In Trouble – Mondays Finish the Story

Today, the start of a work week, is the day that I devote to hosting the Mondays Finish the Story challenge. In the challenge, I ask that you write a story using between 100-150 words. I ask that you use the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. Today, I am using the opening line of the challenge at the end of my story. It is in bold and italics. The photo prompt follows the story.

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It was an ordinary day for him. After having a good stretch and getting out of bed, he made his way into the kitchen. He walked over to two legs. He made himself known by rubbing his body against those legs and meowing loudly saying, “Stoke my belly.”

After getting his ears rubbed, a bowl of gravy and shrimp appeared on his placemat. Finishing the meal, he sat, licking the left paw to clean his face, then switching to the right. Purrfect.

He jumped up on one of the dining room chairs, hidden by the tablecloth. The wimpy dog walked by so he had to take full advantage of his concealment. He shot out his right paw, claws extended, swiping the dog on the nose.

The dog yelped and ran. Two legs ran to the dog. The cat heard his name. He was in trouble. Moving from the chair, he thought he found the perfect hiding spot.

You Can’t See Me – © 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

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I hope that you enjoyed my story today! You too can join in on the Mondays Finish the Story challenge by clicking HERE!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week. Be well… ^..^

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Snow in July – Friday Fictioneers

Snow in July – Photo by Dee Lovering

Snow in July? I guess anything is possible. I put on some winter clothes and headed to the park.

I grabbed a hot chocolate and went inside the pavilion. Sitting on a bench, I looked at the happy faces of the children on the merry-go-round. They always make me smile.

After sitting for a good hour, I put my mittens back on and headed for home. I turned on the news. “Scientists today are giving us a bit of alarming news. Climatologist Dr. Radovich of NOAA reports that the earth is heading for an ice age.”

So much for global warming.

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Thank you Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers and to Dee Lovering for the photo that inspired this story. And, thank you dear reader for taking the time to stop on by for a quick read. Have a fantastic day!

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The Hedge – Mondays Finish the Story

Happy Monday! Every Monday I devote my post to a flash fiction writing challenge that I host. It is called Mondays Finish the Story. This is a flash fiction challenge where I provide a photo and the opening line to a story. The writer is to use the opening line and write a story that goes with the photo. The word limit is 100-150 words, not including the opening line. Here is my contribution to this week’s challenge. The opening sentence is in bold and italicized letters.

The Hedge – © 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“The barista shook his head. That hedge couldn’t have moved closer overnight. Could it?” He scratched his head and wondered.

He went about his morning chores getting ready for the morning rush of coffee drinkers. Time ticked by and no one came in. “Strange,” he thought to himself. Going to the door, he looked out through the glass. He put his hands in his pockets, and looked towards the street on his right.

“Funny,” he thought, “I don’t recall seeing that hedge trimmed in the images of people.” He ventured out the door and walked over to examine the hedge. The leaves appeared newly cut. He turned to go back in.

He felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he saw a green man that was transparent. “What?” asked the barista.

He began to feel strange. The green man moved him over to the hedge. Looking down at his hands, he saw leaves sprouting. The green man smiled and said, “Welcome to the family.”

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Mondays Finish the Story

I hope that you enjoyed my story. You can join in too just by clicking HERE!

Thanks for dropping by and have an amazing week. Be well… ^..^

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Sarah Investigates – Mondays Finish the Story

Happy Monday! Every Monday I devote my post to a flash fiction writing challenge that I host. It is called Mondays Finish the Story. This is a flash fiction challenge where I provide a photo and the opening line to a story.  The writer is to use the opening line and write a story that goes with the photo.  The word limit is 100-150 words, not including the opening line. Here is my contribution to this week’s challenge. The opening sentence is in bold and italicized letters.

Sherman City Hall – © 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“The Mayor and the town manager waved as their next victim approached.” Their smiling faces were welcoming. Sarah waved back at them as she hopped off the train.

“Welcome to Sherman,” said Mayor Gillespie.

“Thank you!” she replied.

“And, what brings you to our small hamlet?”

