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 the picture below, which this week is supplied by the peripatetic pensmith, me.
© C.E. Ayr
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Le marché noir
Portuguese Tony has fallen on hard times.
He always worked the black market, labouring on construction projects, getting cash-in-hand payments.
Along this coast they are always putting up new hotels and apartment blocks.
But, since he lost his driving licence, he struggles to find work.
He now lives down by the port, in what the French call a camping-car.
He spends even more time in bars, listening and spreading gossip.
He has talked about the wrong people.
They run le marché noir here.
I will have a word with him tonight, as he stumbles along the quayside.
Goodbye, old friend.
Sound Bite Fiction 
I felt a sense of doom about Tony from the first line. Sadly I never made his acquaintance, seems to be a popular guy.
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He has made a few guest appearances on here to great acclaim.
I did not intend this, but sometimes, it seems, a character catches the imagination.
I feel as though I have created a monster, so I am not sure what my next move is.
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No, not Tony!
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Oh, good grief, woman!
You lot are driving me crazy here.
You are just lucky I’m such a sweetheart.
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oh gosh, poor old Tony! Thanks for the photo also.
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I love ‘oh gosh’, that made my day!
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Sounds as if Tony is tired of living. Great ending, makes you wonder about the strength of friendship.
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I heard you the first time! Friendship versus duty, always a tricky one…
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sounds like Tony id tired of life. Great ending.
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He can be a numpty, James
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Sorry i forgot to credit your photo, good stuff
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You cad! You unspeakable bounder! Tomorrow at dawn, sir, pigeon feathers at ten paces. Actually, not dawn, I like a lie-in on Sunday.
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Echoing Neil.. The End of Tony?! Good stuff
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It seems, sir, that I am outvoted here!
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I bet he’s wearing cement shoes too. Those things are hard to walk in, and swimming is damn near impossible.
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Nah, he is wearing his friend’s sandals. Philippe’s flops!
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A very sad tone to this one. I think his boredom led to his demise. Poor Tony.
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No tears, Brenda. Right now I feel like Conan Doyle after he offed Sherlock!
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If there’s a petition to keep PT I’ll sign it!
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It seems these comments are the petition, Keith!
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Hope they don’t find him swimming with the fishes in the morning!
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He is being kept afloat by popular demand!
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Hope he’s a good swimmer.
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Laughing. Ever the optimist, Liz!
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Has Portuguese Tony finally gone too far? He just couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Still, he seems to lead a somewhat charmed life, I bet this isn’t the last we see of him!
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You could be right, sir, he ain’t dead yet!
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Foda-se! You can’t kill off poor Tony! I bet he knows when to slip out of the view of those who run le marché noir…
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I can if I want to! But maybe, just maybe…
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No, no .. this cannot be an end to poor Tony… he will just wake up with a hangover I hope.
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Public opinion is against me here, Bjorn!
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How could you! Maybe he’ll miss…
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I don’t miss!
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This brings to mind the last season of The Sopranos… or any season of The Sopranos.
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Yes, life expectancy was low there!
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Dear CE,
Surely, you’ll not off Portuguese Tony. Ominous story. Stunning photo. (Thank you)
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, m’lady, it seems to have been a popular selection on your part.
More popular than Tony’s potential demise!
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You can’t start the new year by killing off Portuguese Tony?! Is there anything left that can go wrong at the start of 2020, the world has gone to pieces!!
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Yeah, okay, I’ll reconsider…
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C’est un Au revoir ou un Adieu ?
Décidément il ne fait pas bon être ton ami !
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Il n’est pas encore mort, Corine.
Tu as raison, dans mes histoires les amis partent vite!
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Losing the driving licence is serious. It’s loss of identity. Life too, perhaps.
Have a great 2020!
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Tough for Tony, for sure.
Thank you, Anita
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Oh please, no! I don’t think I ever came across such an evocative name. No need for descriptions with a name like that. But no need for anything any longer, by the sound of this. Thanks for the moody photo.
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On verra, Sandra, maybe Tony Casquette will yet escape
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Bye bye Tony. Will he be missed?
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Time will tell, Tannille
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No. Say it’s not so. The end of Portuguese Tony?
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There seems to be a bit of an outcry, Neil, so we’ll see
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