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 the picture (below).
This week’s intriguing photo is provided by Jade M Wong, with enough elements to inspire and confuse a million tales.
This is what emerged from my tortured brain.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and to see what others have written.
© Jade M Wong
Click here to hear me read aloud this 90-second story:
New Boy
Looking forward to tomorrow, my father asks.
I stare at him in disbelief.
Is he serious?
I am thirteen years old.
This is the sixth school I have attended.
I am the new boy again.
I have the strange accent and the suntan.
I come from the other side of the planet.
I am different.
That is the single biggest crime in my world.
Tomorrow there will be new examinations to be faced.
New conflicts to overcome.
New fights to be fought.
Battles to be won or lost.
I have learnt that it doesn’t really matter if I win or lose, so long as I damage my opponent.
No one likes to be hurt, even the fighters, and there are always a few.
So I have to gouge an eye, or bite an ear, inflict severe pain.
Then there will be time to make alliances, become accepted.
Fortunately it is the rugby season, so I will fit in there.
I’ll be okay, I tell my father.
I know, he says, you are tough.
I shrug, head to my room to prepare myself.
Tomorrow there will be monsters lurking.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Great way to use the prompt. I like it. This is getting to be a habit of people not dying hehe. Are you going soft on us?
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Very well done. Insights spot on.
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You captured the POV of the child excellently.
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You did a great job capturing the voice of the boy.
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Oooh that last sentence! Left me off at the most suspenseful part!
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You captured the struggles of the new kid perfectly! Well done!
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I like the powerful repetition of ‘I’ – very effective and the memorable last line. Monsters lurk everywhere I find.
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Poor guy, I wonder why he has to keep switching schools. Is it because of his Dad? Or his behaviour, his taking no prisoners ‘eye gouging attitude’ ? I’m glad he has the Rugby team and it will rough the first few months but he’ll be okay. Let’s hope he’s not asbrutal as he hinted he could be. Happy Easter CE, hugs 🙂
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Dear CE,
I hear this boy’s voice and felt his angst deeply. One of the best I’ve read from you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The struggle of being new and different. You captured that feeling well.
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Being different is always tough.
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Very clever story with an element of truth. Sadly, being different can make all the difference in the school.
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“I am different.
That is the single biggest crime in my world.”
Ain’t that the truth. Great voice and expertly written.
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Superbly told.
Indeed there are monsters of all ages lurking.
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