“I heard that there are some good hiking trails to the wilderness beyond.” What she was here for was to investigate what happened to her brother. His last call to the family was from the train that would drop him off here.

Heading into the building, they offered her a coffee, which she gratefully accepted. It was hot and slightly bitter.

“So, where are you from?” asked town manager Wilco.

“Eugene Oregon.”

“We had another visitor from there. Now isn’t that strange?”

As Sarah looked around the room, she saw her brother’s jacket hanging on the coat rack and stood up. The room began to spin.

“Got us another,” said Gillespie to Wilco laughing maniacally.

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I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash!  You too can join in on this exciting challenge.  To get there click HERE!

Thank you for taking the time to drop on by! Have a magnificent day and be well… ^..^

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Angel That Rolls – Sunday Photo Fiction

Angel That Rolls – Photo by Alastair Forbes

She was not supposed to have any contact with humans. She ignored the rule. Sitting outside a cafe, she watched people walk by as she sipped on lemonade.

“Ahem,” he said.

Looking over, she saw a man. He had warm brown eyes, rusty brown hair, a strong square jaw and a mustache. He was gorgeous and he was looking at her. They both stared at one another.

“May I introduce myself?” he asked.

Still staring, she nodded. “My name is Charles. Charles Rolls,” he said. “This might seem a bit impertinent, but may I join you?”

Tongue-tied she nodded her head. He pulled the chair back, sat and struck up conversation. Soon they were talking animatedly. The talk turned to cars, and he offered her a ride in his. Off they went.

She loved the ride. At the end of the day, when it was time to go, she kissed him on the cheek. Removing her coat, she spread her wings, winked at Charles and flew off.

Charles never wanted to forget her and the time they spent together. To commemorate her, he had her effigy created. Today one can see her on the hoods of all the Rolls-Royce cars.

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A huge thanks goes out to Alastair Forbes of Sunday Photo Fiction for the inspiring photo and for hosting this flash fiction challenge.

Sunday Photo Fiction

To you dear reader, thank you for taking the time to stop by. I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash fiction. Have a splendid Sunday and be well… ^..^

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The Biosphere – Mondays Finish the Story

It is Monday again, and this is the day I devote to the other blog that I write, which is the Mondays Finish the Story flash fiction challenge. This challenge gives an opening line to a story that the writer must use and that they write a story that goes along with the photo. The word limit is 100-150 words, not including the opening line. Here is my contribution to this week’s challenge. The opening sentence is in bold and italicized letters.

The Biosphere – Photo by Barbara W. Beacham

“At first, it looked like an ordinary marble, but it was far from it.” They saw it from a distance. They continued on heading to the biosphere. It had been there now for 45 years.

“Are those fractures?” asked McClary.

“I don’t know,” replied Smith.

They got to the biosphere and circled it looking for a way in. The surface did look fractured.

“Where is the door?” Smith asked.

“Over here.”

Gaining access, they went through the locks. Not knowing what they would find inside, they left their suits on. As they walked through the last lock, they saw the hydroponic garden. Fish tanks were bubbling, and cows looked up at them.

Heading into the building, they found themselves in the dining hall. The people turned to see who was coming in.

Smith and McClary were surprised to see humans and greys eating pizza, drinking either wine or milk, while a band played music in the background.

“Welcome!” they both heard in their heads.

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I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash. Thanks go out to Eric from Momus News for helping out this week with the opening line for the challenge. If you would like to take part in this fun and unique flash fiction challenge, then just click HERE!

Thanks for dropping by and have a magnificent Monday! Be well… ^..^

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3:00 p.m., June 14th, 2015 – Sunday Photo Fiction

Today we return for another edition of Sunday Photo Fiction hosted by Alastair Forbes. This flash fiction challenge asks us to write a story, using the photo prompt, and keeping the number of words used to about 200. Here is the photo and my story.

Clock Tower – Photo by Alastair Forbes

“When the clock strikes three,” so the prophecy said, “on the 14th of June, 2015, the world will come to an end.”

