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 photo is a recycled effort by Adam Ickes, who seems to be no longer part of this group. A good guy, I wish him the best.
My story is a trimmed-to-fit version of a tale from my top selling Medville Matters.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below.
© Adam Ickes
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
Limbo
I like to tramp through puddles in my heavy hiking boots.
Especially in the evening, that’s when I do my best thinking.
I ponder the great philosophical questions.
Life and death.
And limbo.
I’ve heard that the souls of some unfortunate folk get stuck there.
Usually if they’ve had a really violent death.
Limbo is all around us, in the sky and the clouds and the rain and everything.
So I love marching through puddles.
Because I really hate her.
I’m glad I took her apart with that axe.
And I love to think I might stomp on her soul.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Wow! brutal is the word, No guilt, no remorse just stone cold hearted hatred to his ex. What a terrifying person to be stomping around the fields and woodlands
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Or the city centre, sir.
Thanks for the ‘Wow!’
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What a lovely guy! Nice turn towards the dark there, CE.
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Thanks, Varad, that’s where I live!
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Darkly wonderful!
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Thank you, Lisa
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Everyone here is aware of the dark side you project while writing.
So I am not surprised. Well done.
Regards, SLSM.
https://stilllovedstillmissed.wordpress.com/
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I will try harder, SLSM
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Sure 😀
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I knew you were handy with an axe. I wonder if Lizzie Borden stomped mud holes too?
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I thought that lady got an OJ decision, no?
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Nasty old gent that one is.
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Laughing. Not sure he qualifies as a gent, Danny!
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So limbo is the place we have all been, where procrastinators are seen to wait, and think if and only. Interesting.
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Um, not my understanding. I don’t think the procrastination is voluntary. Glad you found something to ponder, James.
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LOVE that last line.
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Laughing. Thanks, Stu, remember your medication!
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No one does axe-murderers like you!:)
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That is possibly the strangest compliment I have ever received!
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Oh my!! How dark and delicious!! Good write!!
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I do like an Oh my! Thank you, Violet.
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I didn’t know innocent jumping into the puddle could have such a cruel intent.
Amazed. Enjoyed
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Innocent? Pah! I think you have always known…
Happy you enjoyed.
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Ha ha ha, let’s just hope she hasn’t found an axe-murderer of her own and seduced him into taking on our intrepid ‘hero’!
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She is possibly a bit too dead for that, sir
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How nice, a character who literally has an ax to grind 😉
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Thank you, I do like a bit of black humour!
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So much anger still! No happy chopping her body, now you want to stomp on her soul. May be you already have, who knows.
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It is such a lovely thought, sir!
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Did not mean you. Your character. No offence.
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Oh… i think there are worse places than Limbo… I’m sure there is a place reserved for axe murderers.
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Perhaps, Bjorn, but he is still enjoying his big boots!
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I do not want to go for a walk with him, thank you. Ruthless, fearless and totally without compassion. I wonder what he does for a living.
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Have you been invited, Jilly?
PS I hear he is a writer of sorts.
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I did not expect that ending, well done! I think as the limbo world is unknown, he’s taking a risk. Maybe she’ll stomp on him. One can only hope. 😊
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Well, Brenda, you have a surprisingly aggressive side, I have to say!
Thank you for your visit and thoughtful but fun comment.
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I’d say he’s just not quite over her, is he? I like a man who can nurse a grievance long after he’s wreaked his vengeance. It shows commitment.
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What gives it away, Sandra?
And I agree that grievance nursing is an almost lost art nowadays.
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roflmao @ Sandra’s comment and your reply ~ how true! *snorting*
— and oh, what a story — not for the faint\feint of heart …. and just because we’re on the same wavelength ~ I DO so appreciate a very tightly written piece of FICTION.
So break out that rod – and let’s “limbo” and shake it, – after all, “how low can you go?” You’ve rocked this C.E. in fine fashion 😉
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Very happy to amuse, WildChild.
And very happy that you enjoyed my perhaps somewhat darkish little piece.
Thank you for the invite, but I fear my days for limboing low are, alas, long gone.
But I can still rock, on occasion, when adequately inspired.
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LOL@no limbo antics …. I too can no longer bend that way … such as inflexibility refuses to visit the bones … oh well, we can still walk the beaches and enjoy the sunsets, so that is fair enough 🙂
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I didn’t want to be the first one to comment, forgive me, but I hate the last three lines. The statistics in France are that a woman every three days is killed by her husband. It just cannot be turned into poetry in my way of thinking. I DO like the first nine lines though!
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There is nothing to forgive, madame, if I pleased everyone I would not be saying anything worthwhile.
I do not believe in censoring my writing because someone may be offended, nor do I censor your views on that appalling and scarcely believable statistic.
Can I also say that your blog seems to have disappeared.
This would be a great shame, in my opinion.
Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment so honestly.
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ok alright granted about censorship. I just don’t like READING about fictional murder and violence and death. We get enough in the real news! My blog “Sherloque” you mean? I find I couldn’t keep up with so many blogs. I only have one in English and one in French now.
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Then sadly I fear that my blog is not for you, dear lady.
And there is no link back to your blogs from your comment here or your gravatar.
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OY! You were all philosophical and then BAM! You were hateful and bitter and an ax murderer. Sheesh. Took my breath away 🙂
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Yes, ma’am, life’s like that sometimes.
I like OY! and BAM! and Sheesh, thank you!
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Brutal in a matter-of-fact way – Rochelle beat me to the song title! 🙂
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Gotta get up earlier, Iain!
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That took a sinister turn. Just as I’ve come to expect of you
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And I’m such a sweetheart in real life!
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How much hatred would make someone do that? Gives me shudders, you are excellent in this zone.
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Sorry about the shudders, Indira, and thank you for your kind words.
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It’s not that I don’t enjoy your stories. Love them.
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She really wants to stamp her hatred for him to the nth degree. Not a lady I want to get to know. Well executed.
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Some people are just bitter, Irene.
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Dear CE,
He certainly makes no bones about his feelings, does he? These boots are made for stomping. Nicely (?) done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Refreshingly honest about his likes and dislikes.
Thank you, m’lady, despite the (?)!
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