Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, the standard, and the prompt photo.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below, which this week is supplied by me.
© C. E. Ayr
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Portuguese Tony
Tony is a good guy.
He is easy-going, helpful, and he gets along with almost everyone.
Even in our community of mixed cultures he is pretty much universally liked.
He’s a bit like that character in The Great Escape, played by James Garner, I think.
The Scrounger.
He can get you anything you need.
Now that icy winter has arrived with floods and storms, I am grateful for his help.
You see, I am old, and I really feel the cold.
So if I don’t have any cats, he’ll find me plenty of small dogs.
Yep, for my fire.
Sound Bite Fiction 
OMG..no you didn’t! (lol)
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Laughing.
You know I did, Dawn!
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Back to the fire. Come on, man. I read that with two little dogs on my lap. That’s why God made witches and homeless people.
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Well, sir, it seems you have plenty of spare fuel for this winter!
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There are times they tempt me.
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Strange but inevitable. No one is exempt. Pets are bound to come to a bad end in your stories as well. At least theres the air freshening quality–the lovely smell of barbecue…😊
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Thanks, Andy, you have me laughing here.
And now I miss the sweet aroma of dogs a-grillin’
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I’m sure you could rewrite many a Christmas carol–rather than “chestnuts” roasting on an open fire, for example…😊
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Bark the little puppies burn…
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À force de jouer avec le feu, il va finir par se brûler ! C’est bien les chiens, mieux que les chats .
Avec Tony dans le feu ,il aurait de quoi se tenir au chaud plusieurs jours .
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Mais non, c’est pas gentil de brûler mon ami
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Portuguese Tony and the burning of small animals… what will you burn when both the cats and dogs have been burnt?
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Portuguese Tony, maybe?
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I didn’t imagine him as a cuddly creature
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Laughing.
Does that make him unburnable?
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Maybe just a bit large for the furnace
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I liked Portuguese Tony — a kind sort of guy, helping an old friend, until I learnt about the cats and dogs fire lighters ! Nice and quirky.
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Tony is a cool dude, usually.
I like ‘nice and quirky’, thank you
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Since every stray cat has now met its end, we turn on the dogs. Oh the smell and barking!. What next, donkeys?
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Not sure they would fit in my fireplace, James.
Maybe Tony will chop them first?
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Yeeks! He’s still up to his old tricks.
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I like ‘yeeks’!
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While Portuguese Tony may help you for some money, for sure. You are committing a grave sin using small animals for firewood.
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Tony is just trying to get by like everyone else.
A grave sin?
Wow, that’s harsh, sir!
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Hey, you, enough with the burning of animals, will ya?!
Oy!
Did ya never hear of burning trees or twigs or coal or peat or something? 😉
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Hey, I like trees! And there is no peat here.
Or did you mean Pete? That’s an idea!
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I’m huffing, frowning, crossing my arms over my chest, and generally communicating my strong distaste … 😉
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Tony is a real black marketeer it seems.
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A bit of this, a bit of that…
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Hey he has to do what he has to do.
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Exactly, Larry, it’s a harsh world sometimes
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Oy. Maybe the old guy has lost his sense of smell. I hope.
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At least the place won’t smell like wet dogs!
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In that weather the animals probably wouldn’t survive – shame to waste them!
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Very practical, Liz, I am impressed by your thinking
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Eek! Not sure whether to laugh or cry. What a take on your own photo! 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Laugh, Susan, it’s usually the better option!
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Glad to see Portuguese Tony again! Fancy him being such a public benefactor, though!
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For a fee, Penny, always for a fee!
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Burning animals is one of my pet hates!!
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Funny, my pet hates it too…
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Ah winter, anything to stay warm!
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And it stops them yapping and yelping!
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Dear C.E.
He’s just trying to stay warm. Right?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yeah, we had hailstones last week!
Made me homesick…
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The return of Portuguese Tony! And good to see he has developed a conscience and is now helping out in the community.
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I think he spent the summer down near Braga
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An unusual take on fire dogs. Nice one, mate
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Laughing.
Thanks, Neil
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