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.
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.






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
Or the city centre, sir.
Thanks for the ‘Wow!’
What a lovely guy! Nice turn towards the dark there, CE.
Thanks, Varad, that’s where I live!
Darkly wonderful!
Thank you, Lisa
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/
I will try harder, SLSM
Sure 😀
I knew you were handy with an axe. I wonder if Lizzie Borden stomped mud holes too?
I thought that lady got an OJ decision, no?
Nasty old gent that one is.
Laughing. Not sure he qualifies as a gent, Danny!
So limbo is the place we have all been, where procrastinators are seen to wait, and think if and only. Interesting.
Um, not my understanding. I don’t think the procrastination is voluntary. Glad you found something to ponder, James.
LOVE that last line.
Laughing. Thanks, Stu, remember your medication!
No one does axe-murderers like you!:)
That is possibly the strangest compliment I have ever received!
Oh my!! How dark and delicious!! Good write!!
I do like an Oh my! Thank you, Violet.
I didn’t know innocent jumping into the puddle could have such a cruel intent.
Amazed. Enjoyed
Innocent? Pah! I think you have always known…
Happy you enjoyed.
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’!
She is possibly a bit too dead for that, sir
How nice, a character who literally has an ax to grind 😉
Thank you, I do like a bit of black humour!
So much anger still! No happy chopping her body, now you want to stomp on her soul. May be you already have, who knows.
It is such a lovely thought, sir!
Did not mean you. Your character. No offence.
Oh… i think there are worse places than Limbo… I’m sure there is a place reserved for axe murderers.
Perhaps, Bjorn, but he is still enjoying his big boots!
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.
Have you been invited, Jilly?
PS I hear he is a writer of sorts.
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. 😊
Well, Brenda, you have a surprisingly aggressive side, I have to say!
Thank you for your visit and thoughtful but fun comment.
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.
What gives it away, Sandra?
And I agree that grievance nursing is an almost lost art nowadays.
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 😉
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.
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 🙂
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!
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.
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.
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.
OY! You were all philosophical and then BAM! You were hateful and bitter and an ax murderer. Sheesh. Took my breath away 🙂
Yes, ma’am, life’s like that sometimes.
I like OY! and BAM! and Sheesh, thank you!
Brutal in a matter-of-fact way – Rochelle beat me to the song title! 🙂
Gotta get up earlier, Iain!
That took a sinister turn. Just as I’ve come to expect of you
And I’m such a sweetheart in real life!
How much hatred would make someone do that? Gives me shudders, you are excellent in this zone.
Sorry about the shudders, Indira, and thank you for your kind words.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy your stories. Love them.
She really wants to stamp her hatred for him to the nth degree. Not a lady I want to get to know. Well executed.
Some people are just bitter, Irene.
Dear CE,
He certainly makes no bones about his feelings, does he? These boots are made for stomping. Nicely (?) done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Refreshingly honest about his likes and dislikes.
Thank you, m’lady, despite the (?)!