Ginger

Friday Fictioneers

I am late-very late-again! The jamboree at FF with our awesome hostess Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, took off  5 days back .Over 100 writers joined the fun and submitted their 100 word stories in response to the weekly photo prompt.The photo prompt below was provided by none other than my very talented friend Bjorn Rudberg. Thanks Bjorn for really stumping me  for two days and then with the mercury climbing  higher,I almost “melted” 🙂 Finally,today the weather  being slightly better,I decided to post the story.My 100 words follow the photo prompt below.

For participating or reading other entries in this writing challenge,click on the url http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/friday-fictioneers-2/

 

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Copyright – Björn Rudberg

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Ginger

Ginger’s orange coat shimmered as she climbed the wall.

 A loud burst of music startled her.

The neighbours were at it again-what did they call it? Jam session!

It was not that she did not like music but they needed to take lessons from her boyfriend.

Ah, when Tom serenades her even his friends can’t resist joining-the flirtatious rogues!

She did not socialize readily but tonight the delicious smell wafting over warranted a visit.

Nobody noticed her as she made her way to the dining table till someone cried out, “What a cute cat!”

Meow! So much for dinner…

 

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Tick Tock

Day and night, tick- tock
The moving hands running past
Every stolen moment counts
I need time to stop now
Alas! My clocks are slowing down
Can’t someone wind them up?
Cruel time waits for none
Someday all my clocks will stop.

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This is my response to this week’s ultimate question at Gargleblaster #159. The challenge was to answer the ultimate question “Have all your clocks stopped?” in exactly 42 words. If you are interested in joining the fun or read what other participants have written, click on the url http://yeahwrite.me/gargleblaster-159/


The note

Sonia sat patiently in the lobby of Hotel Amber, waiting for Murdoch, the casting Director. Over the past few weeks, she had rehearsed n number of times; still she went over her lines once again in her mind. There should not be any faux pas-she would not get a second chance, she knew.

A few minutes later, she saw Murdoch striding into the hotel, alone. A good omen, she told herself and moved towards him. Seeing her Murdoch smiled in recognition and beckoned her to follow him.

The elevator journey to his suite on the 10th floor was punctuated only by the frequent phone calls that Murdoch kept making. As they stepped out, Murdoch switched off his mobile and told her, “Don’t want calls to distract us.”

Entering his suite he turned towards her and said, “Not that I mind but hasn’t the agency sent you a little early?”

Sonia smiled and responded, “I believe in being a little early. It gives me time to warm up.”

Murdoch guffawed and said, “I like attitude and I must say the agency has surpassed my expectations this time.” His eyes moved over her appreciatively.“So, what’s on the agenda?” he asked, sprawling in the chair and loosening his tie.

“What about a drink?” Sonia said, moving towards the bar, licking her lips provocatively.

“Sure! Let’s get things started.”

Handing him his favourite drink, Sonia sat across him and crossed her legs. Her dress immediately shot up and Murdoch got a glimpse of her creamy thighs. His gaze was reptilian and though Sonia was prepared, it scared her.

Don’t back out now, she told herself.

After a few minutes, Murdoch decided to take off his coat and shoes. Sonia bent down to pick up her bag, allowing Murdoch to have a good look down her cleavage. She knew the effect her sexy body was having on him and hoped to use that to her favour.

She stood up and began taking off her slinky dress slowly, moving sensuously making sure that Murdoch could see every hidden curve. Looking up, she saw him devouring her with his eyes. She winked, stretched lasciviously and said, “I think we need some music.”

Murdoch was quick to oblige and as she started her striptease, he grew aroused. Soon, Sonia was wearing nothing but her high heels and stockings. Murdoch lunged towards her but Sonia laughed and moved away. She said, “What’s the hurry? Wait a few moments while I go get ready for some more fun.” With that she picked up her dress and bag and went into the bathroom.

Once inside, she locked the door, took out her mobile and quickly sent two messages, then slipped back into her dress. She flushed the toilet and came out smiling.

Murdoch looked puzzled. She crawled into the bed and bit his ear playfully and said, “How about you and me playing a game? I pretend to be a scared virgin and you try to rape me?”

Sonia knew that it was playing with fire but she was ready to face the consequences. She had waited too long. Murdoch needed no more incentive. He jumped up to chase Sonia as she ran around the room. He pounced at her and scratched her arms. She fell, with him atop her. She whispered seductively, “Bite me” and he did. She wriggled away as his greedy fingers caught on her dress and the sleeve tore. She ran, with him at her heels and snagged her stockings. He caught up and kissed her viciously and her lipstick smeared. Her arms had bruises and her hair was all awry.

