Today is my 52nd straight week of doing the Friday Fictioneers, ever since Amy from the Bumble Files suggested I give it a try. I’m very glad I did. One year of stories and pictures (each one exactly 100 words, since I’m obsessive that way) is an accomplishment but more important are all the people I have met and the relationships that I have made in the Friday Fictioneers community. And so, I have decided to dedicate this story to that idea. (I toyed with the idea of mentioning people by name, but 100 words is not at all enough room to mention everyone and I didn’t want to leave anyone out.)
copyright Ted Strutz
5200 Words
Hundreds streamed through the cafe, but Gloria chose one soul a week to get to know, then wrote 100 words about them.
Soon leather jacket—table 4 became Mike, grabbing a breather from the crying new angel at home. Lunch special—table 8 was Miles, heading off to adventure in Australia. Smiling eyes turned into Carmelita, stopping in to get her usual whenever she was in town. After one year, the notebook in Gloria’s desk held 5200 words of real lives.
Then one day:
Where’s Gloria?
Collapsed suddenly.
Stable condition.
The number of kind words that awaited her were countless.
The Green-Walled Tower 
November 27th, 2013 at 7:41 pm
I loved this. It is a beautiful description of all the people I met on WordPress.
November 29th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
That’s what I’ve loved most about blogging, the people.
November 27th, 2013 at 7:42 pm
Dear David,
52 weeks? Already? I number myself among the lucky ones who have benefited from your stellar writing. Congrats on the anniversary.
Loved your story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
November 29th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
That is very kind of you, Rochelle. I find that time seems to both go really fast and quite slow. Here’s to another year of stories. 🙂
November 27th, 2013 at 8:07 pm
52 straight weeks – an acomplishment to be proud of. Well done!
November 29th, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Thank you. I won’t do that every year, but it I ever get to 52,000, maybe I’ll pull the idea out again.
November 27th, 2013 at 10:14 pm
Wow! 52 weeks without missing a beat is some achievement David, and what a nice idea to write a your story in this way. Well done. 🙂
November 29th, 2013 at 9:08 pm
Thank you. It seemed fitting.
November 27th, 2013 at 10:34 pm
Well a very sweet tale that we all wish would come to us if we had loving human’s to inspire our 100 words each week! I loved how you used the Fictioneers prompt to create your story.
November 29th, 2013 at 9:08 pm
People are so quirky and interesting, I’m sure there are millions of words of untold stories out there, waiting to be heard. Thank you for your great comment.
November 27th, 2013 at 10:36 pm
Clever story, neatly contrived, well done.
November 29th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
🙂 Thanks.
November 27th, 2013 at 11:40 pm
That last line made me smile big!
I’m anal about the 100 words too.
November 29th, 2013 at 9:01 pm
I’ve been tempted to go over 100 words sometimes, but I just can’t make myself. 🙂
November 29th, 2013 at 9:14 pm
Me neither! lol
November 28th, 2013 at 12:00 am
Quite an accomplishment with 52 weeks in a row. Such an interesting take on the prompt to boot.
November 29th, 2013 at 9:01 pm
Thanks~ 🙂
November 28th, 2013 at 12:13 am
Dear DAvid,
Congratulations on the orbit of the sun on the FFF (Friday Fictioneers Ferry). I loved your happy take on the anniversary and the accomplishment. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
November 29th, 2013 at 9:01 pm
Doug,
I tend to oscillate between silly and dark, with the occasional sentimental piece as well for variety. This seemed like the week for one. Maybe next week I’ll be back to macabre or absurd or both. 🙂
November 28th, 2013 at 12:30 am
this was cute and warm! loved it. congratulations for 5200 🙂
way to go!
November 29th, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Thanks, dear friend.
November 28th, 2013 at 1:21 am
Gloria, the ferry scribe recording personalities in her notebook. What a great idea. Nice story.
November 29th, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Thanks. Hopefully, she never starts collecting dirt on people and selling it to tabloids. 🙂
November 29th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Hahaha! She’s bound to.
November 28th, 2013 at 2:45 am
beautiful story. congratulations on your 52nd FF post, each and every one of them so finely written. so really, thank you. 🙂
November 29th, 2013 at 8:58 pm
Thank you so much, and you’re welcome. 🙂
November 28th, 2013 at 4:11 am
I think she collapsed under the weight of 5200 words–that’s a lot of words. And you deserve Congratulations for not missing a week. Look forward to the next 5200.
