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 photo is by the ultra-talented Sandra Crook, and portrays an intriguing gizmo.
To the less technically aware among you, that is a thingummyjig.
My tale tells of wondrous wodjacallems.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
© Sandra Crook
Sand Storm
Her behaviour catches my eye as much as her looks.
She talks softly to herself as she draws images in the sand.
I am old, but not totally immune to the charms of a pretty girl on the beach.
I watch her, discreetly, for some time.
Then I adopt my friendly elderly gent persona, and approach.
She answers with a smile.
I am casting a spell to steal a soul, she tells me.
Is it working, I laugh.
She scratches a shape between us, then makes a swirling gesture with her hand.
We whirl away in a vast sand storm.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Wow, great story! I love the ending, totally unexpected.
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Wow, great comment!
Thank you, Lori, I am smiling now.
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My pleasure dear 🙂 so glad I could make you smile 🙂 Have a great weekend!
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Good story, C.E. Not being an elderly man but an elderly woman, I see this story differently. On the other hand, maybe she isn’t interested in women, elderly or otherwise. From reading fairy tales, I seem to remember some old magical women making themselves young. Let’s hope it has a happy ending. Well written and truly magical. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I suspect, Suzanne, that your view might be close to the author’s intent.
Happy ending doubtful.
But I really enjoy that so many people interpret the words so differently.
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Wonderfully romantic and fanciful. I love it.
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Rather like your sweet self, Margaret?
Thank you.
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Ha! I have my moments.
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Love this so much, those pretty girl’s at it again 😉
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One lives in hope.
For my soul, some may say it is cheap at the price.
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“Beware adopting the ‘friendly elderly gent persona’ one time too many,” she cautions, “Or you’ll be whirled away in a great story.”
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Or even in a great comment, you might add.
Thank you, adh
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Oooh…powerful story of magic and surrender. It sounds to me like this old gent is going to be perfectly happy being taken away by the lovely lass.
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That is one possibility, Erin.
Thanks for your visit and your kind words.
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Beware the smile of a pretty, young woman. I liked your tale and the twist at the end.
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Well, yes, beware, but then follow blindly!
Welcome, Kathy, I hope to see you again.
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Bewitching and intriguing! I think, whatever she did, it worked.
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For some of us, Amy, it always does!
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I think he is bewitched. Maybe she is worth his soul, but I doubt it. Romance with a sinister twist, why am I not surprised?
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Um, because you have been here before, I guess?
And, in my limited experience, yes, it is worth his soul.
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Loved this take on the prompt and your ingenious way of using the sand… Magical, well written , you do this so well CE
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‘Magical, well written , you do this so well’ – on this high note, I think I will stop writing!
Hugs
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Life in the ‘ole dog yet!
‘About Harry’, my 100 words!
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Only briefly, Keith!
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EXCELLENT! spinning and dancing off forever
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Hmm, if you like, dear lady, I’ll leave you to that interpretation!
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I’ll have to try that nice, elderly gent persona. What a way to go.
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Sadly it only works once, Russell, so it is difficult to perfect.
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Ahhh… m’sieur Ayr… methinks your soft side is creeping out more often. Some may see a sinister undertone, I dinna… I see a lovely older gent allowing a pretty young thing to seduce him and let him feel alive. I may be out on a limb on this one… but I care not!
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Out on a limb, Dale?
You have a branch up your bum, my dear!
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Pffft!!
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Is that Canadian for ‘your bark is worse than your bite’?
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Mmm hmm… but I wouldn’t test, were I you… 😉
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i could only imagine what happened next after the dust …er, sand settled. 🙂
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You have to, my good sir, because I have used my full quota of words!
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That was a great twist, but I’m not sure she had to steal his soul. She already had his heart (or at least his libido).
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Oh Jan, always the soft-hearted romantic.
Wait till you get to the bit where she roasts his flesh and eats him alive…
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Last week a skirl and this a whirl and a swirl. What a way to go!
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All I need is a girl with a twirl, and I’ll give it a birl!
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Another new word for me with multiple meanings it would seem – are you suggesting a gamble, a log twirling contest (Dale would know about that one) or an immoderate consumption of alcohol or perhaps a combination of all three?
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Well done. And I am at a loss for words.
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Thanks, Em, and how unlike you, you usually have le mot juste for every occasion!
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Not always as you well know.
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Poor old chap – susceptible to the end!
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Yep, a pure numpty.
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Enjoyed that little swirl! 🙂
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You just can’t beat a good swirl on a week day.
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Fascinating tale, I enjoyed this! As for thingamagiggies, got lots of those, lol! Not quite as many wotchamacllits though, I find they are a bit more rare. 😉
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Happy you did, Judee.
If you have any spare firdaddles I’ll trade you fardiddles for them, can’t get them in France.
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Ooh, that was surprising. I’m still swirling. 😉
That must be a good compliment…!
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You can swirl here any time, Carolyn.
I took it as such, thank you.
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Nice twist, but I think I’d like to whirl away with her anywhere she wants!
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Thanks, Perry, but not where she is taking him…
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Good one. He thought he was going to be able to put on ‘elderly gent persona,’ and she only wanted his soul. What a scary young woman.
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Like all women, Mandibelle?
Or am I overly cynical here?
And thank you, I always enjoy your comments.
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Haha. You are very funny Ceayr. I think that is probably a bit cynical but I can understand the thought. I think the right woman would have the right guys soul/heart without asking. Although I think the soul is really Gods. 🙂
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Oh they never have to ask!
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I had a feeling he was really a bad old man… but it seems he met his fate… But I might be wrong.. Love how you picked up on the sand only.
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No wrongs or rights here, Bjorn, I am happy that you interpret it as you see it.
Thanks, I don’t pretend to understand the workings of my mind.
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Reblogged this on anelephantcant and commented:
AnElephantCant be interested in this stuff
Although he loves the photo by sweet Sandra Crook
But he does not care
About C E Ayr
He just wants to show off his super new look!
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Oh, what a creative story! Very magical, and scary, too! Love the characterization of that old man! 🙂
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Thank you for your kind words.
And he is a strange dude, for sure!
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Full of magical potential, with a little undercurrent of dread running through this. You do this so well.
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Thank you, Sandra, for your kind words.
I am as happy as a mythical Pink Elephant!
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That last line portrays such a visual image. I want to whirl!
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As Mr Cohen so aptly says:
Across the sand, I’m your man!
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Magical, beautiful…the words are dancing. Nicely done!
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Well, I thank you, you made my day!
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Beautiful, you old romantic, you.
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Yeah, what’s the odd soul between friends!
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Dear C.E.
She certainly stole his soul didn’t she? What a way to go. 😉 Imaginative and clever. I’m never disappointed. And thank you for explaining the gizmo thingamagiggy.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah figgered sum yo purty lal fangs don’ know too much ’bout this kinda stuff, probly can’t tell a wathefuffzat from a hoojikipiv, too busy keepin’ y’alls hair nice.
Never disappointed?
If only life was like that…
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