Friday Fictioneers

Smoke gets in your eyes

Posted on Feb 8, 2019Feb 8, 2019 by Fatima Fakier

It was a surprise for Berr. Cooked meat, with a new tool that Eli called fire. Over many moons Kaya’s friend taught her how to make fire.

Berries and a fist of boar meat, which Eli gave to her, spread out on the rocky floor. A sound alerted her to Berr’s entrance. Dragging Eli by his hair, matted with blood. The light in his green eyes muted by death.

“You belong to me. No one else.” his voice echoed around the small cave. The smell of blood and roasted meat overwhelmed her. Kaya threw up, tears burning her eyes.

99 words

What an awesome, inspiring image! Certainly was challenging but I enjoyed writing this story that weaseled its way out onto my blog.

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge is to write a story in 100 words or less. Submit it to the link (frog icon) below and read other flash fiction too.

Hope you’re all had an awesome week and here’s to an amazing weekend!

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He aint heavy, he’s my brother

Posted on Dec 24, 2018Dec 24, 2018 by Fatima Fakier

He waited for hours, watching. Waiting. Hidden behind a tree. Or pretending to stroll on the park lanes. People didn’t notice Thomas. Not when he asked for coins in his cup, and not as he circled this part of the park. His eyes fixed on the pair of boots abandoned on the low wall. He waited for the owner to claim them. Everyone ignored them, just as they ignored Thomas. Taking a deep breath, he crept closer and plucked them off the wall. Safely on his way, he felt pleased his brother would have a good pair of boots.

99 words

Written for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Write a story in 100 words or less.

To those celebrating Christmas, I wish you a very Merry Christmas with your family and loved ones!

Click on the blue frog to submit your own piece, or to read more flash fiction.

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One of my favourite songs as a child.

Lost and found

Posted on Dec 18, 2018 by Fatima Fakier

When he first entered his cabin up in the woods, the strange item caught him off guard. Not strange as in unknown, he was old not ancient, but strange as in not belonging to him. He could use a computer, even operate this laptop version too. Only he didn’t own a laptop. Even stranger still was the young woman who rose from her hiding place behind the kitchen island, hands in a surrender position at her shoulders.

She looked familiar. Then he remembered. Dusty. Hazy. Her face on the news, posters and milk cartons. Years ago. Missing.

“Dad?” she said.

100 words

Getting my flash fiction in just before the doors slide closed on this Friday Fictioneers train.

I don’t know how this guy didn’t know he had a daughter. It seems people have lied to him and a missing girl (on the run or kidnapped) comes to find him. Guess they’ll have a lot to work through! Once she proves she is his daughter, that is.

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by the gracious Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Write a story in 100 words or less. Click the blue frog icon to submit your story or read what others have written.

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Love and friendship in a zombie apocalypse

Posted on Dec 10, 2018 by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © Dawn M. Miller

Trix leaned against the wall. His broken leg wrapped pointlessly with a shirt. Soraya looked around the tunnel, packed with grimy, injured survivors. Weary from fear.

“I was going to ask her to… marry me.”

“I’m sorry, Trix. But she’s gone. She wouldn’t have made it.”

“If she’s alive… she needs help.” Words dribbled out of his cracked lips.

She held a water bottle up to his lips. The thought of Mira alive, alone with those things, moved her.

“Fine. I’ll go back for her. But I’ll need weapons. Lots of them.”

He nodded to his gun, “Start with this.”

100 words

A hundred words was not enough to portray the scene. Settled on this version.

It’s been a while. Looking forward to mingling with you wonderful people once again!

Written for Friday Fictioneers. Write a story in 100 words or less. Click the blue frog to add yours or read more flash fiction based on this week’s image prompt provided by Dawn M. Miller.

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Last day of school

Posted on Sep 6, 2018Sep 6, 2018 by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © Gah Learner

Mishka pulled the curtain aside, hoping to see a window. Her heart sank when she saw it was boarded up shut with wooden planks. Her breath came in sobs, heart thudding faster in her chest. Was her mother looking for her? Thoughts of her mother brought fresh tears.

A woman entered the room. She wasn’t in the car when those men pulled her into it on her way to school. Hope rose like a red balloon in her chest.

“Please ma’am. I want to go to my mommy.”

She eyed her up and down. And shut the door.

98 words

Not one of my favourite stories, but only because of the topic. This was extremely difficult to write. Usually I have no issues connecting with my dark side to conjure up all sorts of evil and crime. But to try to empathise with a child, kidnapped from her safe world, not knowing what will happen to her, or if she’ll see her family, friends and school again, was heart-breaking for me.

Child trafficking is on the rise. At ridiculous levels. I find it intolerable that elected governments are so quick to initiate changes to taxes, fuel prices, land appropriation or other laws that line their pockets. But horrendously slow to put a stop to crime. Rather it feels as if they create a safe haven for such syndicates to operate in. I can bet anything, that due to the rapid increase in child trafficking, it points to politicians or other high-level officials lining their pockets from this modern day slavery.

In South Africa, children cannot walk to school without running a high risk of being kidnapped and disappearing into thin air. They’re taking children from outside the school gates. Last week, they smashed the rear window of a car, to try to steal a baby from his car seat. This is the level of desperation and enticingly lucrative nature of child trafficking. Luckily, the mother managed to drive away and they failed to unbuckle him in time.

