls and splintered furniture. ‘But running wild, eating whatever I damn well please was seriously liberating . And you say this happens every full moon?’

 

(100 words)

 

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For those who don’t know, Friday Fictioneers is a challenge to write a 100 word story from a picture prompt. It’s hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, and anyone can play. Thanks for hosting, Rochelle! Check out the link below to see what other fictioneers did with this week’s prompt.

Need more Friday Fiction? Click the blue frog to read more stories from other fictioneers!

Need more stuff to read? Give Firewords Quarterly a go (there’s one of my stories in Issue One!)

Friday Fiction: Eau De Teenager’s Bedroom

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Photo Prompt Copyright – Douglas M. MacIlroy

Eau De Teenager’s Bedroom

January.

Ellen pins her resolution to the noticeboard: No more picking up other people’s shit.

‘Mummy swore!’ says her youngest, Lucy.

‘Challenge accepted,’ says her eldest, Danny.

 

February.

A ripe pungency escapes from Danny’s room.

‘What’s that smell?’ asks Lucy.

‘Smell?’ says Ellen, adjusting the clothes-peg on her nose.

 

March.

Danny’s room disappears under magazines, washing, junk,

‘What are the candles for, Danny?’

‘Can’t find the light switch,’ says Danny. ‘Or the window.’

 

April.

‘I give up,’ Ellen adjusts her gas mask. ‘I’m coming in!’

‘Stop!’ Danny points at her feet. ‘Shoes off first. Were you born in a barn?’

 

(100 words)

Following on from a couple of comments I received, and having a few hours to pass on a train yesterday,  I wrote an extended version of this called No More Picking Up Other People’s Shit. Find out about Ellen’s next resolution, Lucy’s secret obsession and Danny’s future ambitions in this 500 word story!

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For those who don’t know, Friday Fictioneers is a challenge to write a 100 word story from a picture prompt. It’s hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, and anyone can play. Thanks for hosting, Rochelle! Check out the link below to see what other fictioneers did with this week’s prompt.

Need more Friday Fiction? Click the blue frog to read more stories from other fictioneers!

Need more stuff to read? Give Firewords Quarterly a go (there’s one of my stories in Issue One!)

Firewords Quarterly – Get It While It’s Hot!*

Firewords Issue One

I may have mentioned this in an earlier post. I may have been a little over-excited because Firewords Quarterly is publishing my story Crik Crak in its first edition. My excitement was entirely justified, they’ve done a sterling job on my story, encasing it in the most incredible illustration by the hugely talented Kirsty Greenwood. It’s beautiful..

Firewords Quarterly is a new and exciting concept where art meets stories, text gets mixed up and re-formatted and everything is given a Firewords makeover.

Or in their words: “Firewords Quarterly is a newsprint magazine packed full of powerful fiction and poetry – all enhanced by bold design.”

My copy arrived through the door while I was on holiday so my first glimpse was on Saturday night/ early Sunday morning. I was exhausted after a long journey home, but ripped open the envelope as soon as I was in the door and sat down to read. Each page is a new adventure in design, art and incredible writing. But enough gushing, why not find out for yourself how good it is.

Pop over to their website now to buy Issue 1, sign up for updates, or to find out how to submit your own work for Issue 2. For Friday Fictioneers, there’s even a writing prompt (the limit is a ‘massive’ 400 words, though!)

 *My shocking pun in the title is not endorsed by Firewords Quarterly. I take full responsibility (but I couldn’t resist).

Friday Fiction: Here Comes The Sun

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PHOTO PROMPT Copyright -Jennifer Pendergast

 

Here Comes The Sun

Lucy was ashamed. She’d pinched small things before: hotel shampoos, glass ashtrays from cafes. And on holiday, she reasoned, it doesn’t count as stealing. Everybody does it.

But this was big.

Once she’d worked out how to compress it, she’d squeezed it into a single suitcase for her flight home from Ibiza, but when she unpacked it, it filled her garden and threatened to spill out into the street.

Lucy shook off her guilt, you could hardly blame her, England was all grey skies and drizzle. She slipped on her bikini and went outside to enjoy her stolen Spanish sunshine.

 

(100 words)

Please check your spam folder for my comments – I’m still having problems with mine disappearing and I’d hate you to think I was ignoring you! Am on holiday this week in France, so comments, likes etc. will be sporadic. And if I can find out how to bring the sunshine back home with me – I will! ________________________________________________________________________________________________

For those who don’t know, Friday Fictioneers is a challenge to write a 100 word story from a picture prompt. It’s hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, and anyone can play. Thanks for hosting, Rochelle! Check out the link below to see what other fictioneers did with this week’s prompt.

Need more Friday Fiction? Click the blue frog to read more stories from other fictioneers!