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 delightful photo by Sarah Potter helps me to forget the carnage of last week here on FF.
My beautiful Muse advises me to write something uplifting, and I can refuse her nothing.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
© Sarah Potter
Click here to hear me read this 1-minute story (with Eros providing background music at the end!):
Merry Christmas
The little town is pretty in the snow.
This is a nice neighbourhood, full of young families.
I love the happy lights, savour the strains of joyous music from the homes opposite.
I look at her laughing face, and my heart is full.
But the cold is beginning to bite.
I curl up in the doorway, huddle under my newspapers.
My fingers, poking through the holes in my gloves, hold her photograph inches from my eyes.
Each time the lights flash, I see her again, as radiant, as lovely as ever.
I will die with a smile on my lips.
Sound Bite Fiction 
I thought this was beautifully done.
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You are very kind, Dahlia, much appreciated.
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Lovely but sad story. He still has something to uplift his soul. Nice one.
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Thank you, Indira, his soul goes peacefully to whatever comes next.
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I wonder who she is that gives him comfort.
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Someone who lives forever in his heart, Dawn, but who long ago walked away
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Aaahhh geez…you really know how to get me, don’t you!
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So what if the body is cold when the heart is happy. We all live in a hallucinatory world anyway.
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How cynical for a sweet lady!
And there is a difference between cold and frozen to death, don’t you think?
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This is lovely!
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And so is your comment, Sascha!
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Such a sad one CE. He’s freezing to death. However, the fact that he’ll see her soon that’s comfort. That he has her image with him as he dies. I wish he had somewhere warm to go, anywhere. She wouldn’t have wanted this for him if she loved him. It’s such a sad reality though too many homeless people out in the cold of winter. Hugs CE. Maybe time for a murder tale next, they’re more sprightly, at least for the guy doing the killing lol.
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I will see what I can do for you, Amanda.
And yes, you are right of course, our society is failing far too many people, and our governments don’t care.
I know this is the case in the UK, France and most of western Europe, and from what I have seen, in the USA and Canada too.
Hugs
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Hi CE. Sadly so everywhere. Hope you’re having a good weekend 🙂 Hugs
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Great weekend, Scotland won at rugby again!
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Oh nice that’s always a good thing. I saw on the news yesterday that the Rugby team from Toronto, ON in Canada is going to be playing in a European Rugby league. They have investors willing to help pay for the flights of European teams to play in Toronto. It will be interesting to see how they do. They play one month in Europe and one month at home. I don’t cheer for Toronto teams out of principle but if they’re the only Canadian team I think I would 🙂 Hopefully they don’t get slaughtered lol.
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How sad! Wish he could be with her. Loved the way you have weaved this story.
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Thank you, Reema (or Michelle?), I am happy that the story worked for you.
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Reminds of that old classic ‘The Little Match Girl” by Hans Christian Andersen. Nicely done.
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I must read this wretched story!
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I recently found a young man sleeping on a bench, on a very cold night. I went home, found some coats, hats, etc and called the shelter to see if there was room. I went back and offered to take him there, but he refused. He took the coat and hat, however, and I left knowing that I’d done all I could. You really bring to life that my sense that each “nameless soul” we see out on the street, has a love, a history, a story that we miss, as we walk by and try not to make eye contact. And oh, the way you read… lovely.
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You are a darling, Dawn, a wonderful lady.
You make the world a better place.
Glad you ‘groked’ the story.
And happy you enjoyed the reading.
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And you sir, are too kind. It’s called being human… I suppose I feel a constant pull to remain one.
Thanks for the kind words. Now, I’ll have to research groke… vs grope. 😉
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No, Dawn, I am just occasionally, honest, you are quite wonderful.
And sorry about ‘grok’, I thought you would know it from Robert Heinlein’s magnificent Stranger in a Strange Land, the hippy bible!
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*blush, as I search Google
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Loved the story. Uplifting? Not for me. I did feel bad for your character. I wish he could meet that girl. 🙂
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I lied about uplifting, Vaidehi, sorry.
And she is long gone, never to return.
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That’s sad 😞
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Just life
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That’s your happy story??
I only needed tissues for this…hate to think what I will need when you write something sad! 😉
– Lisa
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Whoa, I didn’t say happy, I said uplifting.
And you should know by now that I tell lies.
That’s the Fiction part, right?
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Very sad and sweet, C.E. Nice, nice work! Love it!
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Thanks, Kent, five out of five Two Kinds of Teardrops. maybe?
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Five kinds, you old softy, you. 😉
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You fooled me there for a moment. What a tragic and sad twist at the end, sadly it’s reality. We have money for walls and guns, but not enough to take care of the ones in need.
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True words, and much sadder than my story.
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I am another voice joining the choir singing praises for this story. I was lulled into a beautiful winter scene until your tragic reveal.
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Thank you, LLDL, I am surprised but delighted that it worked for you
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There is a real sense of resignation and inevitability in your words. Brilliant.
