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 photo is by yours truly, a little doorway set back from a cobbled lane in Gassin, a small but spectacular hill town a few miles from Medville.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
© C. E. Ayr
Click here to hear me read this 1-minute story:
The Park
The children bring back the memories.
I have not visited this park, or indeed this town, since my kids were tots.
That is over twenty years ago.
But I still remember watching them play on the swings, the slide, and the roundabout.
And I still can picture some of their friends.
Like the little curly-haired blonde girl who went missing.
We had left town long before her body was discovered the following spring.
It was in the gardener’s little cubby-hole, among the mowers, the trimmers, the shears, the spades.
Dixie, her name was.
My late wife thought I killed her.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Thanks for the great picture, C.E. That was a creepy twist at the end. it still left me wondering which I’d guess it was supposed to. Good writing as usual. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLike
It is quite a cool photo, I agree, and selected by our omniscient leader for our prompt.
Yep, creepy twist and wondering, that is what I aim for!
Lovely to see you here, as always, Suzanne
LikeLike
What an ending! I love how much meaning it adds to the whole story – masterful.
LikeLike
I love your comments, Margaret, thank you.
Especially ‘masterful’, I do like that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
the last line was least expected, nice story
LikeLike
Thank you, IB, I do like to surprise you.
LikeLike
Sounds like his late wife had suspicions about him, but did they have foundations? Had they left the area to get away from his crime or was it coincidence, was it the gardener after all? Nicely crafted.
LikeLike
Lots of questions there, Michael, not many answers!
Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLike
Such a beautiful story at the start. You brought back memories of when my son was a child. Then the dark turn. Loved the mention of the “late” wife.
LikeLike
In 100 words it is not easy to build characters, unless you are extra-talented like Rochelle, Sandra or Claire.
So most of us try to create a scenario, and then give it a twist.
I am very happy that it worked for you.
LikeLike
You really pulled this off well. Taking too much interest in the children in the park. His wife is suspicious and disappears.
I related immediately to your photo, by the way. My parents’ had a holiday house on the Pittwater side of Palm Beach in Sydney. That’s where they film Home & Away. I noticed a house with a sandstone cave with a door built into it and it immediately captured my curiosity. I thought about using it as a pirate’s cave in a story but in this prompt, I turned it into a man cave for a retired gent to retreat from his wife.
xx Rowena
LikeLike
One of the great joys as a writer and a blogger, Rowena, is to welcome a new reader.
And especially one who relates to the story to the extent that she takes the time to comment.
And then, as a bonus, at length on the photo which, this week, is my own submission.
I was about to say I have been to the beach where they film Home & Away but, in fact, it might have been Neighbours.
I am happily ignorant about both of these series, and any difference between them.
But it was a beautiful spot, on a beautiful coast, in a beautiful country.
I look forward to seeing you here again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for your lovely reply. I’ll try to find a photo of this cave with the door and share it with you. I’m pretty sure you went to Palm Beach also known as Summer Bay, which is in Sydney. Neighbours is filmed in Melbourne. Say no more. Here’s a link to some Palm Beach photos https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2015/04/18/palm-beach-perspectives-sydney-australia/
Best wishes,
Rowena
LikeLike
Yes, that looks like the place, beautiful spot.
Please forgive my ignorance of your TV shows, I have never watched any soaps of any nationality.
And I thought Melbourne was a terrific city too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not a huge fan of soaps either and try not to watch much TV. However, my husband has it on all the time he’s home so things sneak up on me. I actually love a few reality TV shows such as The Bachelor, Bachelorette and Masterchef. I get right into all the different people and personalities and love it.
LikeLike
Pingback: Thing My Grandmother Taught Me | MJL Stories
All circumstantial. I’m with Neil on this.
If ever you, I mean your character, needs a good lawyer…
LikeLike
Thank you, Miranda, innocent until shot in the head.
But watch out for that Neil, he looks like a bit of a park-lurker to me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How dare your late wife think such a thing!
LikeLike
I know, Dawn, women, eh, what you gonna do?
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL
LikeLike
Ouch! Err I am quite sure you didn’t kill either of them… 😀
LikeLike
Who? Me? No way, Pedro!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course not and loved the photo 🙂
LikeLike
Nailed it, sir! But, what I really like is the style and approach to the material. You’re always trying for something different in those terms. Way to go! 😉
LikeLike
Ouch I think that as long as there is suspicion I think it opens up many possibilities… reading it was like opening a can of worms (in the best of ways)
LikeLike
Thanks, Bjorn, I love how involved you got in this, much appreciated.
