This is my 200th Friday Fictioneers story, each one exactly 100 words. I started doing these over six years ago, but I took a break for most of the last two years, which is why I’m only reaching this number now.
I decided to go through the Friday Fictioneers stories I did in the past and pick my top five stories. I came up with 22 favorites, but narrowed it down to 10. If you have been reading for a while, you might remember some of these. Here they are in chronological order:
1. The Wrong Tourist (#11) (This was the first one that used a picture I submitted)
2. Knick-Knack Paddy Whack (#40)
3. The Dog, the Clubhouse, and the Cookies (#53)
4. What Does This Button Do? (#61)
5. Jasper’s Lamp (#62)
6. Fructocidal (#63)
7. The Last Few Seconds (#64)
8. A Bad Car Dynamic (#127)
9. Desertedmoonlitclearing.com (#139)
10. Prodigal (#181)
And now, this week’s story.
copyright Sandra Crook
Baby Balloons
Finally, the loom stopped.
“That’s the last one,” Mrs. Arane said. She sighed.
Her assistant Cyclosa pointed to the hundreds of shroud-white balloons along the walls. “You made them well.”
“What if they get hungry during the flight?” Mrs. Arane sniffed.
“They’ll be okay.”
Mrs. Arane wiped her eyes. “Some of them.”
“Children, come get your balloons!” Cyclosa called. She grabbed four balloons in four of her limbs.
The baby spiders lined up, bouncing with excitement. One by one, they took a balloon and, waving goodbye, launched themselves into the open air.
Mrs. Arane watched with tears and a smile.
The Green-Walled Tower 