Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, and the standard.
This week’s dizzying photo is provided by Sandra Crook, who is probably in the top two writers on FF.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
Copyright Sandra Crook
Vertigo
Vertigo is not funny.
Not for a yellow-legged gull.
I soar through the heavens, glide on thermals, swoop and dive with joy into the sea.
No problem.
But, perched on the cliff face, I am terrified.
Illogical?
Well, clearly.
If I fall, I will fly.
But when I am in my nest I sit with eyes tight shut, rigid with fear.
My family and friends find this hilarious, mess with my mind, jostle me until I fly away to get peace.
I rarely sleep.
But guess what!
Suddenly everything is different.
My chicks have hatched.
I am afraid of nothing.
Playfully charming with fanciful sprinkles in every word. An unveiling of what’s to come
for this new mother helped develop a steadfast balance. I liked this very much, Ceayr.
Isadora 😎
Treaty perspective and nice turning point at the end.
Glad you liked it, Joseph.
Your visits are always appreciated.
🙂
Well done! So many levels for understanding!
Thank you, Roger.
It started with a comic idea and then grew its own wings.
I understand what you are saying. Those are my exact feelings! 🙂
Lily
Glad my story connected with you, Lily.
Thanks for your comment.
I’m the opposite. It’s when the chicks hatched that I learned fear. Little buggers keep trying to throw themselves out of the next before they learn to fly.
We are all different, I guess, Alice.
Thank you for your visit.
Yes, families can be quite unpleasant. They do tend to bother us out of our nests, don’t they? Well said.
Laughing here.
‘bother us out of our nests’ – beautifully expressed!!
This is probably the best take on this weeks prompt I have read yet. I love this! How funny and cute …well written. Poor bird. I can empathize with him though, as I am terribly afraid of heights.
Now that is huge praise indeed.
Unless, of course, I am your first port of call!
Interesting that you saw my gull as ‘him’, I had her in mind as the mother of the chicks.
But no matter, I am glowing at your kind words and very happy at how much you liked it.
Thank you.
CE, this one is just brilliant! I love the playful tone and the wonderful rhythm of the piece. Great job!
Brilliant, playful, wonderful and great.
You write the best comments anywhere, Dawn!
Thank you.
I write what I feel, CE… I’m glad it makes you happy. 😉 You are very welcome.
Such a creative take on this prompt. And a delightful expression of that all-important truth that when we finally quit focusing on and worrying about ourselves and put someone else first, our whole life changes.
Thank you, Sandra.
Some life changing moments sneak up and surprise you, while others you know about 9 months in advance.
Oh, just wait until those chicks become teenagers. Then vertigo will be the least of her worries.
Not only that, Russell, but with a lifespan of less than 20 years, they are teenagers for a huge portion of their time.
Poor Mama!
This is truly delightful and as an admirer of that absurd bird the seagull (we share a liking for Dorset scones and cream) I’m going to take it quite literally.
The yellow-legged gull is a dedicated parent, most certainly.
Those that I met in the West of Scotland rarely mentioned Dorset scones and cream, I have to say.
Glad you enjoyed.
I love the image of a seagull that is sitting petrified in the nest because of heights 🙂 nice take on the prompt, and very nicely written!
Thank you, Angie.
I am glad your imagination filled in the blanks!
nice job! Poor Sea Gull
Thank you.
And she is happy, she is a mum!
parenthood is a life-changer indeed. nice take on the prompt. 🙂
Glad you liked it, Plaridel.
Thanks for your time again.
Lovely story. Having kids can be life-changing (so I hear)!
Glad you enjoyed story, sir.
And yes, a little person is quite a responsibility,
C- I like it. Very “Jonathan Seagull” The writing is excellent.
Why is the gull not terrified of the chicks falling? I think the real terror in life starts with the birth of your first offspring.
Thank you for your comments, Tracey.
Please note:
1. The gull is confident of her parenting skills
2. I do not have a C for Crit!
Oops, that C was for compliment. What do you have against Jonathan Livingston Seagull?
Ah, C-onfusing, as it also stands for the ConCrit group and is my first initial!
Not sure I understand your question re JLS.
I read the book about 40 years ago, and have no lasting memory of it.
