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, happily, I know what the photo shows me.
Even a mere man can recognise a kitchen window.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Kitchen Window
I love the view from this window.
I can see my flowers, and my beautifully tended lawn.
And my husband under the oak tree.
That vile, unhappy man.
Life with him has been a nightmare for so long.
But he promised over a week ago that he would never hurt me again.
And this time he has kept his promise.
It seems he really meant what he said.
So I can just enjoy the garden in springtime.
At least until the flies get too thick.
Then I suppose I will have to do something useful.
Like cut down his body.
Nice macabre tale CE, the old man got just what he deserved!
Great twist at the end, C.E. Here I thought he was peacefully sitting under the tree. It sounds like he beat on her a bit too much.and she’s gone over the mental edge. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
I felt this coming, but your strong story telling still had me caught off guard. Very compelling, CE!
Yes indeed, prize winning roses next season!
Got me again in the end,CE! Here I thought he might be picnicking under the oak. Haha. This is great.
Gee, I wish I had a view from my kitchen window that lovely! Lucky lady, funny story.
Peace at last. I’m happy for her. Great set up and an ending with oomph.
I paused to wonder what that man was doing under the oak tree . Looks like he was doing nothing at all – useless man 🙂 Good riddance.
The pace of the story was perfect.
Not too soon. Maggot have to eat too. Just make sure he’s downwind from the house.
Dangnabbit, gonna have to move that durned tree afore the autumn winds start a-blowin’.
Yikes! Looks like he is going to be fertilizer soon.
Making a contribution at long last!
Thanks for your comment
she made sure he kept his promise. good one.
Glad you liked it, Plaridel
Too many wives would be happy with the same view – well written.
Thanks, Liz, you seem a tad cynical re the sanctity of marriage!
You created the perfect mood for your protagonist to tell her cold, dark story. Quite effective use of first person narration!
Thank you, Jan, I am happy that the approach worked for you.
Heh heh. He’ll be good fertiliser!
Thanks, Ali, I will pass on your horticultural hint!
Well, she took care of that problem and fertilized the garden.
Always so practical, MR!
LOL… very nice. I hoped you’d end it that way and you didn’t disappoint. Well done.
I do not like to disappoint a reader, sir.
Glad you enjoyed.
Love the tone of this, Sir! I like the twist (was expecting him to be seated, strapped, gagged, etc…!)
Really, Dale?
I think this says more about your personal preferences than about my little story.
Maybe…
My kinda gal!
Smiling big time over here!
It’s very good. I like it. I was surprised.
Tracey
You were surprised that you liked it?
Or that it was ‘very good’?
No matter, I’ll take it!
An elephant can be a surprise.
This is way too deep for me, Tracey!
AnElephantCant always go visiting
At the moment he is up to his eyes
But he admits he likes Tracey
Who looks kinda crazy
So he decides to give her a surprise
Thank you. You made my day.
Welcome, ma’am
Oh, what the hell.
Leave it up.
😉 Randy
Yeah, but no.
Cheers, Randy.
Yikes! The ending caught me by surprise.
DJ
Yikes again, they proliferate this week!
You surprised, me happy.
Thanks, Danny.
Oh my. He hung himself, poor sad man. I think it was his wife. She doesn’t seem like a happy or a nice women.
Not a nice or happy couple, Mandibelle.
Thank you for visiting, always good to see you here.
Was worried this was going to be another FF “body buried under the flowerbed” job, but it wasn’t….which was good. Enjoyed this one.
Time for a new cliché, Paul?
Glad you enjoyed.
I didn’t see that coming – nice twist…in the wind.
I do like to surprise, happy you enjoyed.
oh this is fab!! loved it all the way through then laughed out loud at the last line – very clever, jolly well done.
Man, you ladies have a strange sense of humour!
Jolly good comment.
What an image. I shuddered and then laughed!
As good as it gets, I am a happy bunny!
Excellent stuff – agree with other posters: her matter-of-fact tone belies the horror of what she’s done, and perhaps what she’s been through. Great twist.
Sometimes understatement works best.
Thank you for your thoughtful and very kind words,
Tartan gothic, for sure. This puts a dampener on things. And what a sad life they must have had.
Doesn’t sound like it was a bundle of chuckles.
Thanks again, Patrick.
Yikes and double yikes.
I was enjoying the steady comforting pace and then Bam! Loved the twist.
Double yikes!
Bam! Love the comment.
Wow life has hardened her to love that view.
And an abusive relationship.
Thanks, Joseph.
Yes indeed!
Dear CE,
I love her straight forward, matter of fact tone. At the expense of being accused of being a ghoul, I laughed out loud at the end. Well done.
Shalom
Rochelle
Dear Rochelle
I hereby accuse you of being a ghoul.
But then, some of my best friends are ghouls!
I enjoy being a ghoul.
Well at least he’s performing a last useful service, keeping the flies away from the house. So gruesome it was almost delicious. Well done as ever CE.
Almost delicious!
Thanks, Sandra, that actually made me laugh.
C – You are back writing grim, and i like it. The coldness of her reaction is really well created, and the concerns of the flies. I like how you slowly slipped us the truth… Despite his bad sides I do not feel a lot of sympathies for the woman (first person works really well here).
Thanks, Bjorn, always good to hear your views, especially when they are so positive!
You do realise I am not part of the C-club?
Ah.. sorry.. 🙂 I misread in the linkup…
Never a problem, Bjorn, your thoughts are always welcome here.
Gruesome…
And yet quite entertaining once I swatted a few flies.
I like the sing-song tone of the narrator’s POV…It fits the foggy scenery quite well.
.
She’s just humming along
On the crest of a wave
And the sun is in the sky…
That’s a grim view to be looking out on. Great story.
Glad you liked it, Claire, your praise is much appreciated.
Yikes…
Well done to catch the true feeling of things…
Thanks, Miles, yikes is good!