Just then there was a knock at the door. Sonia kicked a surprised Murdoch on his shins and ran screaming to open the door. “Help me please! This monster was trying to rape me!” Sonia sobbed and fell down in a faint. Murdoch was bewildered to see the Police and the media gathered outside.

It became the biggest scandal in the town’s history. Medical examination provided enough evidence to send Murdoch behind bars. He lost his reputation. His family and friends disowned him.

A few months later he received a note and a 5 year old news clipping. It reported a young girl’s suicide. She had been accused of seducing an upcoming Director. Her suicide note said, “I loved him. Was that a mistake?”

Understanding dawned on Murdoch as he read the attached note,” The rightness eclipsed every mistake made along the way.”

 

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This is my response to Speakeasy’s weekly prompt #158 which required us to (a)write a response(fiction or poetry) in 750 words or less (mine is 750, including the title) (b) using the following sentence as the LAST line in your submission: “The rightness eclipsed every mistake made along the way.” and (c) make some reference to the media prompt,which this week is a trailer(video) from the movie,”Love in the time of Cholera”. For more details and rules,please click on  the url below-

http://www.yeahwrite.me/speakeasy/fiction-challenge-158-open/

Self-defense

“Tell me something, old friend: why are you fighting?”

 

“I am wrangling to vitalize my soul. I don’t believe in protracted verbosity. However, circumventing the genesis that belies my credence cannot be the panacea. I agree, an altercation is perilous but I would rather risk being vanquished than metamorphose into fancy-pants.”

 

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This is my response to this week’s ultimate question at Gargleblaster #158. The challenge was to answer the ultimate question “Tell me something, old friend: why are you fighting?” in exactly 42 words. If you are interested in joining the fun or read what  other participants have written, click on the url http://yeahwrite.me/gargleblaster-158/

 

Adventure

Friday Fictioneers

This time Friday has come and long gone and I can’t believe that I am joining the weekly FF melee almost at the fag end-phew!Well, real life sometimes takes over and one has to patiently wait for a break. I would like to thank all those who came over to read and comment on my post.Will come by later today, to thank you all personally. As we  are all observing FF is becoming more and more popular and to read over 100 entries every week is getting tougher.So,I am going  to chose what many others are already doing.I will come by to read and comment on those  who have been  regularly reading  mine  and those who never fail to return the favour. Needless to say,I will definitely pay a return visit to those who come by  to read  and comment on mine for the first time-that’s what a community is for 🙂

Okay,now that is out of the way,let me get back to the nitty- gritty of FF.Every Friday(okay,okay Wednesday) our wonderful hostess Rochelle Wisoff-Fields cooks up a storm by providing a photo prompt ,based on which writers from all over the globe  rush to spin a 100 word(give or take a few more -or less) story.This week the photo is provided by none other than the very talented Douglas M Macllroy-thank you Doug :-)If you are interested in participating a or reading what others have written, do click on the url http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/friday-fictioneers-2/ and I promise you will be hooked.

My 101 word story(including the title) follows the photo prompt below.

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Copyright – Douglas M. MacIlroy

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Adventure

 

“Is the sea monster going to gobble us all?” asked little Gina.

Tim retorted, “No silly, we are safe under the rafters.” 

“Anyway mermaids are stronger than sea monsters!” Quipped Alice sagely.

The monster was circling around, when suddenly…

“Argh! What are you kids doing under my new cushions?”

‘Oh, no! It’s Mom!” The children groaned.

“Dave, is this how you keep an eye on them?”

Her husband took off the diving helmet and grinned sheepishly.

 “Molly, I thought the kids would enjoy an undersea adventure.”

Rolling her eyes, Molly remarked, “Thank God, you decided to keep the sea away!”

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Winter’s child

 

“Winter seemed reluctant to release its hold.”As Eve stood shivering on the bathroom mat, looking at the red streak snaking down her legs, the chill rose up to freeze her from within and outside. She fought the tears tottering on the slippery threshold of her consciousness, wondering why this was happening to her.

 
She had followed the Doctor’s orders and she and George had seen to it that they did not miss the days marked on the calendar. It had not been easy but neither of them had demurred. Yet, it seemed that the seed she desperately hoped would bloom refused to take root. Her womb continued to be barren, month after month. At times, she wondered if God was punishing her for something that had in no way been her fault.

 
Shoulders drooping, she dragged herself back to bed. George stirred but then snuggled back under the warm covers. Sleep evaded her though she tried her best to court it. Ruefully she let it slip away and resigned herself to a few more hours of “mind-hoopla” as she called it. Her mind flitted from thoughts to memories to thoughts in a never ending loop.

 
She was born into a wealthy family but her parents were too busy playing to the gallery to really care. The children were just trophies to be exhibited on certain occasions. Her elder brother Josh was a carbon copy of their Dad and idolized him. Their younger sister was a wallflower, with no opinion of her own and content to live as directed. Eve, on the other hand was a rebel.