Click for my Friday Fiction
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Thanks, Keith, very kind
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Technically speaking, this is superb. Emotionally speaking, yeah, pass the Kleenex. ~Swoon~ Seriously, I could hear your cadence in my head as I wrote my own interpretation of the prompt. Call me hooked. Your straight forward narrative style is remarkable.
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I am not sure how to answer such praise, I am deeply touched.
But please, no more swoons, I have enough trouble with the Purple Pygmy and her comical sidekick without you starting!
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Agreed. No more swoons. I’ll just admire you from afar. 😉
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Laughing. Comment of the week!
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My eyes are so clouded with tears, I having difficulty seeing what I’m typing. Despite his dire situation, he can still see the beauty in things. This really guts me. I want someone to notice him and rescue him before it’s too late. Bittersweet is definitely the right word to apply to this.
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Gosh, you are a soppy thing, aren’t you, Sarah?
Sorry, but I am very happy that it upset you so much!
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As a writer, I know that feeling 🙂 It means that your words are effective, which is excellent.
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Tragedy beautifully portrayed.
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Thanks, Liz
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This is so moving! Love it.
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Thank you, very kind!
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Very sad but still very beautifully written. You seem to be a master at writing understated tragedies, Ceayr..
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Thanks, Neel, I am hugely flattered but think I am far from a master of anything
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Very sad, but nicely done.
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Thanks, Trent, no uplift, huh?
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Can’t say I felt totally uplifted…. Though I guess it is sweet he was thinking of her even at the bitter end.
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Yes, well spotted, I did lie about the uplifting bit
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Oh, this is a heart breaker. In our last moments, may we all have the memory of someone we love to comfort us.
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What a sweet thought, Rommy
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This reminds me of the The little Matchstick Girl… on of the saddest stories I know… http://www.online-literature.com/hans_christian_andersen/981/
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Oh, that story, The Little Matchstick Girl. Even the title brings tears to my eyes. It is quite impossible to read that story without blubbering D:
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Then don’t read it!
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Okay, I will make it official.
No matches were burnt in the creation of this story.
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Looks like we had the same reaction to the story.
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Oh, but I hated to like that one. It’s a great story, just so sad.
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Oh don’t fret, dear lady, I’ll be reincarnated for next week
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🙂 ❤
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Cheerful as ever C.E!
Well written and told. It is all in the details, and you do it with subtlety.
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Mercy, Em, subtlety is a national characteristic, doncha know!
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At once beautiful and tragic, C. A modern day Little Match Girl for grown ups. Pitch perfect and gorgeous in its heartbreak.
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Thank you, Lynn, I am pleasantly surprised at the reaction to this
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It’s a great tale C. Touching and sweet.
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Carnage? I don’t know what you are talking about…
This was a beautifully tragically written story. You do this so well, mon ami…
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The rest of us rather enjoyed watching you three carning each other last week. 😉
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I could definitely see that! It was fun!
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Merci, Madame Canuck, I do try to spread a little joy
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You’ve been doing a bangup job with your trusty companion …
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Don’t tell me, tell your friend(s).
I added the ‘s’ out of politeness.
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😊
And have others intrude? I dunno…
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Oh my! After reading yours, I think I should go back and change my story. Our minds seemed to have worked in unison this week. And how can I compete with that sultry voice of yours? 🙂
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Use your own sultry voice?
Thank you, Kecia
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Reminds me that I am so done with winter.
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Doesn’t matter until winter is done with you
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Bittersweet, but lovely. The sweetness is in the memories–there is always happiness to be found, if we hold on to the memories. But loss is always so bitter.
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Wow, thank you for taking it so seriously, Magaly, what a lovely comment.
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Uplifting – well no one was murdered this week, or were they? Nice writing.
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Cheers, Iain
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Bittersweet, maybe. Uplifting. Not. But your character has our sympathy, and that’s what counts, right?
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Nah, it’s uplifting or nothing this week!
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Aww… You don’t want sympathy for the poor guy? I hope someone uplifts him from the doorway.
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Dear CE,
My that was certainly uplifting. 😉 Reminds me of The Little Match Girl. ❤ At any rate, very well written, as always…and that in and of itself is uplifting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I am sure Mr Lowry will be flattered at the comparison.
He was kinda depressing too, in the main
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Nicely done!
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Thank you, Corina
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Moving piece! I love how his situation is revealed slowly… With a tragic yet sweet ending.
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Thanks, Jessie, happy it worked for you.
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What an uplifting story! Next time try something darker. 😀
What a sad way to perish, so heartbreaking.
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Perish! Great word, thank you!
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Uplifting? Go on, try for mawkish sentimentality next time. But seriously, mate, it’s a great story
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Pass the Kleenex, Neil. Evidently, CE has signed on with the Hallmark Channel to write tear-jerkers. He’ll have the ladies swooning again.
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It’s the brogue.
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And the baby red eyes…
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I hope one or two swoon this way!
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Thanks, Neil, I actually didn’t like it so much
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