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.
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!
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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
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I felt this coming, but your strong story telling still had me caught off guard. Very compelling, CE!
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Yes indeed, prize winning roses next season!
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Got me again in the end,CE! Here I thought he might be picnicking under the oak. Haha. This is great.
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Gee, I wish I had a view from my kitchen window that lovely! Lucky lady, funny story.
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Peace at last. I’m happy for her. Great set up and an ending with oomph.
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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.
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Not too soon. Maggot have to eat too. Just make sure he’s downwind from the house.
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Dangnabbit, gonna have to move that durned tree afore the autumn winds start a-blowin’.
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Yikes! Looks like he is going to be fertilizer soon.
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Making a contribution at long last!
Thanks for your comment
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she made sure he kept his promise. good one.
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Glad you liked it, Plaridel
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Too many wives would be happy with the same view – well written.
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Thanks, Liz, you seem a tad cynical re the sanctity of marriage!
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You created the perfect mood for your protagonist to tell her cold, dark story. Quite effective use of first person narration!
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Thank you, Jan, I am happy that the approach worked for you.
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Heh heh. He’ll be good fertiliser!
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Thanks, Ali, I will pass on your horticultural hint!
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Well, she took care of that problem and fertilized the garden.
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Always so practical, MR!
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LOL… very nice. I hoped you’d end it that way and you didn’t disappoint. Well done.
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I do not like to disappoint a reader, sir.
Glad you enjoyed.
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Love the tone of this, Sir! I like the twist (was expecting him to be seated, strapped, gagged, etc…!)
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Really, Dale?
I think this says more about your personal preferences than about my little story.
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Maybe…
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My kinda gal!
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Smiling big time over here!
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It’s very good. I like it. I was surprised.
Tracey
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You were surprised that you liked it?
Or that it was ‘very good’?
No matter, I’ll take it!
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An elephant can be a surprise.
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This is way too deep for me, Tracey!
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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
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Thank you. You made my day.
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Welcome, ma’am
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Oh, what the hell.
Leave it up.
😉 Randy
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Yeah, but no.
Cheers, Randy.
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Yikes! The ending caught me by surprise.
DJ
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Yikes again, they proliferate this week!
You surprised, me happy.
Thanks, Danny.
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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.
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Not a nice or happy couple, Mandibelle.
Thank you for visiting, always good to see you here.
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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.
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Time for a new cliché, Paul?
Glad you enjoyed.
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I didn’t see that coming – nice twist…in the wind.
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I do like to surprise, happy you enjoyed.
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oh this is fab!! loved it all the way through then laughed out loud at the last line – very clever, jolly well done.
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Man, you ladies have a strange sense of humour!
Jolly good comment.
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What an image. I shuddered and then laughed!
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As good as it gets, I am a happy bunny!
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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.
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Sometimes understatement works best.
Thank you for your thoughtful and very kind words,
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Tartan gothic, for sure. This puts a dampener on things. And what a sad life they must have had.
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Doesn’t sound like it was a bundle of chuckles.
Thanks again, Patrick.
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Yikes and double yikes.
I was enjoying the steady comforting pace and then Bam! Loved the twist.
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Double yikes!
Bam! Love the comment.
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Wow life has hardened her to love that view.
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And an abusive relationship.
Thanks, Joseph.
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Yes indeed!
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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
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Dear Rochelle
I hereby accuse you of being a ghoul.
But then, some of my best friends are ghouls!
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I enjoy being a ghoul.
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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.
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Almost delicious!
Thanks, Sandra, that actually made me laugh.
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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).
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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?
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Ah.. sorry.. 🙂 I misread in the linkup…
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Never a problem, Bjorn, your thoughts are always welcome here.
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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.
.
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She’s just humming along
On the crest of a wave
And the sun is in the sky…
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That’s a grim view to be looking out on. Great story.
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Glad you liked it, Claire, your praise is much appreciated.
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Yikes…
Well done to catch the true feeling of things…
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Thanks, Miles, yikes is good!
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