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.
I have to say I love this week’s photo from Courtney Wright, made me think of summertime in Scotland, with the rain squelching between my toes.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below.
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
Boot Hill
Well, that’s old Percy laid to rest, I guess.
He had it coming, you got to admit that, Cecil.
Well, yes, Bancroft, he could be irritating.
Downright annoying, you ask me.
So why are you so down in the mouth now, you can relax and just rob banks in peace, without him bugging you all the time.
Well, dang, Cecil, that’s true, but I wanted to ask him where he got them real nice boots of Spanish leather. I kinda liked them.
I have always said it, Bancroft, you do have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions afterwards.





That’s why I ask questions first and shoot later.
Witty tale and a reminder of a lovely Nanci Griffith rendition of the Dylan song.
Glad you liked, Jilly.
I love the song, of course, but was unaware of Ms Griffith’s version, delightful!
Honor among thieves?
Sadly lacking here, Bjorn
Great humor and the twist of robbing banks turned the whole story around. Well done.
I am very happy you enjoyed so much
Once again, a great tale told in so few words. Well done!
You are too kind, Donna
Loved the dialogue and the twist!
Thank you, Teechir!
What good dialect! Excellent!
What a good comment! Excellent!
Thanks, Nan
Murder and humor, not easy but you did it in 100 words!
Nice piece!
https://trailbrooklane.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-boots.html?_sm_au_=iVV1qsjVFVnfnJDq
Thanks, glad you enjoyed
I suspect people have killed for less, pity the boots didn’t fit – where will he buy a new pair?
Not sure if Jimmy Choo has a place in Tombstone
I always enjoy your dialogue! A very amusing piece. =)
Thank you, Brenda, happy you enjoyed
Haha..yes…what Russell said.
Haha..no…what I replied!
Great dialogue.
Thank you, Lisa, says C. E.
Quite the tale. Should have waited to shoot. But he could always take his shoes!
Sadly Percy was not big enough to fill Bancroft’s boots, so his just don’t meet requirements
👍
Dang! There goes Percy and there is no way to reboot him yet. Great dialogue in the flash.
Not sure that switching them off and on again works for gunfighters!
Ha! A good one!
Thanks, Nan
He could always steal Percy’s boots – he hardly needs them now!
Too small, Keith
A good man dies with his boots on and takes his secrets to the grave.
Not sure that Percy was a good man, Tracey, but even you couldn’t save him from this case of lead poison!
Ooops!! Guess he shoulda asked about the boots first, huh??? Great story! I love dialogue! And I loved what you did with the prompt C.E.! <3
Thanks, Courtney, I love this prompt.
And the mystery behind it is cool, too
I think that he is likely to learn to make boots in prison now
They’ll never take ol’ Bancroft alive, Mike!
Maybe he could try robbing the shoe shops for a while. Good fun, CE.
I don’t think I remember ever seeing a shoe shop in Dodge City or Laramie back in the day, Varad!
Ha! Well, that’ll teach him. Maybe he’ll be more cautious from now on, not go shooting off half cocked! Nice twist at the end there C
A bit trigger happy, our chum Bancroft!
Fantastic, CE. You took me through the full gamut of emotions here. Maybe your character could walk into Iain Kelly’s story and get himself a new pair of boots. Or, maybe he already has.
Best wishes,
Rowena
‘full gamut of emotions’, Rowena?
That makes me a happy kangaroo!
I hope you don’t go hopping mad, CE.
Enjoyed that one CE! You made me grin!
Then I am happy, Penny
Ha ha – loved that. You managed to write a story about robbery and murder and make me laugh at the same time! The dialogue was very believable.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thank you, Susan, glad you enjoyed
Murder and humor in a single flash. You sir, are the master of sound-bite fiction.
I thought at first this was a gigantic compliment, Russell, until I remembered that I am the creator and only perpetrator of Sound Bite Fiction!
Unanswered question!
His ghost will never say that!
Robbing bank in peace doesn’t mean being a peace and knowing where to buy the loved-shoes from! 🙂
All true, Anita!
Formidable!
Merci, Em
I love stories told completely in dialogue. Loved your characters, including poor Percy 🙂
Thank you, ma’am, glad you enjoyed
Every good robber needs a good sheriff behind him. Hope they find a good quality boot seller.
Can be tough to find a good cobbler in the old West
This had me laughing out loud which is always an indication of great timing and writing. Thanks
Thank you, Michael, glad you enjoyed
I’m emailing you today
Dear C.E.
They ain’t from Texas. Love the dialogue. I’ll be on the lookout for Cecil.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Just two hombres jawin’ ’bout stylish footwear, ma’am
Moves the chaw to the side of my mouth. “Damn fine dialogue, amigo”
Thanks, pardner