Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by Susan Spaulding, who has taken over this great weekly prompt from my old friend Al Forbes.
This week’s photo comes courtesy of the delightful Joy Pixley.
The idea is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in the picture (below).
Click on this link to enter your tale, and see what others have written.
© Joy Pixley
Click here to hear the author read the tale:
The Rocks
Strictly speaking, I shouldn’t be here.
But, happily, in Medville no one speaks too strictly.
This section of the great sea wall is officially closed to the public.
I love the solitude at the western extremity, overlooking the little calanque.
Occasionally I see a pair of young lovers, sometimes a fisherman on the rocks.
I say rocks, but in fact they are huge boulders, great slabs up to 3 metres in length, roughly hewn from the nearby mountains.
They have been heaped, quite untidily, as protection for the man-made barrier that shelters the port from the prevailing south-westerly winds and tides.
I step carefully across them, looking for a better view of the isles beyond the headland.
Then I am startled, almost lose my footing.
Staring up at me is a face.
A dead person’s face.
I recognise Rick, the second husband of my ex-wife.
We were close friends once, till she came between us.
I am stunned to see him.
I thought I had hidden him better than that.
Eerie!! I did not see that one coming. I will be careful next time onwards, though 😊😊.
The ghosts of husbands past!
I don’t mind the ghosts, but the corpses are a problem!
I love the last line.
Thank you, I do try to end with a bang!
And what has become of the ex-wife? Will she show up too?
Nah, she is well taken care of!
it’s a crazy weird image – but totally fascinating …. and my my … perhaps, as already noted, a vacation is in order? for “OOPS” …. LOL – still, a lovely dark twist!
Jings, one wee slip and you ladies are quick to put the boot in!
I’ll chop up the body and sell it to the local pie shop, okay?
now that’s better ….. euwwwwwwwwwww! LOL – hope you are well …
As always, you manage to surprise me (in a good way). Great job!!!
Thank you, Donna, this is what I live for!
Ha ha — a different kind of “skull rock” surprise. I should have known you would be able to come up with a sneaky murder story based on a picture like this!
Always, Joy!
Cool photo, cool rock.
It looked even cooler in real life. But then, the whole park did. I had no idea how breathtakingly beautiful a desert could be.
Careless, I expect better from an experienced killer such as yourself 🙂
Got a bit casual, not too smart!
I knew you were upto and sure enough you didn’t disappoint. Well written, Ceayr
Thanks, Neel
Oh une grosse erreur !
Notre tueur préféré aurait il besoin de vacances ?
Tout est possible, il deviens vieux, et la chaleur le rend faible dans la tête!
O dear someone’s in trouble. I loved how you used this picture. Now I am of to look up calanque.
Thanks, Michael, and I should have explained. A calanque is a steep-sided rocky cove found all along this coast between Marseille and St Tropez.