 
Thus she was happy to leave home for college at nineteen. There she met Matt. He was a pleasant change from all the people she used to meet in her pseudo life at home. Both felt an instant attraction, which over the next two years developed into deep love.

 

Eve knew her parent’s reaction to her choice and so she hid it from them till the day Matt joined the hospital as a full time Doctor.
Matt promised to take her to meet his parents during Thanksgiving. They both wanted a Christmas wedding.

 
The meeting however never took place, nor did the wedding. Driving to work next week, Matt met with an accident and he died on the spot.

 
Eve was beyond herself with grief and went home for the first time in four years. She was sick so often that it took her some time to realize that she was pregnant. She was shocked at first but then overjoyed .However, her joy was short-lived for her family did not approve of her having a baby out of wedlock.

 
She could still remember the conversation word to word.

 

Her Mom had looked at her with utmost distaste as if she was something the cat dragged in “Why must you insist on bringing shame to the family name?”

 
“After all that we have done for you is this how you repay us?” shouted her Dad, his swarthy face turning purple.

 
Not to be left behind, her ineffacious brother declared, “We can’t let you have his bastard.”

 
Her sister of course had nothing to say.

 
Eve decided not to bow to their pressure tactic but she had underestimated her parent’s guile and wickedness. One night, they drugged her and spirited her away to a private nursing home. When she came to, it was already too late. As soon as she could walk, she left home and never looked back.

 

 
Even George believed she was an orphan and she had no intention of revealing these dark secrets to him, ever.

 
She sighed and decided to get up as dawn crawled in slowly. She put the kettle on and watched snow drifting down relentlessly. The sky looked dull, just like her mood. She called her Doctor around noon from her office-she did not want George to be privy to this setback-at least not today. Her Doctor told her to come in the next day.

 
Next morning Eve woke up and was taken aback. She had not bled at all during the night-what was going on? Was she ill?

 
With trepidation she walked into the clinic. The shadow of uncertainty loomed large as she lay down on the examination table.

 
A few hours later, she was driving back, a smile on her lips. The miracle of spring was accumulating in her womb and she could not wait to celebrate its arrival with her beloved George.

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This is my response to Speakeasy’s weekly prompt #157 which required us to (a)write a response(fiction or poetry) in 750 words or less (mine is 748, including the title) (b) using the following sentence as the FIRST line in your submission: “Winter seemed reluctant to release its hold.” and (c) make some reference to the media prompt,which this week the  drawing above, by Leonardo da Vinci, entitled Study of a Womb.

The challenge is open to everyone,so if you want to join in or read the other entries,please click on the url http://www.yeahwrite.me/speakeasy/fiction-challenge-157-open/

 


Do you see her much?

Do  you see her much?

 

Oh, all the time, all the time! 

Oh, I see her everywhere.

Why, oh why won’t she let me be?

When all is over between her and me?

I did her in and buried her

Then, why won’t she just lie still?

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This is my response to this week’s ultimate question at Gargleblaster #157. The challenge was to answer the ultimate question “Do you see her much?” in exactly 42 words. If you are interested in joining the fun,rush over to the site  for complete details by clicking on the url http://yeahwrite.me/gargleblaster-157/ but hurry for the grid closes at 42 entries.


The promise

Friday Fictioneers

Yay!Finally it is Wednesday!So what is so great about it you say?Ah,but unless you are a FF junkie like me and have missed a week  for any reason-mine being  ill-health-you would not understand 🙂 You see our wonderful hostess with the mostest,lovely and super talented writer Rochelle has created a magical world for flash fiction writers at FF.Every week,over hundred writers from around the globe,hop,skip and jump to weave 100 word tales based on a photo prompt.If you are a story teller too  or love to read stories,do check  this cool site by clicking on this URL  http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/friday-fictioneers-2/ .I promise you will be hooked forever:-)

This week, the photo is by DLovering and my 101 words,including the title follow the photo.

 

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copyright – DLovering

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The promise

 

Last minute decorations were being added.

 

Excitement permeated the wedding venue.

 

 The Bride felt nothing except anxiety.

 

 She loved another.

 

The bridegroom arrived amid loud fanfare.

 

Everyone rushed to welcome them.

 

The Bride clutched the phial of poison tightly. He had promised…

 

Suddenly the gaiety was disrupted by a band of masked men on horses.

 

They fired.

 

Bandits!!

 

People screamed.

 

The gang leader scooped the bride up on his horse.

 

As they rode across the border, the bride hugged the Bandit.

 

 “I was so afraid.”

 

“You needn’t have. I never break a promise,” replied her lover, hugging her back.

