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.
And she has selected, for this week’s prompt, to my surprise, a photo by me.
Which immediately made me think of a story I wrote for this challenge less than a year ago. It was quite good, I wish I had kept it!
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 the author read the story:
Love
She says I get on her nerves.
She drives me crazy.
She really can be irritating.
No, let’s be honest, she is quite infuriating.
Everything has to be done her way.
To her timescale.
With no discussion.
She has two tactics.
A violent outburst.
Or stony silence.
Either can be, and often is, followed by a turned back and a three or four day absence.
But my feelings change.
From anger at her childishness, through relief at the tranquility, to concern that she won’t come back.
At last I know where I am.
Between a rock and a hard place.
Sound Bite Fiction 
You’ve described it perfectly!
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I had one like that once. Thanks for the photo, C.E.
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It certainly sounds like he can’t stand living with her, but can’t stand living without her either. Great take on the prompt.
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Not an uncommon situation, in my experience.
Thank you, Magarisa
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Exceptional, sir.
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Thank you, ma’am.
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Your storytelling skills are quite phenomenal. I don’t see anything wrong with having to have it her way, however. She is woman and probably right. (LOL)
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You are too kind, Susan.
Were we together in a former life, your sentiments are so familiar?
And yes, she is woman, so certainly and – please god – unarguably right!
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I have never been accused of being too kind. Maybe it’s my distant Scottish heritage. My grandfather claimed to have been born in Scotland although public records tell a different story. My g-g-grandfather was a Tarniff man (hope I got the town right,going off memory). But a former life sounds more intriguing.
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Nevertheless, you were very kind.
Turriff, perhaps? In Aberdeenshire.
Unless you have a pronounced stutter,, I think your g-g-grandfather might be even older than me, so it looks like we have to agree you were less pleasant in a former existence.
Please don’t shout at me.
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That saying had escaped my mind, until you mention it here! Oh, that’s right – rock and hard place. Nicely done!
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Probably better left escaped, Sandi. Thank you
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That sounded heartfelt! And thanks for a great photo.
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Perhaps there is a smidgeon of life experience in this one, Liz! Glad you like the Lady R’s choice this week, I do too.
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Dear Ceayr, Congrats that your pix is the photo prompt for this week.
What a fabulous story that very aptly conveyed the worries of a man enslaved to love or whatever that feeling is.
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Thank you, Neel, happy you liked both the photo and my little tale.
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Beautiful words describing a horrible situation. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
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Thank you, that makes me smile
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Very nice. :o) You are probably in good company if you count how many others are in that same position.
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Thank you. Sadly, the majority seem to relate to this story
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Oh that love thing! Great photo for the prompt btw.
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Yeah, that love thing, wotchagonnado?
Thank you, I think it is a cool photo, our leader picks some good uns, doesn’t she
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She does indeed.
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Great stuff, C.E. Voice is great, story marvelous. Truthful.
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The sad thing, dear Querulo, is how so many identify with this
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It sounds like a match made in heaven. I’m sure those days of silent treatment are a much needed relief from the periods of constant bellyaching about trivial matters. Ah, such is love.
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Careful, Russell, or I’ll tell Connie what you said!
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he needs to learn only two words to keep the peace: yes, dear. 🙂
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Ah, if only!
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There is a third option. It’s called ‘walking away’. 🙂 Great little non-love poem. It sums up some relationships to the T.
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Not always easy to walk away from love, Joy, even when it hurts.
Glad you enjoyed.
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Love hurts? Should it? Hmmmm ….
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She sure has a good grip on him! Nice and romantic love poem!
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You are such a sweetheart, Nan!
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Your story. It’s enough to put one off marriage for good. If so you might have saved the world.🙂🙂
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How very cynical, Michael, marriage is wonderful if two people share the same opinion – hers!
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I agree with Neil. Love isn’t always perfect, either.
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Ain’t that the truth, Alicia!
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Haha. I know that feeling
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It seems to resonate with quite a few, hombre
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Your last line… my title! Too funny…
That said, this was a good one. I’ve had that relationship. It’s exhausting.
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All that back-turning tire you, Dale?
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😒
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I know where I am – blissfully alone with not a rock or hard place in sight! (Except in my story this week!)
Click to read my FFfAW
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Each to their own, Keith, some of us are romantic optimists, or optimistic romantics.
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This one just had me laughing. Excellent last phrase.
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Happy you enjoyed, ma’am!
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Nice take on the prompt. But oh my, what a tragic tale. That narrator has a terrible idea about what love is — but then, he keeps going back, so maybe the two of them deserve each other!
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Don’t we all have our own idea of what love is, Joy, and so few get it right, it seems.
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True, although who am I to say what’s right? If the person isn’t complaining about it, that is. 😉
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Ain’t love grand? She seems to be quite the tactician, or maybe it is his perception? I’d like to read her thoughts on it as well. 🙂
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Ah, Gabrielle, playing Devil’s advocate again?
I think love is like a winter wind, it can be warming or it can rattle hailstones off your teeth.
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This is such a beautiful statement, I’m gonna keep that. Devil’s advocate? Maybe. And maybe self defense. 🙂
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I can certainly see the stony silence and the rock.
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Hard to miss!
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Loved that last line, CE. Well done. I felt for the guy in your story and wonder why he hangs round. Deserves better.
Thanks for the photo prompt for this week. Where was it taken? I stumbled across Green Man while researching Westminster Abbey and after seeing hundreds of versions of him carved in stone, I couldn’t help seeing a face in this rock. Perhaps, the ratio of crazy has finally past the point of no return.
xx Rowena
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Thank you, Rowena, the title tells you why.
Photo from Chinese Garden in Chinatown, Vancouver, BC, great city, beautiful people.
Um, perhaps, er, finally? That ship has long sailed, sweetheart!
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Very well said. As couples mature they should grow closer; sometimes they grow apart. But worst is where one never matures and the other has to suffer the difference.
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There are a million reasons for relationship problems, you have nailed a couple of them. Thanks for your thoughts, Christine
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Haha what a place – I (now) know it so well. Big fat – or should that be muscular? – tick for this one.
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It seems that everyone knows this place, Kelvin!
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The last line did make me chuckle.
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Been there, Iain?
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Haven’t we all?
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Brilliant conclusion to a well constructed tale – loved it!
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Too kind, Clare
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The sad resolve of love turned sour.I was once married to that woman. We all had to act in her play. Thanks for the photo.
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Hey, it wasn’t her fault. It never is!
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Good story, leading inexorably to the last line. Nice one!
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Thanks, Penny
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Dear CE,
Perfect story or an intriguing photo. Thank you for both this week. The last line sums it up beautifully
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Life’s like that sometimes.
The photo was a surprise!
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I like surprises.
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That terrible thing called ‘love’! 🙂 Great story!
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Yeah, well, what can you do?
And thank you.
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I’m always a fan of non-romantic love stories. Well executed!
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Thanks, Neil, there are a lot of them about!
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