AnElephantCant go out in the rain
Although he thinks water is really cool stuff to drink
He likes to splash in his bath
Have a bit of a laugh
But he worries in case it makes his trunk shrink
Once again it is Friday Fictioneer time.
Our green goddess Rochelle offers a literary olive branch to a fantastic forest of fabulous fablers.
And AnElephant is rooted to the spot.
The idea is to write a very short story, circa 100 words, based on this picture prompt (below).
That’s it.
Tear Drops
I understand women.
They are wonderfully emotional creatures.
They love to cry.
When they are happy and when they are sad.
Or just when they feel like it.
This is the key to my comprehension.
Because tears have to go somewhere.
I may gallantly, in passing, offer a handkerchief or tissue.
Easily retrieved.
Or simply lift their own, with no more difficulty.
You ask me why?
Just a little chemical analysis tells me everything.
Their moods.
Their likes.
Their grievances.
Their desires.
All in those tears.
Because where do tears come from?
Their beautiful eyes.
The windows to the soul.






Beautiful imagery. Sad to think women’s souls are so sad.
It ain’t necessarily so, dear Brenda, tears of joy sometimes, doncha know!
True, I was resonating the sad that day, but this moment is a glad one for me. Are you interested in picture books? I’m in a new online challenge, 12×12 challenge, write 12 picture books in 12 months. It’s killing me, but you might consider it if you are at loose ends in January.
What an intriguing character. I hope he can be trusted with all that information he’s gathering – although I suspect not.
Yeah, but no.
AnElephant suspects that Margaret suspects that the suspect’s motives are somewhat suspect.
Correctly, he suspects.
Most interesting ElephantCant!
Well, thank you, Dale.
Interesting is better than dull, Dale, AnElephant hopes.
Always!
You understand women so well! Bravo. 😉
Lily
Hah!
AnElephant understands only that the fairer sex are totally incomprehensible.
And this is fact, not fiction!
“I understand women…” Somehow I feel this character is lying from the outset 🙂
I did like the mix of poetic language (eyes as windows to the soul) and cold scientific analytical terms. It keeps the reader off balance, never a bad thing.
KT
AnElephant is happy that KT finds things of interest in his words.
He suggests that the narrator claims to understand women through his analysis of their tears.
Better Elephants than he have tried and failed to understand the fairer sex.
Sometimes I cry and when my daughter asks why, I really can’t say. There’s a lot of truth in these words, and I like the reasoning at the end.
Long ago, when even AnElephant was young, Del Shannon said there were 2 kinds of teardrops.
AnElephant suspects that we both know that is not true.
Vaguely disturbing. But a great idea.
Thank you, Sandra, you seem to have picked up the tone exactly.
From any other blogger I might think this slightly romantic but from you, its just creepy. I’m not sure why and i am not sticking around to find out!
AnElephant loves it when Dawn is creeped out.
His day is a success!
LOL…for some reason I am flattered by that.
Because AnElephantCant be rude to lovely Dawn?
He thinks she is wonderful, so each reply is a compliment.
AnElephant is a charmer. I do love a charmer 🙂
Nice! I’m told that tears have different chemicals in them, depending on the mood when they are shed. Kind of takes the romance out of your lovely poem, but that’s what I thought of…
AnElephantCant comment on the results of his analyses, but suggests there is little romance in his 100 words.
I come here expecting some bodies.. and what do I get? something sentimental… but I think it could be just the beginning for a Bluebeard…
Ah, Bjorn, there is nothing sentimental about this piece, my friend…
Quite lovely though I wouldn’t recommend the analysis.
AnElephant thinks the same thoughts about Irene!
I get the feeling this guy is a collector of souls. Just sayin’.
He certainly has a deep interest in them, doesn’t he?
AnElephant needs to stay away from all the tears , lest it shrinks his trunk.
Good poem…Enjoyed reading it.
AnElephant does not like a shrunk trunk, it means he cannot pick up a peanut!
A little bit creepy, anelephantcant, especially the poem at the beginning. LOL! Anyway, my question at the end was, you must have made many women cry….
The silly rhyme was creepy???
Hmm, AnElephant is losing his touch, apparently.
And AnElephant tries never to make a lady cry.
Just a little tiny bit creepy not a huge sort of creepy. Mouse size creepy not elephant size creepy.
I love this…really. I love, love, love this 🙂
Thank you, Susannah, AnElephant loves your praise.
Uh huh . . . Women like to cry, eh? Well, you little creep . . .
Nah, just razzing you, Elephant. Interesting place to go with this. This guy sounds like a bit of a stalker–like one of those jerks who heads to the club on ladies’ night and waits until the vulnerable females are half in the bag before introducing himself. If she’s so vulnerable she can’t say “no,” it’s still rape . . .
Anywho . . good work.
Cheers!
MG
Hmm, rather a heavy comment, a lot read into a 100 word story.
AnElephant finds your thoughts interesting, if somewhat extreme.
It’s beautiful, but does have a slight ‘Perfume’ vibe. Someone who collects and analyzes women’s tears… I wonder about his intent. And I laughed about the intro poem: beware of the shrinkage.
AnElephant is happy to make you wonder.
And very happy you like his silly rhyme.
Ooohhhh… here I was thinking, it’s beautiful and now that I’ve the “Perfume” vibe, my whole feeling has changed!
Trust your vibe, dear Dale, but AnElephant is aglow with ‘beautiful’!
Thank you.
An interesting take on the prompt. Why do we cry? That is a question I have asked many times. I can see though that there might be a darker side to this piece.
AnElephantCant answer your deeper question.
Thank you for taking the time to read, to consider, and to comment so thoughtfully.
I can’t help but think this is slightly creepy… Mr. Tear Analyser gives off stalker vibes.
AnElephant likes ‘slightly creepy’.
Thank you.
Lovely! I was so ready for the analysis to be for something sinister – so this was a nice surprise.
Thank you, Claire, but the analysis of likes, grievances and, especially, desires can be for many purposes, benign or sinister.
Yes, I suppose you’re right. Sigh.
AnElephant reveals his tender side. Loved it.
Thank you, Kimberly, but sadly not all tenderness.
Dear Elephant,
No one died this week. 😉 Lovely piece to boot. BTW, I have a male friend who doesn’t consider it un-masculine to let the tears flow when he’s moved. At any rate, I enjoyed this.
Shalom,
Rochelle
AnElephant is very happy that Rochelle enjoys.
But it is perhaps slightly darker than it appears.
Whoa! What a beautiful poem! I had no idea something like this could come out the photo!
Thank you, AnElephant blushes pinkly.
Ohhh…So much room to fly in any direction.
All defenses are out the window…
Fascinating take on the prompt.
Ah, Emmy sees the possibilities, as does APotentiallyEvilElephant!
scary stuff. Emmy is burning her tissues anf staying sway from chick flicks