Unintended Consequences

Shadows interrupted St.Michael as he was working. He tried to brush the interruption away without looking up, “Can it wait? G needs this report ..like yesterday.”

“I have waited long enough in the dark”

St.Michael looked up. He knew Shadows could not be brushed aside easily or locked up in a cell. Shadows crept closer and invaded his personal space.

“What is it now?”, he barked , his tone not befitting a Saint.

Everyone around pretended not to hear and buried themselves in their work. St. Michael sighed. No one had seen the writing on the wall when G announced, “Fiat Lux“.

— end —

Note: Fiat Lux means ‘Let there be light’.

This 100 word story  was written for the 100 word photo challenge. More details about this challenge can be found at:

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/10/26/28-october-2016/

Click on the Froggy below for other amazing takes on the same prompt by fellow “Friday Fictioneers.”

PHOTO PROMPT © Peter Abbey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The search

I look at the crumbling facade that used to be a home. Among the dusty remains and rat excrement are the reminders of my childhood. Could the key be here?

There’s nothing left in the attic  except a deflated balloon animal from the fair many moons ago. What was it ?  A cat? No, it was a dog, I remember now…the cute button nose ..what a joy … until it slowly shrank as the air escaped. I never understood why the air wanted to escape. Why would it go from being part of something  to nothing? Could the key really be here?

— end —

This is my rusty story after a long break from writing. This picture reminded me of a three-story house that my colleagues and I recently volunteered to clean up.  The house belonged to a church and it’s ex- pastor’s family lived there for decades. The house was crammed with stuff, some useful, mostly junk…even empty cat litter boxes were saved in the attic. In a crack in the floorboards in the attic as we passed the junk down from person to person all the way to the dumpster , I saw a small ornate key.  Before I could take it out someone accidently dumped some kitty litter into the crack and the key was hidden. I guess this is how things disappear.

This 100 word story  was written for the 100 word photo challenge. More details about this challenge can be found at:

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/21-october-2016/

PHOTO PROMPT © Claire Fuller

Click on the Froggy below for other amazing takes on the same prompt by fellow “Friday Fictioneers.”

Dress rehearsal

“After I dress can Lucy and I have ice-cream for breakfast”, 3 year old Clara demands. Lucy, her partner-in-crime wags her tail on cue.

“No”, I say firmly immune to their charm.

“Why isn’t Lucy wearing a dress?”

“Because dogs don’t wear clothes”

“Why don’t dogs wear clothes?”

“Because they have fur and hair and all that”

“I have hair too. See mommy. ”

“Clara, humans are expected to wear clothes.  Put this on”, I hold out her dress.

“Why are we expected to wear clothes mommy?”

Lucy and Clara look expectantly at me eyes wide. Do they rehearse this?

“Chocolate or Vanilla?”

—end —

This 100 word story  was written for the 100 word photo challenge. More details about this challenge can be found at:

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

Click on the Froggy below for other amazing takes on the same prompt by fellow “Friday Fictioneers.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regurgit-ananda

 

“You collect stones Boss?”

“Stones! These are Shiva Lingas. Haven’t you heard of Swami  Regurgitananda?  Every full-moon day Lord Shiva descends into Swami’s body while he dances in a trance. At the end of the dance the holy spirit transforms into a stone and the swami spits it out. I’m so blessed that the Guru gave me these Lingas to worship at home…Only top donors can get them!” , Ram’s finished proudly.

“Hahaha ! now you’re going to tell me that yellow stone was pulled out of your Swami’s …”

Ram’s offended face stopped Tanu short. He had stirred up a hornet’s nest. Time for a new job.

— end —

Pulling up Lingas out of the mouth is a favorite regurgitating pastime for some ” Swamis”. Many  such Swamis end up in a prison cell but with a billion people ,India keeps some of these Swamis in business.

More details about this 100 word challenge at:

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/08/17/19-august-2016/

For more stories with the same picture prompt click on the froggy below.

PHOTO PROMPT © Janet Webb

 

A speck…

“Write to me everyday”, he said.

I nodded-  Words stuck like a broken down car on a lonely highway.

I stood near the ‘Ticketed passengers only’ sign watching him walk the long corridor  to his flight until he was a speck…in my eye.

I went back to our empty apartment. Each day  a penance until his return.

19 years later:

“Text me everyday”, he says.

I nod.