The culprits should be given a life sentence or the death penalty. A child kidnapped and sold into slavery has had her life taken from her.

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Write a story in 100 words or less. Click the blue frog icon to read more flash fiction.

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One thousand and one lights

Posted on Aug 23, 2018Aug 23, 2018 by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © Carla Bicomong

The last thing Jinaka told me before the golden blade of the demon warrior’s sword plunged into his back, piercing through his abdomen, was to take the map to the city of Kunto.

Before I could catch him, he had thrust the bag and its sacred contents into my outstretched hands.

I ran, cowardly and guiltily. I looked back over my shoulder just as the demon towered over Jinaka, sword raised high. After fifteen years, my mentor was gone and independence weighed heavily on me.

Ahead the first lantern shimmered. One thousand more lit the way to Kunto.

98 words

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Write a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Carla Bicomong for this week’s shimmering prompt. Click the blue frog icon to read more flash fiction.

*** For some reason the comments were turned off on this post. Which I have now turned back on. 🙂

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The curious case of the cinnamon sticks

Posted on Aug 1, 2018Aug 1, 2018 by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

Nancy loved pottering about with Mum. Today they were planting flowers. Or they would once Mum found her garden tools.

“It’s as if they crawl off on their own.” she muttered to herself digging through piles of junk in their garden shed.

“Maybe the gnomes came to borrow them.” mused Nancy.

Mum mumbled something about gnomes and arses.

Cinnamon sticks poked out off one shelf, catching Nancy’s eye.

“See! The gnomes replace what they borrow with cinnamon sticks.”

“Flip! so this is where I stuffed these bloody cinnamon sticks. Maybe I should check the spice cupboard for my garden tools.”

100 words

My very first instinct was to write some grisly murder / thriller. Images of leaves, dried twigs and wintry scenes has this effect on me. I pushed myself to find something different, stretch my creative muscles a bit. Get the rusty cogwheels turning. There’s a bundle of twigs on the makeshift shelving that look like cinnamon sticks. (Left on image). And I went with that!

Hope you enjoy the break from my dark side. Anyone who is a busy parent juggling work (housework or career or both), fitness habits, hobbies, child-rearing will know that feeling of confusion upon discovering misplaced items. And I doubt that Mum will find her tools in the spice cupboard. That would be too easy.

Write a story in 100 words or less, and join Friday Fictioneers. Hosted by our friend Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Click the icon to read more flash fiction in different genres.

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The Hannah May incident

Posted on Jul 25, 2018 by Fatima Fakier

His question caught her off-guard. The room spun around her and she gripped the edges of the lectern to steady herself.

“Ms Silver, how would you explain the Hannah May incident?”

It was no secret that she had been Hannah’s life coach. A fact that tormented her. Buried guilt rose from past failures. Oversights.

It was she who had encouraged her to push past her fears, return to her love of sailing. She died in the storm of 2004. Neither sailboat nor her body was ever found.

Ms Silver found her voice, “Hannah May was brave enough to follow her dreams.”

100 words

Life coaches are amazingly positive people. And I’m sure they have their demons too. Ones they wrestle with and from which they find their own growth. Whatever the situation, it’s important to face fears that keep you from your dreams or the change you want to make in your life.

Have a happy Wednesday!

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Like Father, Like Son

Posted on Jul 19, 2018 by Fatima Fakier

“You’re just like your father”, remarked Robert lazily.

Marcus raised an eyebrow, “He’s your father too.” Then picked up the whiskey canister, “And no I am not.”

“I have the good fortune of having fallen very far from the tree.”

“Oh shut up!”

“See that’s just what Father says to me.”

“For the last time, I am not going on some reckless, un-planned, crazy-as-shit adventure of yours to the Galapagos islands!”

“Comfort zones. Careless mediocrity. Whiskey… like father, like son.”

Marcus held the whiskey canister above his glass. Cautiously sat it back on the table. “When do we leave?”

99 words

Something about the house and the setting sun made me think of family and adventures. And I so much wanted to experiment with humour and dialogue today. Hope you enjoy this!

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Challenge is to write a full story in 100 words or less.

Click the blue frog to read more flash fiction and all the different stories one image can prompt.

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Dead men tell no lies

Posted on Jul 11, 2018 by Fatima Fakier

The human body is capable of amazing things. Contortion is one. Bending with extreme flexibility. Just like Jimmy was now, crumpled into a lobster trap. Except that John had to break Jimmy’s legs at the knees to get it to fit. His face was blank and slack. Nothing left of the shock that twisted his features looking down the barrel of John’s gun. Six bullets fired into his chest.

Now, pushing the trap off the boat into the water, John felt nothing of the cold shock that seeped into him when he found out Jimmy had betrayed him.

98 words

Brought back an old character from one of last year’s flash fiction, John the Baptist. Organised crime boss and ruthless with his enemies.

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by author Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.

Click the icon to read more flash fiction by other amazing writers. It is amazing to see the different stories and genre’s that an image can prompt. I’ll be impressed if this image courtesy of Liz Young inspires any romance stories!