November 29th, 2013 at 8:58 pm
Here’s hoping. 🙂
November 28th, 2013 at 4:44 am
I really like this post! Congratulations on your 52nd week. 🙂
November 29th, 2013 at 8:57 pm
Thank you on both counts. Hopefully I have enough ideas for another year. 🙂
November 28th, 2013 at 5:31 am
52 weeks.. I thought you had been here longer than me.. but I have not been consecetive 🙂 anyway love the tribute… still have to dare to do that.
November 29th, 2013 at 8:57 pm
I remember you were in the group when I joined, but last year seemed like a long time ago. I thought I remembered yours from the first week I did FF, so I went back and checked. It was An Exit, great piece. 🙂
November 28th, 2013 at 6:25 am
Great story and congratulations on your 1-year anniversary participating!
November 29th, 2013 at 8:49 pm
Thank you!
November 28th, 2013 at 7:51 am
Great reflection on the last 52 weeks, loved it 🙂
November 29th, 2013 at 8:49 pm
Thanks! 🙂
November 28th, 2013 at 1:32 pm
awww although I am new to the FF world….this is so cleverly written!! This community has been very welcoming to me. Hopefully will be reading your post in another 52 weeks.
November 29th, 2013 at 8:48 pm
Hmm, 104 stories seems like a lot. I may have run out of things to say by then. 😉 We’ll see, I guess.
November 28th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Happy anniversary! I have loved joining this group, and it’s amazing that you have been at it for a year! I hope to make it myself at some point… Wonderful story, with interesting approach. Nice job!
November 29th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Thank you. I’m sure you’ll be there at some point. 🙂 This is a great group, eh?
November 30th, 2013 at 3:05 am
LOVE it! I totally wait for Wednesday each week now. 🙂
November 28th, 2013 at 4:25 pm
I can’t believe you’ve only been here a year, for me it seems like you’ve always been here. Wouldn’t be the same without you, and that’s a very fitting story to celebrate.
November 29th, 2013 at 8:42 pm
A year seems like a long time when you measure it in weekly stories. It seems like I’ve been a part of this group forever too. 🙂
November 28th, 2013 at 5:28 pm
Congrats! I applaud your determination and consistency. Beautiful piece too 🙂
November 29th, 2013 at 8:41 pm
Thanks 🙂
November 28th, 2013 at 8:10 pm
Well done, and sad tale, well…even if she makes it…the 100 words have probably stopped.
November 29th, 2013 at 8:41 pm
I’m thinking she’ll be okay, and that it was just a temporary health problem. I hope so at least. 🙂
November 28th, 2013 at 11:31 pm
Great job with leading us away and then back to the main character. Nice!
November 29th, 2013 at 8:40 pm
Thank you~
November 29th, 2013 at 6:03 am
Oh Wow. This is a great story. What a clever idea… getting to know one regular each week to write a story about. I made me think about when I worked in restaurants and bars, how a regular became a friend sometimes.
November 29th, 2013 at 8:40 pm
Thank you. I know the picture is a ferry, but it looked kind of like a diner and that fit better with the idea I had.
November 29th, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Blessed to know you, and glad you’ve hit 5200 words! I want to get back in, I just feel like I’m in a holding pattern. Soon, my friend, soon.
November 30th, 2013 at 12:22 am
Great story and congratulations, David.
November 30th, 2013 at 3:16 am
Sweet!
November 30th, 2013 at 11:06 am
Very enjoyable. Thank you so much for sharing.
December 1st, 2013 at 10:25 am
Beautiful, David. What a nice way to pay tribute. Thanks for the mention. I am so pleased you decided to give it a try. Look at you now! So dedicated and done so well week after week. Your writing is stellar. You’re an inspiration!
December 1st, 2013 at 10:38 am
Thanks Amy, you’re quite kind. 🙂
December 2nd, 2013 at 11:39 am
So lovely David. You’re right, every situation we are in, we can weave a story out of.
December 3rd, 2013 at 7:29 pm
What a cool take on the prompt:-)Congrats on reaching this milestone:-)