The file

Posted on by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © Fatima Fakier

 

Shawn couldn’t remember what he walked into the living room for. Old age was really messing with him. He remembered he was on the phone with Johnny… Oh yes! Now he remembered! Johnny wanted some file. Where did he say it was again? Something about a tabletop.

There it is on the dining table! He grabbed the file and when Johnny’s driver arrived, dutifully handed it over.

Fifteen minutes later Johnny called again, laughing so hard he could barely get the words out. “Pa, I meant a copy of the file on the desktop computer.”

95 words

Honestly, Johnny should have known better.

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Write a story in 100 words or less. Click the blue frog to submit your flash fiction and read others’. I struggled with this prompt, even though it is my own. Blame it on writer’s block 🙂

 

bigfred

 

The littlest storyteller

Posted on by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © CEAyr

Will you tell me a bedtime story?

Maybe tomorrow.

Tired, daddy?

Just a little.

From slaying dragons? You have dragon blood on your coat again.

Dragons?

That green shiny stuff there, and there. There’s another spot and here too.

Oh…It must have sprayed onto me when…

You can tell me. I promise I won’t tell anyone. Cross my heart. Hope to die. Oh, don’t worry I won’t really die. It’s just how Jamie and I make promises. So we know for sure.

I was going to say, it must have sprayed onto me when we were making slime.

99 words

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Write a story in 100 words or less. Click the frog to submit your flash fiction or read others’.

bigfred

A pair of tools

Posted on by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © Anshu Bhojnagarwala

 

“What’s happened to my piano?” Sanjeev gaped at the musical intrument filled with soil.

“Firstly, it’s mine. You sold it to me. Second, – ” said Rakesh.

“If I knew you were going to violate it, I wouldn’t have!”

“Violate? Do not be coarse with me. I am an artist.  A medium. A tool of God, I -”

“Oh you’re a tool alright! This was an antique. Pure Ebony. Real ivory. Mahogany wood.”

“And yet, you got rid of it.”

A pause. “Had a gambling debt.”

Rakesh hands him a shovel. “Long handle. Strong steel. Unused. Perfect to beat yourself up with.”

99 words

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Write a story in 100 words or less. Submit to the link below and join in!

bigfred

Get the Code

Thinking of the beautiful country of New Zealand today…

In a Jam

Posted on by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © Priya Bajpal

As a busy, single mom of four robust boys, organisation was key to handling life. Storage was a major element in the parental organisational plan. Mason jars were Sal’s new thing. They could store anything from bits and bobs, jam, pencils, coins, spices – you name it.

Devon had even found it useful for his school project. Some odd-looking crafty thing. She didn’t ask any questions. The main thing is he did it on his own. Later at work, she questioned the jar’s usefulness, when she reached for her lunch (salad in a jar), and pulled out Devon’s project instead.

99 words

This was a challenging picture for me. It’s a bit late but I wish all my fellow fictioneers a Happy and Prosperous New Year! Looking forward to another year with this awesome lot.

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

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Fairytales and Happy Endings

Posted on by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © Jilly Funell

 

In the old days, we had magic mirrors, crystal balls and reflection pools. Today we have Facebook. Fairy God Mother was eager to see what her princesses were up to.

An image popped up of a yellow-haired beauty, locks trailing the floors of a refurbished circular room. Guten Tag! Renovations completed! Hashtag new life begins.

FGM smiled, then grimaced at the next image.

Another blonde pouted, in that awful duck face. Date night with my prince! In the comments a brunette posted, Enjoy the honeymoon phase while it lasts, Cindy. Once a beast always a beast.

Oh Belle, sighed FGM.

100 words

I hope you enjoyed my modern take on fairytale princesses. I quite enjoyed writing this too.

Thought I would add this much needed update: The abbreviated form of Fairy God Mother to FGM was definitely intended for humour. However I did not have enough words to add a tidy quip that it didn’t have any references to genital mutilation of any kind.

And the three princesses are in sequential order: Rapunzel, Cinderella and Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Is anyone here participating in NaNoWriMo? I plan on doing it this year. Properly this time. 😉

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge is to write a story in 100 words or less. Go!

Click the blue frog icon to read more flash fiction or to add yours to the list.

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Clueless

Posted on by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

 

“I can’t believe you just ate it, Sheldon!” Betty sighed on the other end of the phone line.

“What else does one do with cupcakes?”

“Never mind. Did you at least look at the clue?”

“Clue?”

“On the icing. I drew it on with icing.”

“Betty, you can’t even draw with a pencil. Look, it was on my table on top of my notes, I thought you left me a sweet birthday surprise.”

“It was a surprise. A treasure hunt surprise.”

“By the way it was a tad too sweet.”

“You are literally clueless.”

“Wha – hello? Betty, you there? Hello?”

100 words

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Write a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Sandra for this week’s prompt.

Click the blue frog to add your flash fiction and read what others have written.

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I’ve joined in a bit late this week. But better late than never.

I’m in the middle of a glorious drug withdrawal. Prescription drugs. All legal – but no less debilitating than if I was a recovering heroin junkie. On the bright side, it means autoimmune disease is under control with less medication.

Back on the dark side, it means my sarcasm is at dangerously high levels.

The curious case of the cinnamon sticks

Posted on 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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Like Father, Like Son

Posted on by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

 

“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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Unholy racket

Posted on by Fatima Fakier

PHOTO PROMPT © Björn Rudberg

 

This was his place. A sanctum of peace, serenity and love like no other. On top of a mountain overlooking the fields. Cloudless days allowed the horizon to kiss the earth. Today, the clouds rolled at his feet below the mountain peak. Glowing pink and yellow. He extended one foot to dip into it when a loud banging noise stopped him.

His eyes flew open. Noddy, his labrador jumped excitedly towards him and licked his face. Behind him tottered his toddler, squealing and snatching at the dog’s wagging tail.

He sighed. Five minutes of meditation would have to do.

99 words

Hope you enjoyed this attempt at flash fiction humour. Those with small children and hyperactive pets suffering from separation anxiety may relate to this somewhat.

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

Click the frog to read more flash fiction from other great writers.

 

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