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.
This week’s delightful photo by Karuna took me straight to the happy world of Fairy Tales.
Well, what do you want me to say?
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
© Karuna
Click here to hear this 1-minute story read aloud by the writer:
The Three Bears
Once upon a time there were three bears
Life was good, and food was bountiful.
There was a Daddy Bear
The streams ran fast and clean.
We caught salmon.
There was a Mummy Bear
The forest was lush.
We ate fruit and berries.
There was a Baby Bear
The air was fresh.
We lazed in the sunshine.
Then the men came.
They dammed the streams.
Someone has eaten my porridge
They cut down the trees.
Someone has broken my chair
Their dogs ran through the forest, terrorising the animals.
Then they brought guns.
And they all lived happily ever after
Wonderful take on the prompt. And an environmental message with it too.
Thank you, glad it worked for you.
Cleverly done.
Thank you, Clare.
Nicely written. I wish it will be always ‘ live happily ever after.’
Thank you, dear Indira, but sadly this is not the case.
I am duly impressed. Love your creativity.
You are very kind.
I have a question, ma’am.
Are you the Granny that cannae be shoved aff a bus?
No, I don’t think so–although she sounds like someone I’d like to know 🙂
According to the lyrics of this ancient Scottish lament, the aforementioned Granny is unshoveoffable because she is ‘yer mammy’s mammy’. No such restriction is applied in the case of ‘yer daddy’s mammy’.
Love it. I learn so much from people all around the world.
What everyone said 🙂
I hate being repetitive so I shall say,you’ve been missed in FF-Land!
What I said.
I love being repetitive, so I’ll say thank you
😊
Great construction and language, a pleasure to read
Comments like this make writing worthwhile, Michael, as I am sure you know.
Thank you
what a well-woven tale. Thanks for giving us something totally different!
Cast Aside – a very short story
Cheers, Keith, sometimes the Muse just chooses her own path
Wow – just wow! Brilliant.
I would prefer if you just said what you mean, Liz.
(Big big thanks)
Super!
Great construction and balance between two worlds–and yet!–
A wellcrafted weave. One of your very best.
Thanks, Em, sometimes I like to walk a tightrope.
I love what you did here. Very clever. And a poignant story.
Very pleased it worked for you, Kat
What an awesome take on an old story. Thanks. :o)
Well, I’m an old guy, so thanks to you too!
This one reads to the soul
What a lovely thing to say, thank you.
Most welcome
Talking about environmental degradation in a very ingenious manner.
Thanks, Neel
That just about sums up all too many people’s crass attitude to nature, underlined perfectly with your last line. Excellent to see you returned to FF this week. You’ve been missed.
How very sweet of you, Sarah, sometimes life gets in the way of fun.
We all know what’s happening, but Big Money rules, always.
Oh, yes …Big Money. I can remember having to give up writing for about a decade due to that soul-destroying intrusion D:
Dear CE,
Stinging commentary sandwiched between fluffy slices of fairy tale. Clever, touching and infuriatingly wonderful. I’ve missed you, sir.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, m’lady, very kind words indeed.
I particularly like ‘infuriatingly’.
The evolution of man and destruction of nature, neatly bundled and with a bow. Well done.
Sorry, Russell, not many laughs this week!
The right to arm bears…an oldie but a goodie.
Thanks, James
Clever., so clever
Kind, so kind
Very strongly put, Cee! A great twist on an old tale. A children’s story lesson for adults. Loved it! But I daresay us poor little bears are not living ‘happily ever after’. Man is killing too many of us.
We don’t often see the bears’ side because, as someone said, history is written by the winners.
Oh, you clever, clever man! Weaving the three bears in with an environemental message – really very impressive. Beautifully written and pitch perfect
Coming from you, Lynn, makes that one of my all-time favourite comments. Thank you
My absolute pleasure. One of the most enjoyable and smartest FFs of the week 🙂
Good little tale!
Good little comment!
I enjoyed how you interwove the two differing life styles.
I believe this is called contrepoint or counterpoint. Happy it worked for you, Michael
Great way to use an old tale to say a lot. Well written.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed.
That was a twisted little tale, C.E.. The weaving in of the fairy tale was quite poignant.
Thank you, Mandie, I am reading that as a good ‘twisted’.
Yes, of course. 🙂