Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by my old friend Al Forbes.
The idea is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in his picture (below).
This week’s photo takes me back to another time, a fictional time, of course, when I lived a very different life from today.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and to see what others have written.
Copyright A Mixed Bag
Click here to hear me read this 100-second story:
Love in the Afternoon
I stare out over the grey, god-forsaken town.
I am on the fourteenth floor of a Holiday Inn, almost anywhere.
It is Sunday afternoon, and it is dreich.
Does it always rain here, I wonder, or has this project made me cynical?
It has dragged on, the rules, the goals, the ‘deliverables’, constantly altered by my far away paymasters.
Even the local staff keeps changing, so time is lost retraining.
It is a dismal day, in a dismal place, when I should be at home with my family.
But this weekend I had to stay, to be hands-on at critical points during the testing phase.
I would be utterly depressed, if not for one thing.
Behind me, I hear her stir in the bed.
She is not a young woman, but still attractive.
I told her I was lonely, she told me she gets bored.
This afternoon was, I suppose, inevitable.
I am not sure how she managed to escape her responsibilities, but I am grateful.
This is not something that has ever happened to me before.
She starts to giggle.
I turn, smiling.
Then we both start to laugh.
What would our kids think, my wife asks.
Awww…this was lovely! Great write!
Aditi
I like the ” I am grateful ” – this is the sweetest tale and probably what it feels like when dreams come true. Loved the lines.
Happy you enjoyed, Gina.
Great twist at the end, C.E. Humorous story. I admit I had to look up “dreich”. Good writing as usual. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you, Suzanne, ‘dreich’ is a Scots word, as you probably now know, which describes about 87% of our weather.
Cute story. Mom and Dad need to get away too sometimes where kids aren’t constantly coming in the room or bothering them for things. Glad it was his wife and not some other woman. At first I thought he had slept with this woman who could’ve been set up to occupy him, so he didn’t finish his assignment.
You know, Amanda, your comments are the best thing about being a blogger.
I hadn’t even considered that she might be an agent provocateur, but you, of course, cover all the angles.
But, hey, where are my hugs?
I can’t get through the week without my fond embrace!
Lol. I’m glad you like them. Sorry double hugs today. Have a wonderful day CE.
Great twist there at the end. So glad it was his wife and he hadn’t strayed.
He is clearly an honourable chap.
Or maybe just ugly.
Everyone needs a little ‘love in the afternoon’ once in awhile!
– Lisa
You ladies are right into this pm passion, aren’t you!
Ah me, if only I hadn’t always been so naive…
That was a wonderful turn of events. So happy to have your protagonist smile and giggle… a refreshing change from murder and mayhem!
I write fiction, Dale
I know that, Mr. Ayr.
Nice twist on the cheating business traveler.
Thank you, sir
belle histoire, romanesque 😉
Un mot interessant, Gys, beaucoup des traductions.
Rire.
Tu veux dire romantique ou irrealiste?
romantique 🙂
Amusing tale with it’s twist at the end. Nicely done. Dreich is a lovely word too.
In Scotland we have 397 words for rain and just the one for sun
🙂
Not the kind of thing your kids would want to think about! Nice twist.
Click to visit Keith’s Ramblings!
All children know that their mum does NOT do that sort of thing
Love this. The unexpected ending. And again, no murder! 😉
No, just a divorce
Great twist!
Thank you, ma’am
A happy surprise CE! As usual, a sort of misdirection based on the assumptions of the reader… but this one leads to a sweet, delightful ending. Ah yes!
Lawdy, you ladies are pushovers for a hint of marital bliss, hmm?
It’s rare enough, dontchafink?
Nice twist, especially managing to work some romance into the prompt. I’m assuming that the murders are taking place in the adjoining rooms this week 🙂
Nah, I bumped off the missus and ran off with her sister.
Very lovely story – a little ‘afternoon delight’ will do them both a load of good. Lovely set up, leading us one way, then revealing the unexpected in fiction – a man NOT having an affair. Great tale, C
Really, Lynn, afternoon delight?
I bow to your greater experience in these matters!
Ha! Do you know that song? Your story reminded me of it, that was all. I’m really more like to take a quick nap, myself … 🙂
The twist makes it a warm and fuzzy story. Very strange coming from you, although it is a nice strange!
Hey, Angie, you know I am really a sweetheart, don’t you?
Of course I do 🙂
What a lovely twist you have woven.
Thanks, Neel, glad you enjoyed.
A perfect twist and a feel-good ending!
A feel-good ending?
Oooh er missus!
Dear C.E.
Delightful twist. Love this story. Hugs from dreich Midwest.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, m’lady, i guess the old marital romance works every time, hmm?
Nice turn of the corner from something seedy into something beautiful.
Joseph, I may do murder, mayhem, betrayal and brutal revenge, but I never do seedy!
I am glad to hear it.
I like it 🙂 Great twist at the end.
Cheers, Al, that’s what I aim for
Spot on 🙂