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 curious photo by Fatima Fakier Deria made me think of garden parties, and tea and scones in roadside tearooms, so I wrote something almost idyllic.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below.
© Fatima Fakier Deria
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
The Baby
‘That baby’s all alone here,’ Emmy says.
I shake my head, without turning.
‘Nah, people don’t forget babies in roadside cafés.’
‘She’s just sitting there in her little chair.’
Reluctantly I look round.
I see a baby in a car safety-seat.
‘It’s strapped in,’ I point out, ‘It can hardly go walkabout, can it?’
‘She,’ snaps Emmy, ‘It’s a she!’
‘Hmm,’ I say, ‘Interesting grammatical construction.’
‘Look,’ she says, barely concealing her impatience, ‘There are four cars parked, and four tables occupied. She is abandoned!’
‘Makes no sense,’ I say.
‘Why would anyone throw away a perfectly good car seat?’
I was expecting something so much more sinister.
You got me with that one!
Sinister?
Moi?
Really, Dawn, you disappoint me…
LOL…my apologies 🙂
Ha! I didn’t expect that last line. Well constructed and I loved this funny take on the prompt 🙂
Always happy to surprise and amuse, Fatima
lol Gotta love the logic there.
Thank you, Sascha.
Rational thought, that’s what I do best!
🙂
i suspect it takes a logical mindset, after all a baby can be produced in by most people in nine months while a perfect car seat takes skill. UH.
fine turn at the end. Loved it.
Thank you, James.
I knew I wasn’t crazy.
Ok , vers quelle heure Quentin peut il t’appeler ?
Pas important, il peut parler à ma secrétaire, mon agent ou mon traducteur.
Si elle est pas disponible il peut laisser un message avec Eros!
Truly idyllic, though I hope they don’t end up disturbing the poor baby unduly while ‘it’, OK ‘she’ is on her daily ride on the car seat.
Thank you, sir, I do like my little joke!
Really enjoyed listening to you reading this one, smiled all the way to the end.
Thank you, Michael, I am glad that someone listens to the reading!
The joke here is that Emmy has absolutely no French accent, having spent the greater part of her life in the USA.
Can you leave the baby and keep the car-seat? Love your almost idyllic… This week I murdered more people than you 🙂
One man’s idyllic, Bjorn…
And don’t fret about the baby, the café sells kebabs of dubious origin!
Yes, I loved your contribution this week, as always.
Haha! I had my share of laughter for today. Thanks Ceayr.
I hope someone is not watching as to who will take The Baby.
Glad it hit your funny bone, Norma.
Thank you.
Great twist! Instead of feeling for the woman’s compassion, we’re suddenly shown her greed and total lack of concern for the child. Of course, the man doesn’t sound much better.
Gosh, you are a harsh judge of people!
Thank you, I am laughing again.
Great last line. My guess is the crying got too much and rather than be later held accountable for worse actions the baby was left, safely, with car seat attached. Babies shouldn’t be put in cars without one and presumably someone will eventually take her somewhere. Enjoyable story.
Laughing.
It seems to me, Irene, that you put more thought into your comment than I did into my story!
Thank you for caring and sharing.
LOL I can reinterpret anything.
I’m sure the car seat will be well taken care of.
Doesn’t even need a bottle or nappies (diapers), and no worries about the Terrible Twos.
Comme tu es un dieu mon cher CE , je vais parler de toi à mon ami Quentin Tarantino !
C’est vrai, je suis un géant littéraire.
Mais dis à Wee Quentin que je suis pas disponible le weekend, il peut m’appeler lundi, pas trop tôt, okay?
Oh, what a cad! Thanks for the smile,
No one is perfect, Alicia, not even me!
Great story. Excellent last line.
Thank you, Lisa, glad you enjoyed.
Very practical guy.
I like to think of myself as somewhat pragmatic, Tracey, although others may consider me heartless.
Some of the people some of the time, and all that, eh?
Ha! A much quieter life without the contents of that chair, that’s for certain! Love the cruel/funny twist to the dialogue. Nicely done C
Thank you, Lynn, sometimes you just gotta laugh!
Oh, yes indeed you have 🙂
CE, you’re a wicked man! But a funny one.
Yeah, well, nobody’s perfect, Penny
Ever the practical one, hey? I came here expecting murder and mayhem and I get humour with a mercenary twist. Good one.
Sorry to disappoint you, Sandra, but in the absence of inspiration I take cover behind a laugh!
It’s a lot of work taking care of a baby. Probably, the reason why he is trying to divert Emmy.🙂
Babies ain’t my bag, dear Moon
CEayr, sometimes I worry about you. What did this poor baby ever do to you to be abandoned by the roadside?
Well, as for the protagonist in the story, I’m starting to wonder if he didn’t sneak off and murder the parents. He seems particularly unemotional, verging on a psychopath. What does anyone else think?
Needless to say, Emmy time to make a run for the car and leave this one far behind.
What are you waiting for?
xx Rowena
Laughing aloud, Rowena, your comment is funnier than my story!
Thanks very much. I had a very inspirational day in Sydney’s Surry Hills and was photographing all sorts and had about 3 coffees, when I usually stick to tea. Might have to try this combo more often. Surry Hills is an artistic area near Central Station.
Oh, you totally got me with that last line 🙂
Yay!
Good try C.E.! But Emmy’s accent eez a leettle off.
But no matter, I forgive because you are a funny man and I laugh at your made up story. Still, next time, I sink I should read my own lines, non? Ppffitt!
Je pense que mon accent français est meilleur que le tien!
Hahaha!
Oh he’s a sensitive one, huh?
Well,what’s the odd brat here or there, Joe?
Car seat? I need a car seat. Where was it? That wascally baby stole it from me.
LOL
Thievin’ little git, I hadn’t thought of that.
Tired out from his looting and plundering and just taking a rest, hmm?
Every once in a while, I read a story about a family with a ton of kids that manages to misplace one.
There seem to be lots of them around, I don’t think one or two more or less makes much of a difference.
Hope the baby’s parents take her along soon.
Glad they didn’t forget her inside the car. I have read a couple of news-reports in which parents had forgotten/left their babies in their car & then realized when it was too late…
Well that’s dampened the mood a tad, Anita
“Interesting grammatical construction”.He’s a pompous git. Very funny story.
Laughing at ‘pompous git’, feel it’s a bit harsh!
Glad you enjoyed.
Brilliant! And you make a very good point!
Click to read my 99 words!
Thanks, Keith
They are bloomin’ expensive, I wouldn’t let it go to waste.
Typical Scot, what can I say!
🙂
Dear C.E.
His concern is touching. Okay…I’ll admit it. I laughed.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Then my day is complete, m’lady
Lovely unexpected ending. Good one Ceayr.
Thanks, Neel
Haha! Nice one! Wasn’t expecting that ending at all 😆
No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Oh, that’s been done before.
That made me laugh
Then I’m a happy chappy!