The War – Sunday Photo Fiction

The War – Photo by Alastair Forbes

“Area secured?” the General asked.

“Confirmed, secure General,” said Corporal Green.

“What are the visual details Corporal?”

“There are bodies, lots of bodies on the ground, Sir. All is still at the moment, Sir.”

“What do you estimate our losses are, Sir?”

“Maybe 1,000,000, Sir.”

“What is the estimate of their losses?”

“Sir, I believe that the number would be in the low thousands, Sir!”

“We must do better. Next time, perhaps.”

“What are our orders if you please, Sir?”

“Everyone rests now, Corporal, as you have done well.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

The General left his perch, and headed towards where he saw water. Taking a drink, he heard a whoosh! In an instant, he was dead.

Al sat up, looking at smashed grasshopper on his hand. He picked up his camera equipment and looked at the carnage around him. No one would have thought of them as deadly creatures. This was one story that would make the history books.

Looking at the dead around him, Al felt lucky to have survived. Who knew these little creatures could be so vicious. At last, it was over.

Pretending to be dead, a remaining short horned grasshopper looked up at the man above him and thought, “For now we go underground and in 40 years when we return, we shall prevail!”

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Sunday Photo Fiction

Thank you to Alastair Forbes of Sunday Photo Fiction for the great photo that inspired this story, and to you as well, dear reader, for taking the time to stop on by! Be well… ^..^

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It’s Gotta Get Better! – Sunday Photo Fiction

Sunday is the day that I devote to Sunday Photo Fiction hosted by Alastair Forbes. This challenge asks the writer to come up with a story that goes with the photo prompt using about 200 words. My story is entitled, “It’s Gotta Get Better!”  The photo prompt follows the story!  I hope that you enjoy my bit of flash!

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Life sucked. He lost his job; his wife left him; his idiot neighbor filed suit against him for something he did not do, and the cost of the lawyer was unbelievable. Sitting in his home alone, he sat staring at the four walls. He might soon be losing the house too. What else could go wrong?

He went to sleep that night and dreamt of better days. Life, as his dream portrayed, was right and rosy. He woke up the following day feeling better than he had in days. Heading into the kitchen, he made a pot of coffee and resolved that life would indeed get better.

He cleaned himself up and headed out the door to look for work. Pulling out of his driveway, he looked both ways, and proceeded into the street. The next thing he knew, a car coming down the street struck the back end of his car. The driver: The troublesome neighbor!  Getting out of the car, the neighbor accused him of being the cause of the accident. He could not believe it!

Later, his friend Roger arrived at his house. He opened the door and Roger said to him, “Why the long face?”

Why the Long Face? – Photo by Alastair Forbes

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Thanks go out to you Al, for choosing the photo that you did! I knew what I had to write right away! 🙂 Thanks to you too dear reader for taking the time to stop by today! Be well… ^..^

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Fish Tales – Monday Finish the Story!

I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story, which is a flash fiction challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to your story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words, not including the opening line… Are you ready for my story?

Fishing – Photo by BW Beacham

“Dropping her line into Fool’s Lake, she patiently waited for something to bite.” As she stood there, she thought back to some of her other fishing trips.

There was that time out on the Pacific…Fifteen anglers were on board and thirteen were sea sick, but not her or her husband. With the deckhand and captain, the four caught the limit for all. That was fun!

Then there was the trip with Roy. They were out on the lake at San Pablo dam, when she caught a 27″ natural catfish that she named Walter.

And the trip with her nephew? Her mom was concerned about him having a good time. She told her mom, “Don’t worry Mom. I will not let him flounder!”

Reminiscing and reeling in the line to cast again, she wondered if she would go home with a fish. Casting out she could hear her Dad’s voice saying, “Be patient. This is why they call it fishing and not catching!”

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You too can join in on the:

challenge! Click on the link at the top in blue!

Thank you dear reader for stopping by on this rainy Monday morning! Have an amazing day! Be well… ^..^

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Immortalized – Sunday Photo Fiction

This is my entry into Alastair Forbes’ flash fiction challenge Sunday Photo Fiction. The challenge is to write a story to go with the photo using about 200 words. Here is the photo prompt and my story!

