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 David Stewart,
© David Stewart
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Matricide
My mother was a hero.
I don’t remember her, of course, but I have heard the story countless times.
We lived on the top floor of one of those old apartment blocks where everyone knew everyone.
The fire started far below us.
The stairs were impassable so we used the fire-escape.
Smoke and flames belched from windows
With me in her arms she struggled down the creaking structure.
An overweight neighbour lumbered on two floors down.
The ancient staircase collapsed.
We fell forty feet onto cobbles.
She broke my fall.
I broke her neck.
The family never let me forget.
Sound Bite Fiction 
That’s a great ending after the setup of the title. I can’t imagine having to live with that burden. Great story.
-David
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Thanks, David, love the photo.
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Gripping story!
Ronda
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Glad you enjoyed, Ronda
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Damn…that’s sad. I felt the sadness of a child growing up like that. Hurts my heart.
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Sorry, Dawn, didn’t mean to upset you…
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Excellent…love the chomps and bites as the tale clips along…with no winners anywhere.
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Very true, tragedy has few victors!
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Brilliant last lines – and so unexpected.
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I’m happy it worked for you, Colline
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Difficult to hit Like.
Sorry for your lose and the guilt. It’s the fire’s fault. Not yours.
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Like is good, it’s just a story!
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So it’s not real? Just a story?
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Oh god, what a sad story. I sadly know some children who could not escape blame for things they couldn’t have done anything about and had no blame in besides. Oy. The cruelty.
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Life is often not fair, Na’ama
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So true. And life has shown this to be oh-too-true to oh-too-many
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Social distancing needs to be taken to a new level here. Perhaps a pair of ear plugs might be the answer
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Some noises can’t be shut out, Mike
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Oh this is good, very good. Brilliant
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How very kind of you, sir, very pleased it spoke to you.
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survivors always have guilt feelings. it comes with the territory.
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Especially when it is shovelled onto them from infancy.
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Aah here we have yet another sordid tale of a bitter, resentful, entitled family. I’ shall just bet if you listen to them, they’ll insist they’re such a wonderfully happy tight.knit bunch, of whom he should be happy(and of course o so unfathomably grateful) to be a part. ..Good story
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Wow, seems something touched a nerve here, Larry.
Glad you liked the story regardless.
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Ouch. Loved the last three lines. A very unforgiving family, when they should have been grateful one of them survived.
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Thanks, Ali.
Grief can often have a terrible effect on people.
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And thus therapists stay in business. I wish his mother could protect him from her hallowed place. He having to bear the brunt of her decision. I think if she had been spared and the baby had died, they wouldn’t have let her forget either. A family to stay away from, for sure. Great writing!
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Thank you, Ms JJ.
As you say, a wonderful supportive family – not!
Some people just like to blame someone else for their own problems
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I really enjoy listening to your stories, C.E.! A tragic one, for sure, not only did he lose his mother but he had to hear ‘how’ over and over from his family who blamed him. A well-woven story as always!
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Thank you, Brenda, it is always heartening to know that at least one person listens!
And yes, you clearly understood my message.
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I bet if mom had it to do over again, she would do it exactly the same way.
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Undoubtedly, she was a mother
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A wonderful, tragic story. I can imagine the protagonist’s life after so clearly just from the tone and the last line.
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Thank you!
You got everything I tried to say!
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Oh… to be the cause even though accidentally is one burden to bear, especially if everyone else is in agreement.
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You are right, Bjorn. A blameless child who carries the can.
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It’s as if the family bear him somehow responsible. A sorry story indeed.
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Some folk just love to point the finger, Keith, makes them feel self-righteous
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From the title, I was expecting a story of an evil person murdering his mother. In truth, it is evil people BLAMING a child for killing his mother, when he had no knowledge. How sad life can be.
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The blame culture is alive and thriving in our society today.
Just check the politicians, it is everyone’s fault except theirs, apparently.
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Sad but enthralling.
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Thanks, Anthony
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C.E., I wonder if your neighbours read all these brilliant, but very eerie fictions you post here. You probably drive a Toyota Camry and wear a brown cardigan.
I really loved this and your usual twist at he end, and again i didn’t see it coming and so emotionally powerful as well.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Tears of laughter here, Rowena!
No worries, mate, none of my neighbours speak English.
As for your image of me, I’ll think of a reply when my sides stop shaking…
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So that’s how you get away with it then!
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Quite honestly, I don’t see the problem.
I haven’t butchered anyone in months.
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Sad that mom sacrificed her life. The burly neighbour made matters worse.
Situations like these play out exactly as they are meant to be…
The poor survivor., i.e. you, will always continue to remember thanks to unfailing reminders…
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Thanks, Anita, but ‘as they are meant to be’ rather confuses me
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A very neat telling of a tragic tale – tragic in the original event, and equally tragic in the feelings of guilt fostered in the survivor by their family.
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Thanks, Penny.
It seems blame allocation is essential for many
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Good to know the family survived to recall the horror.
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Hmm, I suppose…
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Dear CE,
Such a tragic tale told in your inimitable matter-of-fact way. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, m’lady.
I guess I’m a kinda matter-of-fact guy.
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Not if that’s a bittersweet ending or just bitter? Powerful and well put together.
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Thanks, Tannille, I’m glad it provoked a thought
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I wonder how mother feels about it – happy to have saved her child, or like the family, a bit annoyed.
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Mixed feelings up there, you think?
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What an ending to what was already a tragic, beautifully written story.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you, Susan, very kind
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Wow, this is really powerful and an absolutely perfect example of 100 word story telling.
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Wow back to you.
Thank you, great compliment.
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Absolve the guilty. Punish the innocent. Nicely told
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Thanks, Neil.
It’s the same the whole world over…
You know the rest.
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Oh, how sad. Survivor’s guilt, such a classic hook. Nice work.
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Thanks, Trish, glad you enjoyed
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