 

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Sheona

Sheona

 

Darkness teased light as evening tiptoed in. Daytime predators and prey both started settling in for the night’s rest. On the other hand nocturnal creatures stirred and stretched eager to start their routine.

 
Rawleigh stood in front of his secret castle with his wife Mortina. 

 

She held a golden orb in her hands and Rawleigh held his sword on it. Mortina waved her wand and intoned in a melodious voice-

 

“Let this golden light, draw on powers that be
Protect this abode and the inhabitants
From prying eyes aiming to “see”.
I call on thee, O astral elements
Do stand by me
Protect me and mine from all evil that hides
And let them be cast aside.”

 

The incantation over, she drew a circle around them. Immediately the castle disappeared and in its place stood a broken down gate. Two young hares, rump to rump like duelling pistols, crouched by the gate.

 

 

Rawleigh turned to his wife and smiled. She belonged to a secret coven and was a very powerful Wiccan witch.

 
“My dear, now go safely and no harm will come to you or those you love. I will await your return. Remember, if you are in danger, tap your sword hard on the ground and the forces will come to your aid.”

 

“Thank you my love. What would I do without you?”

 

“Hush! That day will never come. Our love is strong enough to overcome all obstacles. Now go forth and bring another baby home.”

 

Rawleigh mounted his steed and with a nod and smile, galloped off into the night.

 

After a few hours, he reached the edge of the forest. He watched the flickering torches surrounding the Inkletee castle. He knew an army of guards were protecting what he had come to spirit away.

 

He alighted from his steed, patted it and continued on foot. The night fell like a cloak of invisibility around him and he used it to navigate his way to the enemy bastion. Stealthily he climbed the wall and jumped inside. Keeping to the dark corners, he finally made it to the secret chamber. He took out the magic key that Mortina had given him. Unlocking the heavy door, he entered and was enraptured.

 

There she was in all her golden glory! Manacles held her secure in the box but her head and green eyes belied any defeat. Nostrils flaring, she stared. She looked majestic with her beautiful sienna wings. Her long scaly tail swished. Rawleigh fell in love instantly. She sensed it and her eyes softened. Rawleigh had that kind of effect. It was a gift.

 

By day, he was just another brave Knight but by night he was a Dragon tamer. Rawleigh loved dragons and his mission in life was to rescue dragons from captivity.

 

Most people feared and hated these gentle creatures and thus the dragons were being hunted relentlessly. He tried to save as many as he could but till he had met Mortina, it had been very tough. His heart had broken every time he saw them butchered.

 

Mortina and her friends from the magical world understood this and were equally passionate about saving these graceful beings. Their secret team was doing all it could to help Rawleigh.

 

Unfortunately, the team had recently discovered a group of wizards led by the wicked Witch Inkletee practicing black magic. They needed Dragon blood to cast their black spells. Tonight Rawleigh had come to rescue the golden dragon from their clutches.

 

Rawleigh opened the cage and with one swipe of his magical sword, freed the Dragon. “My sweet Sheona”, he cooed and caressed her shiny scales .Soon she was nuzzling and licking his face.

 

To secret away such a huge creature was the next big hurdle and Sheona was too bright to be invisible. Rawleigh decided that he could not risk the golden dragon being seen. So, he tapped the Sword hard on the ground.
Instantly, three little elves and two pixies appeared. They were a part of the team and knew what to do. The elves set to make a small sack and finished it within a few minutes. It was wondrous to watch them work so swiftly and efficiently. The pixies sprinkled magic dust on Sheona and she became tiny enough to fit into the sack. Their work done, they disappeared.

 

Heaving the sack on his shoulders, Rawleigh crept away. Reaching his steed quickly, he rode home, happy that he had been able to save another beautiful creature.

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This is my response to Speakeasy’s weekly prompt #156 which required us to (a)write a response(fiction or poetry) in 750 words or less (mine is 750, including the title) (b) using the quote,“Two young hares, rump to rump like duelling pistols, crouched by the gate.”  anywhere in the story, and (c) make some reference to the media prompt, the song Glory Box, by Portishead.

Those who would like to read the other entries or participate in this challenge,please click on the url http://www.yeahwrite.me/speakeasy/156-open/

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The Professional

The Professional

 

He saw the two moppets playing in the park. His heart leaped. No parents in sight. He waited patiently. At the right moment, he aimed and shot both. Then, with a smile, he tucked his camera into his bag and walked away.

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This is my submission for this week’s gargleblaster #156.The challenge is to give our answer in exactly 42 words to the  ultimate question ,”Who dunnit?” If you would like to participate too, do hurry up or you may miss the bus for there is a limit-yep,the grid closes at 42 entries 🙂 For more details,click on the url  http://yeahwrite.me/gargleblaster-156/