AnElephantCant swim like a dolphin
His trunk and his tusks are too thick
So you know that he oughta
Stay out of the water
He has all the buoyancy of a brick
Once again it is Friday Fictioneer time.
Where fleet-finned Rochelle guides a school of far from floundering Fictioneers through an ocean of fishy tales.
And ANon-SubmersibleElephant sinks slowly and bubblefully.
The idea is to write a very short story, circa 100 words, based on this picture prompt (below).
That’s it.
Copyright- Jean L. Hays
The Fisherman
At the end of the jetty is a lone fisherman.
An elderly man, very pleasant.
We exchange small talk.
I ask him how the fishing is.
He has not caught much.
He shows me what is in his bag.
A pair of Mediterranean bream, flapping weakly, gasping painfully, dying slowly.
I ask him to return them to the sea.
To give them a chance of survival or, at least, to die with dignity.
He looks at me, surprised, and laughs.
I put a hook through his cheek and throw him into the sea.
It isn’t smart to mock a Mermaid.
Sound Bite Fiction 
That was a stunner.
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I’m hoping mermaids live. hugs for that…
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I loved it…
What you is did is awesome!
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Lovely story An Elephant…must admit…I came over trying to understant Summerstommy story…Good go! Mermaids are not to be mocked!
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As a long term vegetarian I heartily approve and applaud the mermaid. As others have said, you don’t mess with a mermaid – or silkie, to switch to your own language – if you don’t want to end up sleeping with the fishes. 🙂
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Good one.
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Rude? Moi? I’m sometimes blunt and inadvertently tactless, but rude? Nah.Good story, though if the fisherman was simply after his supper his punishment seems a bit extreme.
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I half laugh, half cry at this. So good. Excellent.
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In big fishes eat small, what mermaids eat ? Sweet, simple and humorous story.
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I guess he didn’t know or he would have more respect, you’d hope. I can see how mermaids might be the vengeful type.
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She thinks of herself more as a dispenser of justice.
Thanks for visiting, David.
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Hi Anelephant. A completely understandable reaction from the mermaid. I always love the clever way you mix humour with something darker. Merry Christmas!
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Thank you, Karen.
AnElephant is always delighted to get praise from a lovely lady.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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Quite the twist. Well done.
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AnElephant is delighted that you enjoyed his little tale.
Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment so positively.
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Go mermaid!! That’ll teach him.
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Lawdy, you are a bloodthirsty crew here!
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Well done. I was hoping for a bus full of professional sport team mascots to speed off the side of a cliff, tho.
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Thank you, Sir.
AnElephant looks forward to your writing of that!
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Love, love this story! I particularly love the way you’ve tied it into Michael’s story, giving us an extra treat. They each stand wonderfully on their own, but play so well together. Now, as for your limerick, I must challenge you, friend:
It’s true like a dolphin an AnElephant can’t swim; the water’s a very different place for him; But he’ll frolic and play; swimming and diving all day; and in fact AnElephant will swim with a grin!
There are so many clips I wanted to share, but this is one of my very favorites! http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0036vjj
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AnElephantCant argue with a beautiful lady
Especially one who is much smarter than him
He told an untruth
He is long in the tooth
But AnElephant can of course fantastimagically swim
But AnElephant does not in any way tie into Michael’s story.
The very clever Sir ST2 reads AnElephant’s humble offering and concocts his own superb response unaided.
To AnElephant’s great delight!
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Wow! Amazing… how they mirrored each other so closely!! I love it. Did you watch the video? I mean really, those elephants are having so much fun!
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AnElephantCant write a FF short without a twisty tail. This one makes quite a splash!
I love the way you slide seamlessly from the real to the fantastic… to my great delight.
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UnElephant sourit.
Son plaisir.
Le fantastique
Est magique.
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Such a brilliant twist, fab 🙂
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Thank you, Helen, always a pleasure to see your smile here!
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Wonderful! The mermaid achieves poetic (or prosaic) justice for the creatures of the sea.
I notice that Summerstommy wrote an amusing “sequel.” Great work on both your parts!
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Glad you enjoyed.
And yes, Sir ST2 does a brilliant follow up, unbeknown to a dumb heffelump!
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Great story! Brilliant idea. You know, I was fishing when I made the decision to become a vegetarian. I was trout fishing and having the time of my life, jumping from rock to rock over the clear pools in the beautiful stream, tricking those little trout with my sparkling lure. And then I was holding the third catch in my hand; it was wiggling and struggling with all its little might to get free – and I knew. If that little fish wanted to live, nothing should die for my pleasure. And that was it. That was 30 years ago.
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Without the intervention of a Mermaid?
Well done!
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I must admit, I read the sequel first so I knew where this was going, but the mermaid was a twist I never expected. Nicely done.
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The sequel is – obviously! – unknown at the time of writing.
Glad you enjoyed.
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Very Good! I liked that.
DJ
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Then AnElephant is happy.
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If you can’t take it… don’t dish it out. Perfectly underlined in this ‘feel good’ (to the reader anyway) story.
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Gee, AnElephant does not want to fall out with Sandra!
Glad you enjoyed.
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Fantastic as usual 🙂
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You are too kind, as usual.
Lovely to see you here.
Must catch up with events on your side.
Soon.
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Haha brilliant.
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Thanks, Al, thought it was time for a death!
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And it was done so well and subtly. 😀
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You had me hook, line and sinker on this lovely tale….also breathing a sigh of relief that you didn’t bump me off this week. I live a few more days. 🙂
This really is quite a story.
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Thank you, sweet lady, but it seems you have forgotten the Golden Rule.
ANELEPHANT DOES THE FUNNIES HERE!!!!!
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Aha, methinks there’s a collaboration afloat. Nicely done, Elephant. You’ve solved Michael’s mystery. I’m breaming with the revelation. Well done.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Surprisingly, dear lady, no collaboration.
AnElephant is as surprised as you when the very clever Aussie (below) writes a sequel to his little tale.
Thank you for your visit and for your efforts on FF.
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Great Sir Elephant, everyone knows you never mock a mermaid. Especially one with a fish hook in her hand. very enjoyable, if some what disturbing. I think I will have nightmares over this.
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Or perhaps some inspiration?
Very well played, ol’ cobber, AnElephant is amused, impressed and delighted!
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