I’m glad we cleared up the confusion about the C’s. And JLS … never mind I was just teasing you about not wanting compliments but that doesn’t mean that I will stop. 😏
You certainly fooled me; great job, great writing. And I like the title too, but where is Jimmy Stewart?
Thanks, Perry, happy you enjoyed.
Jim muttered something about meeting Liberty Valance for a couple of shots.
Ah yes……..parenthood shifts the attention. Of course with the young chicks, sleep will be even less but there certainly will be no time for vertigo! Leaning over the abyss of parenthood to come….we can be frozen in fear…how will I do it…am I ready…can I fly….and then — like it or not — the chicks are here and the leap is done — and we fly! Really like this take on the photo.
This really took you there, didn’t it, Lillian?
I love it when a reader gets so into a story.
Thank you.
yes….I read it three times! Enjoyed it very much and caught “layers” in each reading! 🙂
Awww! Very nice. I like this one.
Cool, I am glad.
This is perfection. Once those babies are born, we have no time to be afraid!
I can just see you as Momma Bear!
And thank you for ‘perfection’, wow!
🙂
This is absolutely a perfect view of what growing up means… there is a sense of reaching a goal.. I like the way you gradually brought me to understand the story.
Very kind words,Bjorn.
Life has many defining moments, don’t you think?
It does, but often it’s just afterwards you realize it…
… just too late…
Fantastic. And next is the big flight from the nest, chicks guided and protected by mum. Nature, dontcha just love it!
I do, Patrick.
It is a big beautiful world.
So many possible meanings here. I think its up to the reader to decide.
And I am sure you will, Dawn!
Always good to see you here.
Love those last two lines. Good one.
But the first 14 were rubbish!
Thank you.
Heh. Looks like we both had freedom and flying on our minds this week. I love this, for its imagery, and the deeper meaning. Freedom can come in many forms when you know where to look.
Indeed, GaH.
I am glad that it spoke to you on so many levels.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
He seems a bit gullible?
Good piece.
Just another story of how boy meets gull…
LOL
Love it! Love it! Love it! That was a great perspective to take on this picture! I’m still laughing at the image of a terrified gull.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Always good to make someone laugh.
Very creative take. Lovely piece.
Thank you, sir, happy you enjoyed.
Merveilleuse ton histoire!
Sandra a tout dit déjà.
Bravo!
Merci, Em, tu es trop gentille.
I find this quite lovely. What a great message in the last line.
Thank you very much, I am happy you enjoyed it.
Good story, C.E. It’s humorous in some ways yet also has a deeper meaning. I would guess it’s all about the fact that parenthood can bring a sense of responsibility and new coping skills. Well done. Clever use of the prompt. .:) — Suzanne
Thank you, Suzanne, I am glad you took so much from this.
A mother’s love is a powerful force.
Oh I love this. Very creative.
I love your comment.
Very kind.
What a creative writing dear Ceayr, I loved this gull 🙂 Thank you, love, nia
I am sure the gull loves Nia too.
Hugs
This certainly struck a chord with me, though whether it was the one you intended, I’m not sure. Sometimes families can represent the very antithesis of what they’re supposed to be, (not intentionally either) and these few lines capture that beautifully. I always know I’m going to find something thought provoking when I come to your site CE. Good job, well done, and thanks for your comment. 🙂
I am very happy that my little analogy resonated with you, Sandra.
And I am beaming at your kind words.
Dear C.E.
As someone who’s terribly afraid of heights, I empathized with this poor gull. You’ve given me something to smile about on this cold morning. Clever and well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Your words of praise warm my winter, dear friend.
Oh, my friend. I absolutely love this. A synopsis of life. You are a very gifted man. (Fully aware I am the first again … You were first in my Reader … We are in sync I do believe!)
Ah, Belinda, thank you for your too kind words.
You saw through my subtle analogy!
And, dear lady, if we are in sync, then I suspect at least one of us is sunk.
Or on the drink or drunk.
This is an alcohol-free blog.
But not life, Beaujolais Nouveau last week!
I’d assume that race is similar to the race we have down our local pub for any marked down water damaged beer cartons. (Just in case you had any misgivings that I had any sort of class or culture…) 😝
No, sweetheart, I know you are Australian!
LOL!