I watch him  walking the long corridor to his flight until he’s a speck…and break into a jig.

Each day is going to be a party!

—end —-

This 100 word story may or may not be a true ,depending on who’s asking 🙂

More details about this 100 word challenge at:

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/08/10/12-august-2016/

For more stories with the same picture prompt click on the froggy below.

PHOTO PROMPT – © Adam Ickes

 

 

 

Of Comets and Mavericks

We walk in the path of trailblazers of all kinds. Copying the actions of the first mammal to walk on its hind legs to copying the latest fashion trend filling our shopping carts with  $200 brand new ripped jeans.

Some scientists say we blazed our way into this earth on the backs of comets- rocks of ice – that brought the water we are made of and can’t live without.

Yet we hesitate to walk in an untrodden path… Hesitate to support the maverick..not knowing that one day that the trail these mavericks blaze could become the road frequently traveled.

— end —

This 99 word piece  was written for the 100 word photo challenge. More details about this challenge can be found at:

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/29-july-2016/

PHOTO PROMPT © Janet Webb

Click on the Froggy below for other amazing takes on the same prompt by fellow “Friday Fictioneers.”

We

We – me the puppet and you the string.

Whose tune are we dancing to?

Whose failures are we rectifying?

Whose success are we recreating?

Whose dreams are we carrying?

Whose ideology are we fighting for?

Whose wishes are we fulfilling?

Whose prejudice are we guarding?

Whose life are we trying to live?

 

When this act is over

and we are stored safely in a box

Who will take the stage and tell our story?

Of you and me – We.

We – me the puppet and you the string.

— end —

 

 

This 87 word poem/prose  was written for the 100 word photo challenge. More details about this challenge can be found at: https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/06/15/17-june-2016/

PHOTO PROMPT ©Copyright -John Nixon

Click on the Froggy below for other amazing takes on the same prompt by fellow “Friday Fictioneers.”

The date

“We should meet”, she says to her long-time phone date.

“I’m ugly.”, he says

” Beauty is skin deep”, she says already in love with his silky voice and generous heart.

“Even children run away  from me”, a sad laugh.

“Because they don’t know to look someone in the eyes, see deep into the soul where true beauty lies”, she says.

Sitting across him at the cafe she struggles to look him in the eye. It would have helped if the other eye wasn’t where the ear should be, she thinks.

Beauty ,unfortunately, matters.

—end—

PHOTO PROMPT © Douglas M. MacIlroy

This 93 word story was written for a 100 word photo challenge. Details can be found at:

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/06/08/10-june-2016/

Other takes on the prompt :

Balanagamma

“…to kill the demon, who’s holding Princess Balanagamma captive, you need to cross seven oceans and seven mountains to reach a cave… there will be a parrot , in a golden cage, wring it’s neck to kill the demon…”, Grandma was telling us the Indian folk tale ‘Balanagamma’ for the thirtieth (maybe fortieth) time.

In the dark  her words spun  images of  distant forests and treacherous paths.  I wondered why mother never tells us bedtime stories.

The wheel of time turns.

“Again, Again!”, my children say.

Mother says…”Balanagamma was a beautiful princess…”

I wait my turn to tell the tale.

–end —

Some stories are best told by grandmothers.

This 100 word (true) story was written for the 100 word photo challenge. More details about this challenge can be found at:  https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/06/01/3-june-2016/

Thanks to Piya Singh for this week’s photo prompt.

Click on the Froggy below for other amazing takes on the same prompt by fellow “Friday Fictioneers.”

Across the aisle

“Approach the bench counselors”.

Sufficiently chastened to watch their words, the lawyers resume their arguments on the cost of infidelity.

Joe’s sniffles waft across the aisle.

Joe hadn’t wanted a divorce when I found out about his affair. Couldn’t I forgive him?

“Infidelity is not a crime! It’s fundamental human nature to be poly-amorous…”, Joe had been  persuasive.

“My client, Joe, is heart-broken since he found his wife of 25 years in flagrante delicto with his friend. He seeks divorce and needs to be compensated for his emotional distress…” his lawyer droned.

Heart-broken huh? You shouldn’t have been so damn persuasive Joe!

—end—

This 100 word story  was written for the 100 word photo challenge. More details about this challenge can be found at:

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/05/18/20-may-2016/

PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

Click on the Froggy below for other amazing takes on the same prompt by fellow “Friday Fictioneers.”