Tag Archives: Friday Fictioneers

January 24, 2013

Frankie Waits – Friday Fictioneers

The Caribbean sun warmed the salt-scrubbed planks of the boardwalk as Frankie trotted to the beach, tail wagging. Just before the sand, he stopped and scanned the beach, looking for his master. Seeing no one, he lay down in the shade of the tall palm and waited.

* * *

“There’s Frankie, out under his palm again. 7:30, just like clockwork.”

“He’s faithful, is he?”

“Seven years running; ever since Jim left to circumnavigate the world. His boat disappeared in a storm and everyone gave him up for dead.”

“I guess no one told Frankie.”

“He wouldn’t listen if they did. He believes.”

61 Comments | tags: beach, Caribbean, dog, flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers, shipwreck, waiting | posted in Light

January 17, 2013

Stage 1 – Friday Fictioneers

By David Stewart

It’s time for the Friday Fictioneers again!

“Okay, let me explain how this is going to work. Go to the park and light the first and fourth lamp of the menorah. Your contact will light the seventh. Here’s a picture.”

“This is my contact?”

“No, your contact will be twelve feet to the left of this man. Next, take this antique phone and dial 337. He will dial 105. Last, take these crayons and draw the Vietnamese flag on a nearby birch tree. His countersign will be to say: ‘That’s not the Japanese flag’.”

“And then I can get a job interview?”

“No, then Stage 2 begins.”

42 Comments | tags: convoluted, fiction, flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers, funny, job interview | posted in Light

January 11, 2013

Quadruple Bass – Friday Fictioneers

By David Stewart

This story is neither quirky or dark, my usual themes, but you know what they say: “departure from the norm is the spice of life.”

Here are a collection of other stories around this picture.

It probably would have failed anyway. Who would want to hear a double bass duo anyway? Quadruple Bass, we called ourselves.

I claimed Grandpa’s old pride-n-joy. My brother had to save up three years for his instrument. Practice breaks were filled with lofty plans of concerts, tours, autographs. He talked; I listened, smiling.

His sickness killed all that. My last performance was when I lugged both behemoths up to his third-floor hospital room and tried to play both simultaneously to make him smile.

They just sit there now, but sometimes I think I can hear them hum to each other.

45 Comments | tags: brothers, death, double bass, dreams, fiction, flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers, quadruple bass, sad, sickness | posted in Dusk

January 3, 2013

Victory – Friday Fictioneers

By David Stewart

Another story for the Friday Fictioneers. Check out other people’s ideas.

The shells burst in a glorious scintillation of color and the exultant roar of a victor. The world rejoiced.

“Those fireworks are alien signal flares, you know,” Trey said. “They’re not that different from us. Don’t do it, Mike.”

“They killed 200 million people,” Heather said. “Kill it, quick.”

Mike stood over the wounded alien, rifle steady.

“The war is over now. It’d be murder,” Trey said.

“But it’s not human.”

“It’s intelligent, though.”

“We need to kill them all.”

“We need to forgive them.”

Mike wished he didn’t have to decide. But he was the one holding the gun.

32 Comments | tags: aliens, dilemma, fiction, fireworks, flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers, science fiction, victory | posted in Dusk

December 28, 2012

Superman’s Golf Ball

By David Stewart

This picture was actually a prompt for a Friday Fictioneers story a few weeks ago, but I got another idea, so here it is.

I’m making a huge golf ball for Superman. Because literally nothing normal is good enough for that guy.

“Hole-in-one, first try,” he said, puffing out his chest.

“You know it won’t fit in the hole, right?” I said.

“I’m not playing on a golf course, though. I’m aiming for an open manhole on the Champs-Élysées. That’s in Paris, France,” he added, with his typical super-smirk.

So here I am building this dang thing while he goes to find a 3-ton golf club, because why not, right?

I’m even filling it with TNT, just because he wants the extra challenge.

Jerk.

27 Comments | tags: fiction, flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers, golf, golf ball, quirky, Superman | posted in Light

December 27, 2012

The Perfect Cup – Friday Fictioneers

By David Stewart

Another story for the ~~Thursday~~ Friday Fictioneers. Here are other people’s stories based on this picture.

“The secret to perfect coffee is time and sunlight,” Roald said. His gaze bordered on manic. “Put beans and water outside and the sunlight slowly coaxes out the coffee’s spirit.”

“Sun coffee?” I asked, unimpressed.

“I also play music for the brew. Piano, some harp. I talk to it, and sing. Here’s the result.” He produced a small jar and an eyedropper. “Try it.”

I took a sip, then gulped down the whole thing as my brain fireworked. “This is heavenly,” I gasped. “Is there any more?”

“I’ll get right on that,” he growled. “Call me again in twelve years.”

45 Comments | tags: coffee, coffee shop, fiction, flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers, perfect, quirky | posted in Light

December 21, 2012

Feline Relations – Friday Fictioneers

By David Stewart

The Christmas edition of the Friday Fictioneers. Click here to look at some more stories.

You are dreaming.

“…I’m dreaming.”

Cats don’t write Christmas cards.

“…Cats don’t write Christmas cards.”

You will mail these cards tomorrow without question.

“…I’ll mail those cards tomorrow. No questions.”

Go back to bed.

“…I’m going back to bed now.”

And open a can of tuna before you go, would you? The good stuff.

“…Uh …okay.”

(two weeks later)

“Hey honey, I just got some Christmas cards in the mail. Do you know someone called Mr. Lynx? Also, there’s one from a family by the name of Ocelots. Oh no, the cat just grabbed them. Now he’s staring at me…”

24 Comments | tags: cats, Christmas, fiction, flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers, funny, hypnosis, quirky | posted in Light

December 13, 2012

Playing Theo – Friday Fictioneers

By David Stewart

Another offering for the Friday Fictioneers. Click here to look at some more stories based on this picture.

Theo sat, transfixed by the world he saw in his mind. The images burned with HD clarity: icy spires towering over pristine valleys where the twelve-tusked geffalo stomped beneath skyscraper-high orchids; the Umon people soaring above their island homes; and the Baruk tribes labouring deep in their frozen caverns. Everywhere there was life.

He could see the whole of his tiny, perfect little world spinning like a pearl in his mind, every neuron bursting with the ecstasy of pure creation. He wanted more though: he wanted it to be real.

He started with the globe. That was the easy part.

31 Comments | tags: fiction, flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers, quirky, worldbuilding | posted in Light

December 7, 2012

The Hallway Games – Friday Fictioneers

By David Stewart

This is my first foray into the world of the Friday Fictioneers, and I’m excited. Thank you Amy for inviting me. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Friday Fictioneers, it’s a flash-fiction group that writes 100-word stories every week, based around a photo prompt.

Click here to look at some more stories based on this picture.

by Rich Voza

The tension in the air was palpable. Donald looked down at his brother Brad, sitting on the skateboard and wearing a battered football helmet.

“Are you ready?” Donald asked. Brad nodded.

With a jolt, they were off, Donald propelling Brad in front of him. At Room 301, he let go and Brad took off, the skateboard vibrating wildly under him.

Senior citizens stood in their doorways, waving canes and cheering as he rocketed past. “Go, Brad, go!”

He started to slow. Room 312 . . . 313 . . . 314. Brad stopped and they cheered louder. “A new record!”