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 prompt comes from Sandra Crook, a magician with a keyboard.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below.
© Sandra Crook
Click here to hear the author read his story:
Legacy
My brother is not pleased to see me.
He thinks the elder son should inherit everything.
My father left us equal shares.
The family home is without electricity, undergoing renovation.
I head upstairs, even in pitch darkness I can find my old room.
As I feel my way along the corridor I think of Kidnapped, by the wonderful Robert Louis Stevenson.
In a similar situation the hero’s life is saved by a flash of lightning.
I proceed on hands and knees, find the missing floorboards.
I drop my travel bag through the hole, and scream.
And hear my brother’s laughter.
What a relationship! I daresay the father pitted one against the other from the beginning.
Don’t you think a 50-50 split is fair?
I do indeed. But the father knows his boys. This sort of rivalry did not just happen. It seems legit on the surface. It’s what is left unsaid. You always do that so well!
“Not pleased” is putting it mildly. I would suggest a large torch (flashlight in the U.S.). Take the money and run would also be a suggestion. Good writing, as usual, C.E. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you, Suzanne.
Brothers are the best 😉
Hmmm…
What is it about brothers and not being able to get along? This rivalry has been going on forever and will till one of ’em kicks the bucket, eh?
Well it only lasted 100 words, not exactly forever…
Hah!
My eldest brother had a problem too. And, he was gullible and easily tricked as well.
Was his problem a younger brother, perhaps?
I can see this game of cat and mouse lasting a while. Nice one!
Thank you, sir, it could run and run!
Sibling rivalry goes up a notch in this story. I can imagine the elder brother going ‘muahaha’ 😉
Thanks, Subroto, only until he discovers he has been foiled…
It’s true, some brothers really do hate each other – I’ve come across it myself – and perhaps the death of one is the only answer. I wonder who will win and will the younger sibling get his own back? Nicely twisted tale there C x
Laughing. Nicely twisted, the story of my life!
Ha ha ha ha, clever chap indeed, I wonder what trap he would now set for his brother in retaliation.
Maybe he will turn the other cheek?
Or maybe not!
I see a long story of fighting over a dwindling fortune… Jarndyce comes to mind.
Long fight, perhaps, Bjorn, but not in court, the will is clear.
Such a great scene and atmosphere set in a short space. The tension was so high and I want more! That pesky word limit is working against me this week.
Thanks, Mandie. Sorry, no more, 100 words and I’m all puffed out!
I wouldn’t like to be around when he comes back downstairs again. Tough times ahead I suspect. Lovely to see you here.
I think so too, Sandra. Thank you for kind words.
Brothers…who’d have ’em?
Click to read my FriFic!
My brother has a cool brother!
Likewise my two!
He who laughs last, laughs longest. I suspect the younger brother will out-think his sibling every time.
Fingers crossed, Penny!
This is the opposite with my younger brother and me. After Dad died, we were okay with what he left us. In fact, Dad was such a pack rat, we had to get rid of most of his stuff because it was just old junk.
Thanks James
Elder brother had emptied the hole already?
Yep, the hole was a trap, but the narrator spots it
Foiled – I sense this is not the final chapter of their particular story. Whose turn is it to set the next trap?
Cheers, Iain, this could run and run
Great story.🙂
You make me beam, Moon
Great story about sibling rivalry. Loved how I was crawling in the dark with him.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thanks, Susan, watch out for that hole, okay!
Dear C.E.
Twould seem that laughter will be the last thing he ever hears. You took sibling rivalry to higher level. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you for the visit, m’lady, but just the bag fell through.
Oops. Faulty reader. :/
No flash of lightning then
Unnecessary here, Neil, already sussed the trap