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.
OMG..no you didn’t! (lol)
Laughing.
You know I did, Dawn!
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.
Well, sir, it seems you have plenty of spare fuel for this winter!
There are times they tempt me.
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…😊
Thanks, Andy, you have me laughing here.
And now I miss the sweet aroma of dogs a-grillin’
I’m sure you could rewrite many a Christmas carol–rather than “chestnuts” roasting on an open fire, for example…😊
Bark the little puppies burn…
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 .
Mais non, c’est pas gentil de brûler mon ami
Portuguese Tony and the burning of small animals… what will you burn when both the cats and dogs have been burnt?
Portuguese Tony, maybe?
I didn’t imagine him as a cuddly creature
Laughing.
Does that make him unburnable?
Maybe just a bit large for the furnace
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.
Tony is a cool dude, usually.
I like ‘nice and quirky’, thank you
Since every stray cat has now met its end, we turn on the dogs. Oh the smell and barking!. What next, donkeys?
Not sure they would fit in my fireplace, James.
Maybe Tony will chop them first?
Yeeks! He’s still up to his old tricks.
I like ‘yeeks’!
While Portuguese Tony may help you for some money, for sure. You are committing a grave sin using small animals for firewood.
Tony is just trying to get by like everyone else.
A grave sin?
Wow, that’s harsh, sir!
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? 😉
Hey, I like trees! And there is no peat here.
Or did you mean Pete? That’s an idea!
I’m huffing, frowning, crossing my arms over my chest, and generally communicating my strong distaste … 😉
Tony is a real black marketeer it seems.
A bit of this, a bit of that…
Hey he has to do what he has to do.
Exactly, Larry, it’s a harsh world sometimes
Oy. Maybe the old guy has lost his sense of smell. I hope.
At least the place won’t smell like wet dogs!
In that weather the animals probably wouldn’t survive – shame to waste them!
Very practical, Liz, I am impressed by your thinking
Eek! Not sure whether to laugh or cry. What a take on your own photo! 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Laugh, Susan, it’s usually the better option!
Glad to see Portuguese Tony again! Fancy him being such a public benefactor, though!
For a fee, Penny, always for a fee!
Burning animals is one of my pet hates!!
Funny, my pet hates it too…
Ah winter, anything to stay warm!
And it stops them yapping and yelping!
Dear C.E.
He’s just trying to stay warm. Right?
Shalom,
Rochelle
Yeah, we had hailstones last week!
Made me homesick…
The return of Portuguese Tony! And good to see he has developed a conscience and is now helping out in the community.
I think he spent the summer down near Braga
An unusual take on fire dogs. Nice one, mate
Laughing.
Thanks, Neil