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?’
Sound Bite Fiction 
I was expecting something so much more sinister.
You got me with that one!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sinister?
Moi?
Really, Dawn, you disappoint me…
LikeLike
LOL…my apologies 🙂
LikeLike
Ha! I didn’t expect that last line. Well constructed and I loved this funny take on the prompt 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always happy to surprise and amuse, Fatima
LikeLike
lol Gotta love the logic there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sascha.
Rational thought, that’s what I do best!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, James.
I knew I wasn’t crazy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ok , vers quelle heure Quentin peut il t’appeler ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
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!
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, sir, I do like my little joke!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really enjoyed listening to you reading this one, smiled all the way to the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Can you leave the baby and keep the car-seat? Love your almost idyllic… This week I murdered more people than you 🙂
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! I had my share of laughter for today. Thanks Ceayr.
I hope someone is not watching as to who will take The Baby.
LikeLike
Glad it hit your funny bone, Norma.
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
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.
LikeLike
Gosh, you are a harsh judge of people!
Thank you, I am laughing again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL I can reinterpret anything.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m sure the car seat will be well taken care of.
LikeLike
Doesn’t even need a bottle or nappies (diapers), and no worries about the Terrible Twos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comme tu es un dieu mon cher CE , je vais parler de toi à mon ami Quentin Tarantino !
LikeLike
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?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, what a cad! Thanks for the smile,
LikeLike
No one is perfect, Alicia, not even me!
LikeLike
Great story. Excellent last line.
LikeLike
Thank you, Lisa, glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very practical guy.
LikeLike
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?
LikeLiked by 1 person
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
LikeLike
Thank you, Lynn, sometimes you just gotta laugh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yes indeed you have 🙂
LikeLike
CE, you’re a wicked man! But a funny one.
LikeLike
Yeah, well, nobody’s perfect, Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ever the practical one, hey? I came here expecting murder and mayhem and I get humour with a mercenary twist. Good one.
LikeLike
Sorry to disappoint you, Sandra, but in the absence of inspiration I take cover behind a laugh!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s a lot of work taking care of a baby. Probably, the reason why he is trying to divert Emmy.🙂
LikeLike
Babies ain’t my bag, dear Moon
LikeLike
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
LikeLike
Laughing aloud, Rowena, your comment is funnier than my story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, you totally got me with that last line 🙂
LikeLike
Yay!
LikeLike
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!
LikeLike
Je pense que mon accent français est meilleur que le tien!
LikeLike
Hahaha!
LikeLike
Oh he’s a sensitive one, huh?
LikeLike
Well,what’s the odd brat here or there, Joe?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Car seat? I need a car seat. Where was it? That wascally baby stole it from me.
LOL
LikeLike
Thievin’ little git, I hadn’t thought of that.
Tired out from his looting and plundering and just taking a rest, hmm?
LikeLike
Every once in a while, I read a story about a family with a ton of kids that manages to misplace one.
LikeLike
There seem to be lots of them around, I don’t think one or two more or less makes much of a difference.
LikeLiked by 1 person
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…
LikeLike
Well that’s dampened the mood a tad, Anita
LikeLike
“Interesting grammatical construction”.He’s a pompous git. Very funny story.
LikeLike
Laughing at ‘pompous git’, feel it’s a bit harsh!
Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLike
Brilliant! And you make a very good point!
Click to read my 99 words!
LikeLike
Thanks, Keith
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are bloomin’ expensive, I wouldn’t let it go to waste.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Typical Scot, what can I say!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Dear C.E.
His concern is touching. Okay…I’ll admit it. I laughed.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Then my day is complete, m’lady
LikeLike
Lovely unexpected ending. Good one Ceayr.
LikeLike
Thanks, Neel
LikeLike
Haha! Nice one! Wasn’t expecting that ending at all 😆
LikeLike
No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Oh, that’s been done before.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That made me laugh
LikeLike
Then I’m a happy chappy!
LikeLike