LikeLike
That last line is brilliant. Certainly got me thinking!
My story is called Sally’s Secret
LikeLike
Then my job is done here, Keith!
LikeLike
The fact that she is his ‘late’ wife makes me wonder if she was right!
LikeLike
A reasonable, if sadly suspicious, view, one might say!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah, such memories. He seems to enjoy these pleasant recollections.
LikeLike
When we grow older, Russell, as you will discover, all we have are our fond reminisces.
And maybe the insurance money on the dearly departed.
LikeLike
When you start out with lovely images of playing children, I immediately expect the worst. And you never disappoint. I wonder what his wife died of. And thank you for the great picture this week.
LikeLike
The worst is a reasonable expectation, usually, so glad you weren’t disappointed.
The narrator, probably!
Thanks to Rochelle for selecting it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is clever an creepy. You expect the speaker killed the child, but not his wife. Great job CE. Hugs
LikeLike
Thank you, Amanda, I quite enjoy being creepy.
Hugs to you too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly I think that he did it.
LikeLike
Michael!
How could you, sir?
LikeLike
Late wife? Missing child? This one gave me the creeps, and that takes some doing. Kudos!
LikeLike
Thanks, Paul, creeps are good!
LikeLike
Yes, do bring us along, thinking all is so lovely and sweet… really, do. And then, do what you do best. Rip it all away! Well done, sir, well done.
LikeLike
Ho hum, stop whinging, wummin.
You complain even more if I don’t litter the place with corpses!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Right then!
LikeLike
Wow, great story. I’m not even sure what to think of that last line, but it opens up so much more mystery. I love it. Great touch to record yourself reading it, as well.
-David
LikeLike
Thank you, David, I don’t like things to be too neat!
And glad you enjoy the reading.
LikeLike
Brilliant. I am a huge fan of your writing style. The killer last line was a shocker, as truly it was meant to be. Masterful.
LikeLike
I am a huge fan of your comments, Neel!
I am very happy you enjoyed it so much.
LikeLike
Ooh, I knew there was going to be a killer line to finish, but loved how you gave it a twist – instead of ‘I killed her’, ‘my late wife thought I’d killed her’. So he might have done, might not, but his wife died thinking he did. Wow – years of pain and distrust in one sentence.
Nicely done. And lovely photo – where did you take it?
LikeLike
Thanks, Lynn, even when you know there is a twist, the secret is to spot it!
‘Today’s photo is by yours truly, a little doorway set back from a cobbled lane in Gassin, a small but spectacular hill town a few miles from Medville.’
LikeLiked by 1 person
I looked up Gassin and it does look beautiful – possibly all the more so as it’s been so overcast and chill here and all the pics I saw had clear blue skies! Always a pleasure to read youe stories 🙂
LikeLike
Killer last line. Great photo as well, thanks.
LikeLike
Thank, Iain.
And thanks, Iain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely done. As usual. I love the “late wife” statement.
LikeLike
Some you divorce, others you need to be more, let’s say, proactive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I miss my ex-wife. I really need to take some target practice so I am not wasting ammo.
LikeLike
Pingback: Friday Fictioneers – Noisy Neighbours | A Mixed Bag
Such creepiness. The ‘watching their friends play’ and the coincidental lateness of his wife. You say such a lot without actually saying it. Good one.
LikeLike
Honest, missus, it wisnae me!
Thanks, Sandra, I know you read carefully between the lines.
LikeLike
Oh, that last line is very clever. Wonderfully chilling.
LikeLike
Thank you, Claire, chilling is cool!
LikeLike
Personally, my guess is his late wife was wrong, and that he was just dogged by unfortunate coincidence
LikeLiked by 1 person
A big boy done it an’ run away, mister!
LikeLiked by 1 person
CE,
Late wife? Hm. Do I see a pattern here? Apparently his spouse knew him all too well. And your story started so lightheartedly. 😉 Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
What happened to ‘dear’ before CE? It’s supposed to be there.
LikeLike
I ate it earlier
LikeLike
Well, I don’t know, some folk are always spotting patterns where they might not exist.
You are a suspicious wee soul, are you not, m’lady?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Suspicious indeed, kind sir. 😉
LikeLike
My dear Lady R, please note that my late wife was suspicious, and that her tragic death was most unexpected.
Generally speaking, that is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully distance will keep me safe and secure in my suspicions.
LikeLike
This one hits hard, so many emotions overlapping. Masterfully done, indeed.
LikeLike
Thank you, Loré, very kind words.
LikeLiked by 1 person