AnElephantCant deny it
He’s a devoted Friday Fictioneer
His first try was quite fun
So for his second one
He thinks to the rules he’ll adhere
Last week he exceeded his word count
He apologises for his blunder
So this week he’s aware
He takes much better care
And his total is exactly one hundred
The idea is to write a very short story, circa 100 words, based on a picture prompt (below).
That’s it.
The last few people shuffle past, or stop before her, hoisting their baggage into the overheads.
The seat beside her lies empty.
She wonders if it will still be empty when they depart.
Everyone has settled.
A man appears, ambling, insouciant.
He grins and says something to the uniformed lady who approaches him sternly.
Her rebuke becomes a pink-cheeked giggle.
He stops where she sits and somehow squeezes his bag into a space above his head.
Her irritation increases.
Hi, he says.
Her anger melts away instantly.
She is enchanted by his voice and his accent.
‘I got your book’.
Sound Bite Fiction 
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Nice one. I love your intro poem too.
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AnElephantCant always do rhymes
Although he prefers to write nonsense in verse
But everyone knows
He sometimes writes prose
And quite often just runs out of words
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Thank you, yes I’ve seen celebrities travelling like ordinary people. 🙂
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And ‘ordinary’ people travelling like dreamers!
Thanks for visiting.
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Loved it! Another great share 🙂 Hip hip hooray!
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AnElephantCant resist Lady Lovely
He thinks he is her biggest fan
But this he must say
She can lead him astray
But he is more heffelump and not so much man
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An Elephant is a kind and charming man. A Lady really appreciates, her biggest, funnest fan 🙂
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Let me just say I am happy that have been invited to say something rude.. I have nothing rude to say this time but I will tell you the truth… Women love a man with an attitude, add an accent and a smooth voice and they are damn near helpless. I enjoyed this story because this is how life really is…you made your characters real. I love that.
Tom
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I find that I can only write life as it really is. If you read AnElephant’s more whimsical offerings you may wonder at this but, for some of us, every day is an adventure. Thank you for your very kind words.
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This is a great little open ended story that directly solicits the input of the reader in the fine tradition of such writers as Robbe-Grillet, M. Duras, and to some extent Amelie Nothomb. The reader is given just enough info on the characters to flesh them out on his own and to invent/ fill out/ explore possibilities. After all what is the purpose of any story if not to take us somewhere we have not been before AND to use our imagination to fill in the blanks? Good job. AnElephantCan!
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AnElephant is sadly out of his depth with Emmy’s comparisons to the French exponents of the ‘New Novel’.
He requires further education in this field, but is nevertheless flattered by her words and grateful for the comments.
And happy that you enjoyed his little tale.
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I thought I would inject a little pedantic comment of my own, just for the h*** of it. … Wouldn’t it be fun to have your tale be a prompt for what comes next? Then we might even have a tale within a tale, and we’d all be chasing our tails….
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Pedantic? No, you just provide this blog with a little much-needed class. Thank you for that. And I already suggested below that the tale might continue next week, given an appropriate prompt. And if AnElephant goes upstairs we have a tale within a tail and a story within a storey.
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Exactly! up, up and away you go! your followup trumps mine. 🙂
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in this line “The seat beside her lies empty.” i think it should be “lay” empty. also, at the end, i’m not sure who said “i got your book.” did she say it to him or him to her?
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Don’t like to disagree with a guest, Rich, but it is in the present tense, so ‘lies’ is what I mean here. As to who said what, there are only 100 words to explain things …….
Thanks for visiting and sharing your views.
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ok
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Very cool! Want to know more!
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Glad you liked. With just 100 words, the future is always unknown ……
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I hope to hear those same words one day soon. “I got your book”. Great job. Wonder where it goes from here?
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Thank you. Good luck with the book.
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“I got your book.” Now there’s a new pick up line. Wonder where this will go. Cute stuff.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, but I don’t believe that there are any new pick up lines! Maybe the story will continue next week, if the prompt is suitable.
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Really enjoyed…I like the way images formed in my mind while reading…and the end that made me wondering… 🙂
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Thank you, great praise indeed. Glad it made you think!
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This is so fun and so easy to read! Wonderful..and so good aloud!
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Delighted that you enjoyed it. Thank you.
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he may appear insouciant
perhaps to her we was heaven sent?
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Sadly, Bill, I don’t think he is an angel!
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hmmm…. I fear I need to rethink my rhyme 🙂 like your entry poems.
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AnElephantCant help writing in rhyme
No reason other than because
He is a bit daft
It gives him a laugh
It just kinda is what he does
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if a poem brings a smile,
you know — it’s worth while.
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RUDE! Sorry, had to do it! I like this. She wants, then she doesn’t then finally she gets more than she imagined.
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I guess that was inevitable. I always get confused when I see a ‘Wet Paint’ sign. Is it a warning or an instruction?
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Love it! Was immediately drawn in and wanted it to continue.
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Well, thank you, that is so kind!
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Attractions come in many different forms. This was a nice change from the ordinary.
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That is what makes our world what it is, endless variations. Thank you for your kind words.
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I enjoyed this – especially the interaction between ambling guy and the stewardness. I want to know who this guy is, though!
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Glad you enjoyed. I can send you his phone number if you like!
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the voice and accent are his blessings..a good one
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Thank you, your words are appreciated.
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Your ambling man has a gift. I am left wondering who he is and what it is…and, of course, what the book was about.
Aloha,
Doug
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Ah yes, Doug, that is the beauty of a limited word story, it is often left open to individual interpretation. Thanks for your comment.
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I like the word “insouciant” also. Cute story1
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Thank you, happy that you enjoyed it.
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I love “ambling, insouciant” because I like those words. You have me wondering how the book fits in. Is she an author and he recognized her from the photo? Or does she know him and he was supposed to bring her book?
janet
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Hi Janet, glad you like the words. When you have so few, they have to count, and I felt that he was made real in those two.
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Very nice, i smiled after reading this…accents and smooth sweet voices are enchanting…i think 🙂
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Thanks, Boomie, those of us from foreign parts are very aware of other accents and are constantly reminded of our own. Glad you enjoyed.
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