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 apparently straightforward photo by Sandra Crook, who is in my Top Two favourite writers here on FF, made me think immediately of Clydebank, back in my rain-soaked homeland.
So, of course, I wrote something totally unrelated.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below
Copyright Sandra Crook
Click here to hear me read the story:
It’s the Singer…
No justice, he did not deserve to die.
Okay, he was a terrible singer.
And annoyingly loud.
He knew almost no words, and never even threatened a tune.
But he just kept belting out song after song.
Whenever there was music on TV he would shout along, drowning it out.
If not, he was happy to generate a noise all of his own.
People either laughed or left.
He totally ignored all hints and criticism, even threats.
He just grinned and bellowed away.
But he didn’t deserve to die.
I guess I was in a real bad mood that night.
Sorry missed this last week CE. I’m behind on m comments. I enjoyed this and wondered if it was from the Singer sewing machines viewpoint, a noisy old sewing machine always making a sound. Or a guy who doesn’t shut up, won’t stop making noise, until the speaker finally ends him and his natter. Is it bad I’m hoping the antique sewing machine wasn’t destroyed 🙂
Hugs
Enjoyed the story and comments also.
Thank you, Indira, lovely to see you here again.
:)loved your reply.
YIKES … remind me not to sing. I usually don’t as I’m not that good.
Of course, I’m not as bad as your character in your story.
Actually, I thought your story was going to be about the ‘Singer’ sewing machine company.
So much for pre-deciding what a story is about by the title. LOL
Well done … I think ..?? SHould one be complimented for murder. 😳
Isadora 😎
Dear Isadora,
Please do not concern yourself, I don’t necessarily kill everyone who isn’t Mr Pavarotti, and would never dream of harming a lady lovely as yourself.
As for the title, just my little joke to tie the prompt to the story.
PHEW … that’s a relief. 😁 Yes, I’m beginning to see the dark wry humor. I’m a bit slow with witticism. I’ve got to relax more with the challenges. BTW … I love Pavarotti. What a voice he had. His recordings live on. OK .. I’m off to practice my singing. Have a nice day …. Isadora 😎
That’s a warning not to be annoying around one of your murderous characters. If looks could kill, there’d probably be a lot more people biting the dust. Good writing, C.E. 😀 — Suzanne
Thank you, Suzanne, I like your rather phlegmatic view of the situation.
Glad you enjoyed, and I appreciate your regular support.
I think the narrator needs anger management!
You really are not buying the justifiable homicide, are you?
I laughed with enjoyment on this. This was awesomely good. The attitude of the piece is perfectly expressed. Maybe it was the band that loused him up, who knows? Anyway, an enjoyable work this week, C.E. Be well, my friend.
You are too kind, sir, especially to the wretched singer.
Truth be told, I think there should be a death sentence for anyone who sings ‘My Way’ as if he/she means it.
Hahahaha!
From what I heard “My Way” was originally 《Comme d’habitude》, which literally means “Like usual”; so…yeah.
Comme d’habitude, As usual, is a beautiful song of heartache, far from the boastful self-aggrandising dirge that is My Way.
This is a great piece of dark humour, which gave me a laugh which I thank you for.
A laugh is good, Michael, and you are very welcome.
Loved this one! Great twist at the end and great voice throughout.
Thank you, Emily, it is satisfying to hear that the tone is just right.
I guess so!
This made me laugh out loud. So warped!
Tracey
I write a tragedy, with perhaps a tiny hint of comedy, and you ladies are all falling about laughing?
So warped, you say.
I agree, absolutely.
But you have to laugh!
Hahah – love this one!
Some of you ladies have very strange humour.
A man is dead here, and you just laugh.
Ah me…
I understand, a man of such delicate sensibilities…
I thought of doing a story about a singer. It was nothing like this! Bravo!
Thank you, Dawn.
I am going to read your offering later this evening and I am sure it will be enthralling.
But no singer, really?
Oh, you twisted that knife just at the last – great build up, a perfect description of a terrible karaoke singer. And love the way you almost bookend th story with the same line. Cracking story once more, C 🙂
Thank you, Lynn, I admit that repetition is a device that I like to use in some circumstances to bring the reader back to the start point.
