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.
Today’s exquisite photo by Piya Singh transports me to days long gone. Well, to my FF offering of two weeks ago!
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
Copyright Piya Singh
The Appointment
I become increasingly anxious.
I try to concentrate, to remember where I am, why I am here.
Nothing.
Others have come and gone, I am still waiting.
I cannot see how they are called.
They appear to just get up, unbidden, and walk away.
Some nod to their neighbours, smile, but no one acknowledges me.
I squirm on the hard seat.
A tall, severe lady in a white uniform appears, beckons to me.
She leads me to a previously unnoticed door.
I go through, tentatively, nervously.
I see the Highland croft where I spent happy childhood holidays.
I am home.
Really liked this CE especially the confusion and could almost feel the apprehension building. Hope you are fully recovered now.
Thank you, Dee, for kind words and kind wishes.
Sadly far from recovered, months of rehabilitation ahead, at best.
Sorry to hear that, take care.
So this is what he was waiting for two stories ago – or rather what was waiting for him. I hope you can leave him there in peace, CE. I have a disturbing image of the lady in white rushing through that door and whisking him back again – his records got mixed up with someone else’s. Nevertheless, I like how you wove those two scenes together. Very nice.
Oh Margaret, you fret too much, no one is whisking anyone.
At least until next week.
Mixed up records?
Man, you are one cynical lady!
Happy happy happy you enjoyed.
It happens. Take my word for it.
Suspenseful tory with a nice tidying ending.
Which is not my norm!
Glad you liked,
Oh, liked the twist on the end. Wonderful writing this week! Enjoyed it greatly.
Very kind, thank you.
Happy that you got so much from my 100 words.
Nice to see this end on a happy note. Wonderful, CE. The severe woman had me guessing. I thought he might be in a mental institution. I hope you are feeling better!
Mental institution?
What are you implying, woman!
I feel fine, thank you, I just have a non-functioning hand.
I hope your hand is feeling better, CE. 🙂
You had me worried for a moment but it ended with a smile.
Thank you
No, Dawn, thank you, as always
I was worried the door would open on to something horrible but this was lovely.Well done
Aren’t we all, Mick?
Thank you, much appreciated.
As I was reading it dawned on me that this was a guy waiting in limbo. I’m glad he’s finally been called, and to a very pleasant location!
Thank you, sir, happy you enjoyed.
Seems like he has entered paradise. Lovely.
Or Scotland, same thing!
Thank you.
It seems he’s finally followed the light. It could possibly be your character from your last story. Lovely that he goes to his childhood home. Well written as always, C.E. I hope your physical problems are lessening. 🙂 — Suzanne
Yes, Suzanne, this decided at some point to be a sequel, surprised me too.
Thank you for your kind words.
And for your kind thoughts, but no quick cure, a year of therapy, or re-education of nerves and muscles, assuming problem gets no worse.
Loved the appointment… we will all have that one day
Depending on our views of what comes next, perhaps.
Glad you enjoyed.
It could be the tax office though. Or the dentist.
What a lovely place to have been brought up in.
Ah, Patrick, you are forgetting the midges!
I loved this. It feels like a spiritual successor to your train story two weeks ago. Well done!
I thank you.
Somehow it turned out to be a sequel, quite unplanned.
Something tells me that you’ve been thinking quite a lot about the eventual prospect of your own death.
Beautifully written story – I really loved the sense of mounting anxiety, the nervousness, the sudden appearance of the “tall, severe lady in a white uniform” (how I love that description of the Guide to the Afterlife!), and then, the Highland croft.
Simply beautiful
Honestly no, it is not something I consider.
I have decided to live forever, and that is working quite well so far,
Your very kind words have me blushing, if I die tomorrow, I will go to my grave happy.
🙂
Wonderfully simple. The last line says it all!
Thank you, very kind
This story seems like a prompt all in itself, since I can think of a number of things that might be going on here. Great job and something to think about too.
-David
Much appreciated, David.
As you know, in 100 words provoking a thought is the most we can ask for.
Very nice. Ending where you’ve begun.
Thank you, Mandibelle, but don’t we always?
I suppose so
Oh, Mandibelle, please don’t sound so glum.
Have a hug, okay?
Lol. I’m good. Thank you CE for the hug 🙂
How nice to finally make it back to square one of life. Cue the Dvorak music.
Good stuff, CE.
Thanks for kind words and reminder of beautiful piece of music
Oh yes I still remember you take on the one two weeks ago… after Limbo you might get there… I’m happy for an end that take you back… wonderful story.
Cheers, Bjorn, that means a lot, coming from you.
I don’t have any idea when this became a sequel, and I know you understand that!
He is not patient in waiting to see what is coming. But then who really is?
I think many of us as still unsure, Joe.
Thanks for visiting
What a great build up you gave us there. Such tension in such a short piece, then the release of finding himself home again – just gorgeous. Made me feel quite emotional, that feeling of home. Lovely
Here he lies where he longed to be, Home is the sailor, home from sea, And the hunter home from the hill – Robert Louis Stevenson
Thank you, Lynn
Lovely quote. And a truly lovely story 🙂
A very visual and intriguing story. Graham liked it too.
Thanks, but he knows nuttin’
Life after death? Well written, even if I’ve guessed wrong.
10 out of 10, Liz.
But I write fiction, sadly.
A bit of intrigue and then he’s home. Nicely done.
Thank you, glad you liked
I love this, at least he ends up somewhere familiar.
The cycle of life, perhaps.
Very happy you enjoyed.
This had me thinking of the poetry of war and on to the wings of angels.
Dang it, I was aiming for the wings of war and the poetry of angels!
Close, but no cigar, once again.
Loved this, especially the build up, the confusion and growing apprehension. And a lovely turn at the end. Excellent!
Thank you, Sandra, big smiles here.
Am I right that this is the same story as the one for the waiting room, but with a different ending? Now that’s parsimonious and cunning. They do say there’s only really one story in the world, don’t they?
A sequel, dear boy, we call it a sequel.
63 plots, I have heard, and I have used almost two of them to date.
A very well written piece, CE!
Thank you, Josslyn.
You’re welcome! 🙂
Dear CE,
This sounds like the appointment we hall have to keep one day. I loved his return to his childhood home in the end. A very Twilight Zone feel to it in a sweet way. Well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I think you are on the button, R, it is the Tax Office!
No, of course you are right, glad you enjoyed the slight otherworldliness of it.