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 chilly image comes once again courtesy of Roger Bultot.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below.
© Roger Bultot
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
Snow Fall
Sunday morning.
The sun clambers into view, casting long shadows.
The snow starts to melt.
As it has done for the past three days, before freezing again overnight.
Soon there is slush over ice, a dangerous combination.
The old folk on their way to worship totter carefully, leaning on canes and each other.
They are a cheerful old crowd, quite lovable in their way.
They say you can judge a society by how it cares for its elderly.
So why don’t the authorities grit the pavements?
Then my subtle nudges wouldn’t cause uncertain feet to slip, and hips to break.
Sound Bite Fiction 
He needs a spring loaded blade in his walking stick. For his own enjoyment of course.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be downright nasty!
LikeLike
Oh my…evil evil being!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my…a tad judgemental there, Dawn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your writing because I can never tell how the stories are going to end. Wish I had that gift. Great write!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lisa, you are very kind.
My writing sometimes worries me for the same reason!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done! Loved teh description! Enjoyed. Love it when authors read thier own works!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Roger, much appreciated
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, the curse of a broken hip. Nice twist as usual.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, not really very friendly, hmm?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Subtle indeed!
I mean, your writing!💐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing.
Thank you!
LikeLike
Ouch!
You never fail us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like ‘Ouch! ‘.
Thank you, Sascha
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Well-written, C.E. I was wondering when that evil streak was going to show up. The ending is a good place. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not so much evil, Suzanne, just a bit twisted!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know, C.E. Causing people to get broken hips to me goes over the line of twisted. Maybe it’s because my husband broke his hip in his 80s, didn’t want’ an operation, and suffered for three years. —- Suzanne
LikeLike
Au début je me suis dit ( tiens peut-être un conte de NOËL puis à la fin j’étais avec le Grinch)
J’ADORE ! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pas de Noël ici, Corine, et j’ai déja cassé la hanche du Grinch!
LikeLike
I simply can’t wait until FF each week to hear your newest recording. I don’t even look ahead as I like listening to you read it and I know it is going to have a nasty ending no matter how nice it starts off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are too kind, Tessa, it means a great deal to me that you enjoy the readings so much.
Do you know there are 2 more readings up top of this page, under Other Readings and Current Story?
And are you aware that my alter ego reads a poem every Saturday:
https://anelephantcant.me/2019/04/27/regret/
LikeLiked by 1 person
No I wasn’t aware of that. Thank you, I will have to check that out. Not everyone can read effectively. You can. I could listen to longer pieces.
LikeLike
Well I checked all of the above out. All very nice.
LikeLike
Thank you, Tessa
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know longer put down my guard, until that last sentence, but oh how you weave a sense of comfort–– and then shove us over! Again, each time I think that it would be fun to sit down with a cup of coffee, or a good red, and talk about writing, I realize you might slip some arsenic in there… just to watch me froth at the mouth! 😉 Always good writing, C.E., whatever the blows.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This had me laughing again, Dawn, thank you.
It tends to be the ladies who use poison in my stories!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well that last line was quite a twist! A lovely piece of writing with a dark turn at the end… well done.
-Rachel
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are very kind, Rachel, thank you for a lovely comment
LikeLike
So many layers in the story. Cheerful seniors. Careless authorities. A cruel assailant who deliberately pushes elderly to injure them. Many emotions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, sir, I am pleased that it made you think a little.
LikeLike
Oh boy, it was so nice up until the last line! I like how he’s managing to blame the council…
LikeLiked by 2 people
As if wintery conditions weren’t challenge enough, you had to stick your mischievous thumb on the scale…that said, Ive experience that toppling feeling, been through the hip surgery: glad it’s done but I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oops, sorry, hope it didn’t spoil your enjoyment of the story.
I’ll try not to tip you over again, okay?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike
I pay my taxes, sir, the pavements should be safer!
LikeLiked by 2 people
At least he didn’t murder them this week. That last sentence adds the spice to the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t always murder someone, although there are still a fair few candidates out there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
If it wasn’t for the snow you would have to go too less subtle method you evil man… does the hospital pay you for giving them business?
LikeLike
Thanks, Bjorn, ‘evil man’ made me laugh!
And no, I just do it for fun…
LikeLike
Oh boy, not sure what to think on this one, CE, you never disappoint. Fun hearing you read your story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ted, I appreciate that you take the time to listen as well as read.
LikeLike
Great twist, I wasn’t expecting that. Like Rochelle, hope karma gets him in the end. =)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are not meant to expect the end, that is the whole point, Brenda!
LikeLike
Good point. =)
LikeLike
That’s pretty creepy. Apparently society needs to do more than just grit the pavement to guard against him. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing.
I guess so, David!
LikeLike
The machinations and rationalizations of a sociopath!
LikeLike
Perhaps, but a kinda lovable sociopath, hmm?
LikeLike
Well, you certainly built up to your final sentence perfectly and with great skill. I saw you as a sympathetic character right up to the broken hips 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then I am a happy bunny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. And drop it did! They say ‘write about what you know’. Sometimes I wonder about you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL! I’ve been thinking the same thing about this charmer.
LikeLike
Not sure I believe that, Dawn.
That you’ve been thinking, I mean!
LikeLike
Yowza! Two jabs, two weeks in a row… I’ll need to put my armor on.
LikeLike
Laughing. You’re safe, Dawn, just a wee bit fun between friends!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Phew. 😉
LikeLike
C’mon, Sandra, you know I am a sweetheart really, deep down.
Deep, deep, deep, down!
LikeLike
Dear CE,
What a sly fellow. Perhaps Karma will cause him to lose his own footing on the ice. We can only hope.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should know, m’lady, that I am a chameleon, so Karma is on my side!
LikeLike
Ah, so you are to blame for me slipping over in my story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nah, Keith, that was the Scotch, not the Scot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that’s just mean. It’s one thing to watch them all slipping and falling for amusement, quite another to instigate the falling! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A wee bit mean, maybe, but really funny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You painted a picture with words. Captured a real wintery feel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Tannille
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah there is a wee devil in there, love it x
LikeLiked by 1 person
One tries, dear lady, one tries.
And welcome, always good to see a new face here.
LikeLike
Yes, i too thought this is turning mushy. And then the evil popped out. Lovely misdirection. Great story, Ceayr.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing. Thanks, Neel, glad you enjoyed.
LikeLike
As I read, this seemed almost sentimental. But then, I thought “no, not CE”. And I was right. Nice twist
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Neil, you got me pegged!
LikeLike