The clock read 2:53 p.m. as I sat on the bench looking over the sand beach. I thought about my life. Did I do everything that I wanted to do? No. I wished that I had had the time to repair the relationship with my parents. I wished that I had found the love of my live. I wished that I could apologize to all those that I have hurt. I wished that I had taken the opportunity to open my own business.

Would haves, could haves. What’s the use? The clock now read 2:56. I watched as the water lapped along the sand. I breathed in deep enjoying the smell of the air. There was nothing like the smell of the air along the coast.

Seagulls flew, and then landed, looking around for food discarded by the people who walked the beach eating the fish tacos sold nearby. Did they know that the end of the world was coming? The clock read 2:59.

I shut my eyes and waited. I took one last breath.

Bong, bong, bong.

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Sunday Photo Fiction

Thank you Al for hosting this fun flash fiction challenge. And, thank you dear reader for taking the time to stop by. Have an amazing day and be well… ^..^

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Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind – Sunday Photo Fiction

Double Rainbow – Photo by Alastair Forbes

“What luck,” she thought to herself looking at the double rainbow in the sky. Today, Mother’s Day, would be a good day. Giving her mom a quick call, she let her know she was on her way. She was taking her mom to a movie.

When they arrived at the theatre, she paid for their seats, bought bags of popcorn and sodas for each of them. The movie they were going to see was “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Choosing seats somewhat in the middle of the theatre they settled in to watch the movie.

As the movie began a beam of light shoots down on the audience in the theatre. “How cool is that?” Claire said. Then their seats began to shake back and forth. The film stopped. The lights, though dim, came on.

The audience began to look around. Something was off. The theatre doors opened. Small grey creatures, filed into the theatre each holding a bag of popcorn and a glass of wine. The people watched as the grey creatures took seats. The lights dimmed darkening the theatre. The film began again.

Claire looked to the grey sitting next to her. He smiled. She heard the word “Movie!” in her mind.

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Sunday Photo Fiction

Thank you goes out to Alastair Forbes for hosting Sunday Photo Fiction, and for the amazing photo that helped me to create another chapter about those out of this world grey’s!

Thank you dear reader for stopping by! Have a splendid day, and happy Mother’s Day to the Mom’s all over the world!

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At a Loss for Words – Friday Fictioneers

I sat at the table tapping on my computer. Stopping I kept asking myself, “What do I do with this photo to make a story?”

“The drought was in its fourth year.”

Nope. I don’t like that one. Tap, tap, tap on the backspace key.

“Her throat was dry and parched.”

“Come on now,” I thought. Dry and parched? I erase that one too. The photo has a container with a water spigot, and some unidentifiable creature underneath. Come on brain. Think of something!

“It looked like an ordinary spigot. It wasn’t. We watched as it opened on its own.”

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Thanks go out to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers, and to Madison Woods for the photo that inspired this story!

Dear reader, I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash today, and I thank you for taking the time to stop on by! Be well… ^..^

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Jessica’s Doll Regan – Mondays Finish the Story

Ready for another edition of Mondays Finish the Story? This flash fiction challenge asks that the writer complete a story of 100-150 words, using the opening line as provided (in bold and italicized letters), and that the story goes with the photo prompt. I hope that you enjoy my story entitled “Jessica’s Doll Regan.”

Regan – © 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

After losing her head, she realized that the rest of her body was falling apart! What better way to scare that nasty child Jessica!

You see, Jessica received the doll for her 6th birthday. She named it Regan. She never treated the doll well. She would slap it across the edge of the dresser, pinch it, bite it, and scream at it.

Weeks later, Regan knew she just had to do something to get back at Jessica! One dark night, she felt a surge of energy enter into her doll form. Damn, but that felt good! She raised her arms and looked at her small hands.

The following morning, Jessica awoke and found Regan in pieces. Jessica laughed. The arms were nearby, a leg was missing, as was the head, though not far away from the body. As Jessica looked at the doll’s head, it rolled over, and one of the eyes winked. It gave Jessica and evil smile and said, “Payback is a bitch!”  Jessica screamed.

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I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash! Thanks for taking the time to drop by today. I hope that you have a marvelous Monday! Be well… ^..^

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