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 busy prompt is again one of Al’s own shots, presumably taken as he flew over Dover in his Superman outfit.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and to see what others have written.
© Al Forbes
Click here to hear the author read the story:
Pushed Too Far
She nags non-stop.
The boy pushing her wheel-chair is, I guess, in his mid-teens.
He is not happy.
She looks to be in her sixties, with a permanently sour face.
From my seat outside the little café in the square, I watch them negotiate the roundabout at the far side.
Even from this distance her impatience is clear, and her tone, as they come into earshot, is unmistakeable.
His eyes meet mine and, perhaps sensing empathy, roll back.
He gives the tiniest of shrugs, grimaces almost imperceptibly.
I return a sympathetic grin, wonder about her lack of gratitude for his time and effort.
A scooter zips by, causing them to pause at the crossing.
She tells him to hurry, she is tired and hungry.
Her shrill words are just audible above the roar of a powerful engine.
She is preoccupied with her own problems, but he and I see the huge SUV hurtling towards the curve.
We know it cannot stop in time.
I look back at him, concerned, and see his fingers whiten on the handles of the chair.
When the speeding vehicle is almost upon them, he acts.
He draws the chair back slightly, bends, and kisses the top of her head.
Soon be there, grandma, he says.
Sound Bite Fiction 
I hope my son is as kind when he is pushing me around in a wheelchair.
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Pay attention, Susan, it’s your grandson you have to be wary of!
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I am good then. No grandchildren
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Loved being caught out by your ending.
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Glad you did, Michael
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Not the ending I expected – not sure what that says about me!
Click to read my SunPhoFic!
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I thrive on delivering the unexpected, Keith
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I am glad i saw your softer side come out with this excellent story, Ceayr.
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Don’t get too used to it, Neel!
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Faith in humanity restored!
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I let ye olde witche live just for you, Morgaine
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Nice click and bait there, CE. A sweet ending for sure.
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Thanks, Varad, I like to misdirect
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See, at least the youth of today aren’t all bad (in fiction anyway). A gripping short tale with an ending that made me say “phew”. CE shows his softer side again!
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Laughing. Softer side?
He got her home and threw her down the cellar steps.
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And you were making such progress ….
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I tip my hat to you; your song choice is better, with lyrics as well as a title that were suitable. My first thought was I Should Have Known Better, but both the Jim Diamond and the Beatles songs are way too romantic. At least this song isn’t soppy.
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Great song by one of the great bands
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I anticipated a hard shove of the chair as his grandmother coasted into the road and the teenager stayed planted on the curbside. Maybe he loves his grandmother more than I gave him credit. A lot of great nonverbal cues given in this piece, illustrating an exchange between strangers without ever saying a word.
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No, he’s a lovely boy, good to his mum, hardly ever sets fire to cats.
I’m always happy when someone picks up on the little stuff, Mandie, so thank you.
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Haha “hardly ever”
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Nobody’s perfect!
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It would have been a bit obvious if he’d pushed old Gran into traffic, but I can see the temptation must have been enormous. In the end, he’ll be glad he saved her.
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Nah, he’s poisoning her gin
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Such temptation there. Makes a change for someone to survive a close disaster.
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You know I like to surprise you, Al!
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