fiction – Land of Images

Lights, Camera… – Friday Fictioneers 16 March 2018

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

Lights, Camera…

Stomping my feet, doing a jig and waving my arms about like a raging lunatic, I finally gave up.

The night was so black I’d winded myself locating my car earlier than I’d anticipated, the only light a dazzling glow from the camera’s ever-ready presence comforting me in my frozen stupor.

Diving back into the car I started the engine. There was no way I’d even be able to operate the shutter and time was running out.

My phone beeped. An email!

“Aargh… better check it!”

‘Log in for updates on the Boson’s Meteor’

“No! Damn! Damn!”

“It’s tomorrow night!”

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The Visit – Friday Fictioneers 26 January 2018

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

The Visit

The college’s field study group was ready and eager for their monthly mission. This time they were headed for the hills and a village on the brink of desolation but for the few inhabitants whose hapless enthusiasm for restoration had earned them the label Kooks Gang.

“Hey, that looks so weird. The building looks old and dead and that car looks so out of place, new and fresh.”

“Yea, this really is a creepy place.”

“Ok team, listen up! For this month’s project, we’re here to study contrast, in this case, the contrasting effects of the old and the new.”

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Two Friends A-Musing – Friday Fictioneers 22 December 2017

PHOTO PROMPT © Björn Rudberg

Two Friends A-Musing…

“Do you believe in parallel universes?”

“I don’t discount anything; just because I’m not aware of it doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t there.”

“Hell, that’s a concept I can’t get my head around. What planet you on?”

“Same as you, I think,” she laughed.

“If everything we focus on becomes manifest in our universe, eventually, as we have a time buffer…” she mused.

“…imagine a parallel universe where the manifestation was instant.”

“Every time I said ‘hat’s off to them’ …”

“I’d have a pile of hats big enough to set up shop,” she giggled.

“But shops would be obsolete.”

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Symbology – Friday Fictioneers 15 December 2017

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

Symbology

He shuffled in, dragging a massive orb atop a rusty pole.

Surreptitiously, we eyed one another. A sense of unease rippled through the room.

He settled in his seat, both hands grasping the pole. Its weight, top heavy, swayed slightly.

Unease was building into discomfort as he sat, silent, observing everyone.

I glanced for the door… would I be first to leave?

He cleared his throat,

“Welcome.”

“I sense your tension… your unease.”

Our breath, audible in unison.

Discarding the orb, he stretched, sighed loudly, and began…

“How much lighter now… without the weight… of Our World… on our shoulders…”

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Bothy Blues – Friday Fictioneers 1 December 2017

PHOTO PROMPT © What’s His Name

Friday Fictioneers

Bothy Blues

“Is ee ’avin a laf?”

“Ee sed quaint!”

“Quaint?!”

“Drop the ‘qu’. It ‘aint’!

“It ain’t rustic.”

“It ain’t quaint.”

“It ain’t even ‘abitable!”

“An as for ‘spectacular views’!”

“I want ’em throu’ a bloody window!”

“Not an ‘ole in’t wall.”

“An ee wants money for that?!”

“A’d want payin’ to stay eer!”

“Bloody crook ee is!”

“Maybe we could get him to put a door on it,” Mable offered meekly, hoping to dampen his ire.

“What?” he roared.

“’To Let’! Should’ve read ‘Toilet’!”

“Hell! Maybe it did?!”

“Let’s go… we need to find a bed for the night.”

Old Timer – Friday Fictioneers 24 November 2017

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Old Timer

The clock struck 11. Then, mysteriously the pendulum bounced off its perch.

“That’s it!” She’d hollered. “Shove it in the junk room; I’ve had enough of it disturbing the tranquillity!”

I did as bid. I remember it vividly.

As I went to resurrect the faithful old timer, a familiar shiver coursed through my whole being violently spiking every hair, tugging the skin from my bones.

“Why 11.15?”

The door’s always bolted.

(Keeps meddling small hands and curious minds from trouble.)

Nobody but me has a key?

Then I remembered…

… that was the time she passed away.

In the Hot House – Friday Fictioneers 17 November 2017

PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

In the Hot House

“Oh wow, Grandad look! These are something else!”

“Look! They’ve got bright spotlights on them and… look, they’ve also got powerful water jets… they’re amazing… and the ladders… they’re really really long… and they’re winding out really fast!”

“Yes Bobby, let’s just watch a minute and see how they manoeuvre the ladders.”

“Wow, they spin right round too!”

“Can’t wait to tell Charlie what I’ve seen today…”

“…and wait ‘til I tell mum!”

Grandad took a deep, audible breath.

Oh dear, I’m in the hot house again!

“Now I know exactly what I want to ask Santa for Christmas!”

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Bloomin Heck! – Friday Fictioneers 10 November 2017

Blooming Heck!

“Oh you’re kidding me!”

“What number did she give you?” I shrieked in disbelief.

“I thought that was a house number!”

“No, an apartment number silly!”

“But I hate lifts!”

”How long have we got?”

“Just under half an hour.”

“Crikey, we’d better get a move on if I’m going to climb all those stairs and not look deranged on arrival.”

“I hope this is worth it.”

“If we get the contract, we’ll ask her if there are any really good coffee shops nearby that she’d recommend.”

“That way next time we can lure her down to ground level!”

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Sunset Moments – Friday Fictioneers 27 October 2017

Sunset Moments

There’s something about a sunset… stops me in my tracks… dumbstruck.

Feeling my body torn… do what I think I should be doing… or stop?

Indulge this awesome moment!?…

“There’s never been a sunset like this one!”

Where’s the camera?… quick!

Pondering my actions…

Some say ‘You should just drink it in… if photographing it, you’re not ‘being here now’.

“Hmmm ?…………………”

Yes, maybe that’s their experience…. but not mine.

Using my camera keeps part of my mind busy, freeing me to be fully present in the moment.

Indulgently clicking away …

I’m going to really enjoy reliving this later!…

“…mmmmmmmmmmmmm ………..”

Friday Fictioneers

Mystical Tree – Friday Fictioneers, 20 October 2017

Mystical Oak Tree

“Is that it?! Doesn’t look very mystical!”

“Never had you down as a cynic Marshall …. anyway, someone’s built a wall and it’s changed the energy somehow.”

“Yea, that’ll be right! I’m, sure it’s made a difference!”

“Honestly… I can remember it…vividly… was almost dusk… the ceilidh was in full swing. I came out to watch the sky and as I leaned against the oak… wee orbs of light, gently oozed out of the crevices where lightning had so violently struck it years ago.”

“What were you drinking?!”

“Just still water!”

“Right!!! And what still did that come from?!”

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