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 rather cute prompt photo is one of mine, taken in Cogolin, a nearby town with an interesting background and etymology.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below.
© C. E. Ayr
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
Not the Grinch
Portuguese Tony.
Aka Tony Casquette.
(That’s cap, okay?)
I’ve seen him around a lot recently.
In fact, too much.
I’m wondering if he’s trying to muscle in on my territory.
He is a charming guy, gets on with everyone.
Even me, until now.
And not many can say that.
But he seems to have changed his old truck for a motorbike.
So he can get to my clients faster, maybe.
I’m not standing for this.
He reminds of that kid’s character that I hated.
The really cool dude.
Yep, it looks like I need to eliminate the Cat in the Hat.
I also have a soft spot for Dr. Seuss work as I have a grandson who loves the stories! I so enjoy your blog and your wonderful writes. ☺️❤️️
Clever write. I enjoyed this one.
A clever, witty take on your own photo!
Ha! Love this. Old Tony’s back, but stepping on toes he shouldn’t – he’s been around long enough to know better. And love that last line. Is that true about the Dr Seuss artwork? What a tale. Fabulous, C, as always 🙂
Need to feed him with some green eggs and ham, that might just do the trick 😉
Cute maybe… but this is a matter of honor and gold… i see a cat turning cold.
Laughing.
I love that there are so many Dr Seuss fans here!
I think you need to read, ‘The Cat in the Hat Comes Back’… Nice one CE.
I think I have read everything he wrote, Violet, with great delight.
And once, in San Francisco, I went to an exhibition of his art, where a gentleman tried to sell me $15,000 worth of his art.
Alas, I was in the process of abandoning all material possessions and migrating to sunnier climes, so I passed.
One of my alter egos wrote this review:
https://anelephantcant.me/2013/03/03/dr-seuss-geneuss/
Very good. I have a soft spot for Dr Seuss too. My grandson, Dan, who can’t see, is very sensitive to loud noises and when he was only 4 he emerged from a public toilet after using the loud hot air hand drier (Do you have those everywhere in your part of the world?) saying ‘I do not like that fan. I do not like it. Dan I am.’ I’ll never forget.
You know, Margaret, I don’t think I have ever met anyone who didn’t love the great Doctor.
As for Dan, he am the man, Dan he am.
So let’s ban that fan, I think we can, Dan, ban that fan.
Ha. I love it. I’ll pass it on to him. He’s 12 now. He’ll appreciate it.
I will forever associate dr seuss with potty training. So the cat in the hat is fair game in my book.
Exactly!
A cat, a bag, a brick, a river, a big smile…
I enjoyed your reading. It brought your tale to life. It would seem, from comments above, that you’ve written about Tony before. I’ve been gone for some time so I hope you don’t kill him off before I get a chance to know him better. 😉
Oh, and also from above regarding: “random”
I think being random makes us more interesting.
I am happy you enjoyed the reading, I often wonder if it is worthwhile.
But it is good discipline for finding typos, repetitions, and such like, and my trans-Atlantic friends like the quaint accent.
Tony appeared as a bit player a few weeks back, and for some reason seemed to catch the imagination of several readers:
https://ceayr.com/2019/02/06/blaze-friday-fictioneers/
Then I mentioned him in passing in my intro the following week and even that, to my great surprise, got a reaction.
I am not sure you want to know him better, he is a bit of a ladies’ man!
But I will try not to bump him off just yet, although this blog does tend to have a high DBC (dead body count).
A high DBC, well, I’ll consider myself warned! LOL!
Great stuff. And the deliver was excellent.
And thanks for the prompt.
Cheers, Patrick, much appreciated, and welcome on all counts.
Business rivalry! Why don’t you invest in a bike rather than eliminating Tony who gets along with everyone? Nice story.
He has to go, I can’t stand people who get along with everyone!
Dear CE,
Better be on the lookout of Thing 1 and Thing 2. I see murder on the horizon. Guess there can be only one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Dr Seuss meets Highlander, m’lady?
I suppose the Moggie in the Bunnet has a certain ring to it!
I hardly recognise you in this mode. Not a body in sight. Prospects, yes, but not confirmed as yet.
C’mon, I haven’t snuffed out anyone in yonks (apart from a wee oopsy with a train on Sunday).
The cat in the hat a great touch!
One of the great characters in children’s literature!
I like how you’ve set this out as his thought process. Tony could be in for a bit of trouble!
Tony is always in trouble!
Oh no!
Oh yeah!
Cool story, cool scooter, is it for sale🙂
Just make the cat an offer, I don’t think he’ll be hard to deal with🙂
The return of Portuguese Tony…or the demise?
He ain’t dead yet, Sascha, but my promise still stands!
😀
And to top it all I guessed the location of the photo!!
You recognised Cogolin from that photo?
Jings, I’m impressed!
No I thought the south of France which I mentioned in my preamble, shutters and blue street names I guess!
Cat in the hat is an absolute classic, i think green eggs and ham was written as a bet with his publisher that he couldn’t write a book using only a certain number of different words, I think 50. Really funny stuff.
As I mention below, Dr Seuss was a magician, who could write and draw anything. A personal hero.
This is a wonderful prompt in that there is so much one could go with: the cat, the bike, the narrow streets, the windows… I like your comedic twist on this one. I started out expecting something darker.
I think the title suggests it isn’t too dark, Dawn, but happy you enjoyed the tale and the photo.
Well, my daughter did get pretty hooked on Dr suess books when she was little, they’re peddling something pretty strong!
Great story! Wish there was a part 2!
-Rachel
The man was an absolute genius, I adore his work.
Portuguese Tony might be back, but the Cat in the Hat is under copyright!
I like how you worked in the cat. I didn’t even notice it when I started my story. I like the audio, too. I was thinking about doing that. I read my stories aloud to make sure they sound right, anyway.
Thank you, happy you enjoyed the whole package, you made my day!
I never expected the Cat in the Hat to be involved with organized crime. Maybe he can bribe them with Green Eggs and Ham
Disorganised, maybe.
But times have changed, things can be arranged!
Oh no, not the Cat in the Hat! He can’t be killed—surely, we can’t have that! 😂 No, but seriously, Tony needs to watch his back!
I would never hurt any character of the great Dr Seuss.
He is a hero of mine, so the Cat is fine!
I love the wordplay with the cat and the cap-hat. And casquette, to me, eerily sounds like casket. Tony better watch out.
Don’t fret, Tony’s been around a bit, he’s an elusive dude
I feel sure we’ll hear more about Portuguese Tony – much more, I hope, because he’s a great character! I love this story – very witty. Your punchline had me grinning broadly!
Well, Penny, I might let him survive for a week or two as you like him so much. Happy to amuse…
It seems we’re all having fun with your photo today, CE 🙂 It took me a minute to realize the cat was the MC here. Had me smiling the whole rest of the way!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Non, non, non et non ! Tu laisses ce joli chat noir tranquille. Mais tu peux tuer Tony Casquette .
T’inquiète pas, le seul en danger est the Cool Cat, Tony Casquette
They’re heading for a cat fight – or should that be a tom fight? Whatever, it doesn’t bode well!
I always bring a Doberman to a cat fight, Keith
Sounds like its going to be a hunt! 😉
Ya never know!
Just as I was warming to Portuguese Tony. I like to think he’s smart enough to see you coming and a violent game of cat and mouse will ensue!
Yeah, we’ll see!
Hope the bike has some horse power. This was a clever little take, CE.
Thanks, Varad
Very clever!
Too bad for Tony, I like the guy, cool cat.
He might have 9 lives…
Yeah, and I might have 9 bullets…