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).
I am willing to bet that the image Al provides this week made 99% of us think of Doctor Who, and filled our heads with that sadly unforgettable theme music!
There are no Daleks in my little tale.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and to see what others have written.
© Al Forbes
Click here to hear the story read aloud by the author (and have a laugh):
The Duel
He removes his glove and slaps me across the face with it.
I look at him in shock.
Don’t be an idiot, I tell him, it is not worth dying for.
Ha, he jeers, you are a coward, afraid to fight!
I shrug and look around me.
Everyone in the ballroom is staring at us, aghast.
And everyone of importance in town is here.
Including the mayor, the judge and, worst of all, the chief of police.
Please reconsider, I say again.
Pistols or swords, he replies.
It makes no difference to me, he has no chance either way.
He does not know who I am.
And, more importantly, he does not know this place.
I am not afraid of losing a duel, although I most certainly will not lose this one.
I have seen him dance, there is no way he can best me with a rapier.
But the city has just introduced a new law to stamp out duelling.
The punishment for any survivor is harsh.
Death by guillotine.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Talk about being between a ‘rock and a hard place.’ Even though duelling is outlawed I wonder if they (everyone in the ballroom) would think him a coward for walking away? What choice does he have, better to be a coward and a live, then best this man in a duel and lose his head (his life) anyways. Maybe he’s smart and can find a way out?
Extra hugs CE 🙂
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Well that’s not cool. Dead if you win, dead if you lose. Looks like it’s time to move to another city. This is an excellent study of the transition between the old and new societies.
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It seems the City Fathers consider that tourists being punctured, by whatever means, is having an adverse effect on the town’s image as a welcoming family holiday destination. Go figure.
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I know practically nothing about the Doctor, but I imagine he’ll (or she’ll since the latest Doctor is a woman) find a way to escape.
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As I have already said, there is no Doctor in this story!
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Listened to that one, and ooooh it is a vicious one. Enjoyed it! 🙂
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I love your juxtaposition of ‘vicious’ and ‘enjoyed’, you are an interesting lady!
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Every now and then one can be both. 🙂
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Wow! This is fantastic, CE. Loved the way you have built the tension up until the final twist. Great read.
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You are becoming a firm favourite with me, Varad, very glad you enjoyed it so much.
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so both are loser. Death by guillotine is harsh.
http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/08/zanjeer.html
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Yeah, well, apparently duelling is bad for the tourist trade
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Just ONE word…BRILLIANT.
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I like you, ma’am, you are welcome here any time.
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Pleasure😇
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I love the story and the reading – the classic music was a great touch.
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Thank you, thank you – and thank you
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The Doctor will find a way! 🙂 Great story!
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Laughing again. As I said to Susan, below, there is no Doctor in this story!
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A clever take on the prompt. I’m sure the Doctor will find a way out of this without using a life or killing his adversary.
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Laughing at all the reactions. There is no Doctor in this story!
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Brilliant as usual!
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Shucks, Angie, you are making an old man blush!
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Great little yarn. I almost said I laughed my head off but thought it a bit corny. My golden rule is always to dismiss my first thoughts when I see a prompt to avoid going down the same route as everyone else, so like you I went off at a tangent -t rather than a tardis!
Who’s there? My short story
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Glad you skipped the corny line, Keith!
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Whoops. Not even the Doctor can regenerate from that one.
I loved the title music. A nice touch. Good to see you back.
I have decided to try and write a piece this week. Fingers crossed I can actually do it.
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I thought that might raise a smile or two!
Sorry about last week, travelling all Sunday as I told you.
And I will call you in the next day or two, honest injun!
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No worries 🙂
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