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.
And, this week, she also provides the inspiration photo.
Which makes me think of happy days on the coast of paradise.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The Rocks
I am feeling a bit down.
Not just because of the weather.
On a rocky jetty outside of town, my boot skids.
I fall awkwardly.
My leg is broken.
I pass out with pain.
I waken, soaked, as much by the incoming tide as by the steady rain.
My phone slips from my numb fingers, disappears with the next wave.
I try to crawl to safety, but the weight of my sodden coat is a hindrance.
I am a writer, inspired by the sea.
As my beloved Mediterranean washes over me, one thought concerns me.
Who will write this story?
What a helpless and hopeless situation. Everything happened to him that would assure his demise. I’m sure he’s thinking that would be a great way to kill off a character. The only thing that can save him would be a hiker who happens by. That wouldn’t work unless there was some kind of foreshadowing. Well written, C.E. —-Suzanne
I found myself nodding my head at that last line, as if I understood.
I am sure you relate to it, Dawn, you are, after all, one of us.
Wonderful story telling, CE; I’m hoping it’s not autobiographical! I love the tension you build with each wave, and the final line clinches it! I’m also amused that the photo reminds you of happy times in paradise, but this is what you wrote! 😉
Thank you, Dawn, I appreciate that you always find something positive and complimentary to say, even when I amuse and/or confuse you with my train of thought.
You rarely confuse, but if interest constitutes amusement, you never let me down! 🙂
One of those “who’s minding the store?” comments on the last line. Classic.
Thank you, sir, too kind, made my day.
😉
Gosh! Some days nothing goes right. Poor fella. I like the post-modern twist you’ve got here CE. Very good.
Yes, Mama said there’d be days like this.
I did a post-modern twist?
Like we did last summer?
Loved the black humour. Most enjoyable.
Well, when you are drowning in agony in a bleak and miserable spot, you have to laugh, don’t you?
Absolutely.
CEAYR just did 🙂 Nicely done.
Yep, stole the story, let him drown, question of priorities.
What a fantastic story, and how terrifying that last line is!
Thank you.
And thank you.
You’re welcome.
And you’re welcome!
Hope you’re better, and mending well.
The last line sealed the deal. Indeed a scary thought.
Glad you liked it, Samra.
I suppose if we are philosophical about it, the author is writing every word of his story with his life. The real question is, who will remember it? Now that I think of it, are we, as writers trying to capture a piece of immortality with our writing?
Ok, I think I’ve had too much wine. Love the story, C.E.
Yeah, we don’t want to get philosophical, do we?
Just pass the wine, please.
Splendidly drawn series of believable disasters. Perhaps the Med will buoy him up and let him swim to safety?
I’ll have what you are drinking, please, Liz.
But happy you enjoyed it through your drug-induced haze.
So I’m wondering, who did write it?
Funny and poignant at the same time.
A big boy done it and ran away. (Old Scottish proverb).
Ha ha, ouch. (New Scottish proverb).
Who, indeed? Love this!
Thank you.
And who cares, really?
Awesome – indeed the only horrifying thought for a true writer 🙂
Well, apart from forgetting your pen, that is quite tiresome too.
Ohhhh, what an imagination!
Who, me?
No, it is a true story, honestly.
Really? Didn’t realise it!
Even my comments are fiction.
Blah!
Extremely unfortunate and not a good way to go out in life. And your question is excellent. If nobody can find him down by the rocks and the ocean, how will they know what happened to him. How will they know his story? But I suppose we are never able to write the endings to our ‘own’ stories.
True dat, as some moron once said.
Maybe he will write it in blood on the seaweed?
Or with the seaweed in his blood?
That’s why the Japanese samurais wrote a jisei, a death poem before going to war… maybe an author has to do the same… (but I guess it would kill you just to imagine all the different ways you might die)
Cool idea, Bjorn, but I’d never get out!
Oh dear, his final story. great last line as already mentioned
Yeah, if only, but I fear he’ll be back next week.
And thank you.
Lol….get your priorities right…oh, you did 🙂
Gotta get the words down, right?
Well done.. love the story and the last line are great! 🙂
Thank you, Courtney, you are very kind.
Great story, but so sad, I long for someone to walk past and rescue him! Tragic, the thought of someone lying there, waiting for the sea to claim them. Well written, gorgeously constructed – a great write
Shucks Lynn, so many compliments.
And don’t fret, I wrote another line where a mermaid appears, saves him, marries him, raises a family with him, then eats him with French fries.
But that took me up to 102 words, so please don’t tell Madame R.
Haha! Poor man. Though at least if he’s eaten by a mermaid, his death will have some purpose.:) Mermaids, the Black Widows of the Ocean. Definitely as tale in that idea …
Aha, dear Lynn, you will find that I already write of mermaids and their ilk in some of my internationally renowned works available at very reasonable rates from the right hand panel of this very page. The Second Request e-book is set at Amazon’s lowest price point. Or you can just go to Current Story, above, and hear something for free.
Ooh, love a mermaid tale. I shall investigate further 🙂
You remind me of Marjorie who fell into the water wearing a full size fur coat, it took three people to pull her free from the waters grip. And that was without a broken leg. Love those last two lines.
I regret that I do not know the lady.
But I admire her style.
Happy you enjoyed.
Fabulous last line. Typical writer!
Thank you.
This is our world, right?
I really loved this story.
poor fellow.
Well, cool.
Forget him, he’ll be back next week!
“I am feeling a bit down,”
That line cracks me up a bit.
Thanks, I rather enjoyed it too!
Reflective piece, written in an almost nonchalant voice. Who will, indeed?
Nonchalant schmonchalant, that is the approach here.
Wanna gie it a bash, lassie?
Narrow, I dinna!!
Dear CE,
He is in quite a pickle. Perhaps an elephant will write in his place. 😉 I agree with Neil–killer last line. Well constructed story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
My dear R,
AnElephantCant write for toffee!
Happy you enjoyed despite my imminent death.
Who will write this story? – a killer last line
Without a good answer!
Glad you enjoyed, Neil.