Immortalized – Photo by Alastair Forbes

Commissioned by Prince Albert, her husband was to create a statue of historical figure Boudicca. This was to be his greatest work ever. Excited about the task in front of him, Thomas asked his wife and two daughters to assist him. They would be his models.

He began by creating drawings of his project. It took several days to finalize his idea and he had many sketches of what he was going to create. Compiling a list of materials, he made the necessary purchases using money given to him by the Prince.

One of those items was plaster of Paris. Having his wife sit for him, he mixed up the plaster and then began to apply it to her face. He used straws in her nose so that she could breathe. He pulled the mask off her face after the material set. Then he went on to do the same with his two daughters.

After years, with his project finished, they held the unveiling. Prince Albert was delighted with the finished statue. Little did anyone know that the faces of his beloved wife and daughters would look out onto the world in Parliament Square for many ages to come!

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Thank you goes out to Al for hosting this challenge, and to you, dear reader, for dropping by to visit! Have a spectacular Sunday, and be well! ^..^

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The Life of a Pirate – Sunday Photo Fiction

This is my entry into Alastair Forbes’ flash fiction challenge Sunday Photo Fiction. The challenge is to write a story to go with the photo using about 200 words…Here is my story…

The Life of a Pirate – Photo by Alastair Forbes

As a boy of thirteen, having come from a poor family, Hector Barbossa ran away from home wanting a life at sea. He knew that he could do well for himself. He got a job on the Providence. He learned quickly moving from being a privateer to first mate. While at sea, he learned about pirates, which they continually had to evade.

Of these, there were many. Hector took note that the job of a pirate involved less work and was more lucrative. And, when the opportunity presented itself, with Providence overtaken by a pirate ship, he turned to the other side.

After many years of being first mate to the Captain, he decided he wanted more. He wanted to be the Captain. In the captain’s quarters one night, carousing and drinking massive quantities of rum, the Captain’s tongue loosened, giving up the location of the Chest of Cortez on the Isle de Muerta.

Barbossa led the mutiny and turned the ship to the Isle de Muerta. Little did he know that the gold was cursed leaving him and the crew undead. Standing in the window of the saloon at Dead Man’s Cove, he swore that he would get back at Captain Jack Sparrow.

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Thank you Al for the inspiring photo that led me to write this story! Thank you dear reader for stopping by! I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash!

Have a super Sunday! Be well…. ^..^

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Mortgage Crisis – Sunday Photo Fiction

I am taking part today in Alastair Forbes’ flash fiction challenge: Sunday Photo Fiction. The challenge is to write a story that goes along with the photo using about 200 words. Here is my story!

Floyds Bank of California – Photo by Alastair Forbes

Floyds Bank of California was one of the banks responsible for the subprime mortgage crisis experienced in 2008. Recent documents have come to light that indicate this bank, the largest in the State of California, did knowingly lend money to those who would have difficulty in paying back monies loaned.

Evidence shows that they made adjustable rate loans to first time homebuyers, who had less than adequate means of repaying the loans when the higher interest rate kicked in. These homebuyers had little collateral, no money in the bank, excessive debt, low FICO scores due to late payments, and previous bankruptcy filings.

The U.S. Government came to the rescue, bailing out Floyds Bank of California.

In the Executive offices of Floyds Bank, executives sat back enjoying the benefits of the bailout, for they received a no-strings-attached windfall.

“So, Jenkins,” said Masterson, “what do you think we should do with all this money?”

“First, I think we should pay down some of our debt. Then we use some of the money to buy up other businesses. How is that for a plan Masterson?”

“I agree. Invest for the future. And, the best part is, we don’t have to pay it back!”

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Thanks Al for the photo that inspired this story, taken from recent history, and to you dear reader for taking the time to stop on by for a quick read! Have an amazing Sunday and be well! ^..^

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The House of Don Francisco – Mondays Finish the Story

I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story, which is a flash fiction challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to your story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words, not including the opening line… Are you ready for my story?