Your kind words are very much appreciated.
Well, they do say that to create a satisfying short story, you have to end where you began. Not always possible in flash, but it does round off a longer tale. It’s a neat technique and nicely pulled off, C 🙂
Well, if he’d been singing for his dinner he would have just starved to death anyway. Just thing of the suffering you saved him (and us).
You are a harsh soul, sir.
Here we do not allow singers, however tunefree, to starve, we give them alcohol and rope, and teach them rudimentary knot-making.
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Such a clever take on the picture, and such an acerbic tone yet placid tone to the narrator. For a moment, there was almost a tinge of regret too, but I suspect your narrator quickly overcame that inconvenience. Well done, CE, loved the piece, loved the language.
Thank you, Sandra.
But for such a sweet lady you really are cynical!
I will hum quietly now, I promise. 🙂
It is probably for the best, Michael.
If you’d still lived in Glasgow you could have called the cooncil – they would have sent the noise abatement team around 🙂
You kiddin’, pal?
Wait fir the cooncil?
Much easier jist tae tap him.
Very amusing. I love this.
Then my work here is done, thank you.
Clever story! Singer…always tough as nails. They did not stop on their own…
Glad you enjoyed, thanks for stopping by.
He knew almost no words, and never even threatened a tune Bingo! What a great line
Bingo!
What a great comment.
Great title and wonderful take on the prompt. Singer lol. Do they make machines any more?
Not since you were a laddie and Graham was only middle aged:
http://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/kilbowie/
Thanks for noticing the title!
I loved the fact that you took one look at a photo of an ancient sewing machine and went in an entirely different direction with the story. A perfect illustration of how inspiration works–it will not be directed nor coerced but leads a piper’s dance in the direction it chooses.
In my defence, Singer’s were a major employer in the West of Scotland for about 100 years.
I am very happy that you took such pleasure from my tangential view.
Nice spin!! Great ambiance to the piece 🙂
Thank you, I love your enthusiasm here!
It was an enjoyable piece to read 🙂
The title cracked me up and I couldn’t stop laughing. Someone should tell the narrator that killing is so final. Maybe he remembers next time.
You have made my day, Gabriele, I just love it when someone picks up on the ‘in’ joke.
If you want a real howler, check out my alter ego’s excruciating title in this week’s post:
https://cavalairesurmer.wordpress.com/2016/09/05/a-jazz-chord-to-say-i-love-you/
Thank you. 🙂
Good stuff. I love your voice as you read this.
Thank you, sir, very kind.
Wonderful black humour. I could picture the scene in a Glasgow pub or club with the local ‘bad singer’ belting out the songs.
We have all heard him, on the train, at the match, at a party, usually right behind us!
Like Rochelle, to never threaten a tune is a perfect way of saying less and meaning more… Love the last line… you could actually say a killer last line.
Cheers, Bjorn.
This sort of comment, litotes, I think, is a very Scottish way of saying things.
‘Not bad’ is just about the ultimate accolade!
Perfect last line – very funny. (And I love your obtuse link to the picture – clever)
Thank you, Claire, I try not to be too obvious all the time!
Excellent. Sounded like there was a reason for the bad mood.
I guess you have an ear for these things, Al
I hear ya.
I’m groaning!
Dear CE,
Close enough to the prompt. 😉 ‘never threatened a tune.’ Brilliant line. I laughed from start to finish. Perhaps it could be considered justifiable homicide. Assault of the ears.
Shalom,
Rochelle
A lot closer than many of your very tenuous connections!
But I guess you are the boss, m’lady.
I love that you are such a fan of black humour, I do occasionally like to kill with a chuckle.
I love a tenuous connection to the prompt. 😉 It’s so easy to be literal. I applaud your imagination, sir…and your black humor. <3 😉
very nice, really enjoyed it. I am really into story-poetry is there a word for it?
I call it Sound Bite Fiction, see my book at the top of the right hand column.
Glad you enjoyed it, Joy.
McGonagall. McGonagall, there’s no-one like McGongall
The great man had no interest in the opinions of lesser mortals.
This is fantastic, love the atmosphere of the piece.
Thank you, Jordan, much appreciated.