The House of Don Francisco – Photo by BW Beacham

“The house of Don Francisco sat in a remote part of the desert.” Back in the day, he decided to locate here. He bought 40 acres of land and situated the house right in the middle of it. He worked hard on building his house, and setting up the surrounding gardens.

No one in the local town knew much about the Don, and they often speculated on where his money came from. Some said he was the black sheep of some royal family. Others said that he was just a frugal man who knew how to manage his money. However, if this was the case, where did that money come from?

What the town’s people did not know was that the Don’s house had many levels that went underground. He climbed down the staircase in the center of the house to the lowest level. Flipping on the light switch, he looked around at the walls that sparkled with diamonds, rubies and gold.

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I hope that you enjoyed today’s bit of flash fiction! You too can join in by clicking HERE!

Thank you for taking the time to drop on by! Have a terrific Monday, and be well! ^..^

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Life is a Chess Game – Mondays Finish the Story

I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story, which is a challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to your story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words, not including the opening line….Ready?

“They say that life is a game of chess…” Gary had counted on winning the next and biggest game he had ever played. Here’s how it went down.

Richard and his wife Sonja meet their new neighbors Gary and Sammy. They became fast friends. One day, after playing a game of softball, Gary suggests to Richard that he sleep with his wife Sammy, which Richard does, while Gary sits in a bar in town.

Hearing sirens the following morning, Richard looks out the window and sees the emergency vehicles stop at Gary and Sammy’s house. Something bad has gone down. They remove Sammy’s body, and the following day Richard is arrested for murder.  She had been bludgeoned to death with a bat. His fingerprints were on the bat by the body, and they had semen.

They took Richard away, and Gary smiled. Wearing gloves and using that bat was one way to get out of a bad marriage.

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I hope that you have enjoyed today’s bit of flash!  You too can take part by clicking HERE!  Thank you for stopping by today, and have a magnificent Monday!

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The Room with a View – Sunday Photo Fiction

The days move so fast these days, and here it is Sunday once again! I am taking part in Alastair Forbes’ Sunday Photo Fiction! This is a challenge that asks that you to write a story using about 200 words that goes along with the photo provided. Here is my story:

The Room with a View

The Room with a View – Photo by Alastair Forbes

He sat in the window of the tower, a bird’s eye view of the world. The room was warm because of the fire burning in the hearth. He stood and stretched, then sat back down watching as the woodpeckers flew to the roof above.

He was lucky. Very lucky, some would say. He had been alone in the world trying to fend for himself and doing just OK. Others in his world did not care for him, and he had the scars to prove it. He was homeless. His daily amusements were chasing the birds in the park, and sometimes the deer too.

It was a cool spring day when he came upon the castle. Two people were sitting outside and he went to them begging for a bite to eat. He was so hungry. The woman disappeared into the castle and came back out with goodies for him. He was so happy, and so he said to her. She examined him, noting his limp and recent injuries.

Lifting him up in her arms, she carried him inside, gave him a warm bed, water, food, even a name. He looked back out the window knowing he was one lucky cat!

My name is Scrappy!

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Thank you Al for the great photo and to Scrappy, who inspired this story as I looked at him staring out the window!

And, thank you dear reader for stopping by today! Have a special Sunday and be well! ^..^

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One Man’s Trash – Friday Fictioneers

One Man’s Trash – Photo by Sandra Crook

After a storm, Stacy loved hitting the beach by the river. She walked down the ramp to the dock to access the pile of debris left by the last storm. An artist by trade, her mind whirled with ideas as she looked over the beach scattered with driftwood, plastic bottles and balls.

She envisioned the plastics bottles becoming self-watering devices for her houseplants. The driftwood she could use to make some cool artwork. One piece in particular would become a handle for the wood gate at the side of her house.

She thought, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!”
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Thank you to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers, and to Sandra Crook for her inspiring photo!

I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash fiction today! Thank you for stopping by today, and have a terrific Thursday! Be well! ^..^

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