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 Jean L. Hays.
© Jean L. Hays
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Tony, again
I meet Portuguese Tony.
First time since confinement.
He is, as they say, tired and emotional, so rambling more than usual.
Which is a lot.
I ask about Rafa, a mutual friend, ex-propriétaire of the little café in the square.
Tony excitedly slurs through an incomprehensible tale of guns and gangsters.
His French is excruciating.
Then his fingers make the shape of a gun.
Bam!
Who? I ask.
Rafa!
I shake my head, Rafa is a sweet guy, totally non-violent.
Then Tony, to my astonishment, utters the first English words I’ve ever heard from him.
He’s pushing up da fishes.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Hmmm…pushing up fishes…I’ve heard swimming with the fishes and pushing up daisies, but neer the two mixed.
Ronda
LikeLike
I did feel for the fish, 🙂
LikeLike
I wanna meet this guy!
LikeLike
Nice one, Tony is back amusing us all.
LikeLike
The proverbial bad penny, not easy to get rid of!
LikeLike
I probably shouldn’t be laughing at poor Rafa, but that last line was hilarious 🙂
LikeLike
Laughing is good, Linda, Rafa won’t mind!
LikeLike
Wonderfully told. Some messages are easily received in any language. Tony made it clear.
LikeLike
Thanks, Bill, much appreciated. Yes, he got his message across, albeit a tad garbled.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, CE.
LikeLike
“He’s pushing up da fishes” – well, he tried!
LikeLike
Nobody’s perfect, and certainly not Tony!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know about Tony from France…seems I hear a hint of a Brooklyn accent in those lines…he is quite the character! A fun read.
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed, he is pretty amusing
LikeLike
Sounds like a good gangster movie. Hoping for a sequel.
LikeLike
Thank you, but I think I’m done with sequels for a while
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder if you are mixing with the wrong crowd these days?
LikeLike
What do you mean ‘these days’, James?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay the #savetony worked! I imagine his English gets lost in translation.
LikeLike
Everything he says gets lost in translation, Tannille, regardless of language!
LikeLiked by 1 person
True!
LikeLike
it looks like had a lot to drink already. 🙂
LikeLike
Yep, where I come from, that’s what ‘tired and emotional’ means!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this story. Tony is very well characterized.
LikeLike
He is an interesting dude, for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Tony. Well, them fishes may not like being pushed, I say … 😉
LikeLike
It seems he is indestructible, Na’ama
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to see him out and about again. Looks like he’s been practising his language skills during the lockdown. And a few other of his attributes.
LikeLike
Well, Sandra, he has very few attributes to practise.
LikeLike
I love the portrayal of the different characters and the backdrop of your story. Do you live in France?
LikeLike
Thank you, Gabriella, I’m glad it worked for you.
Yes, I do, I’ve been here more than 7 years now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for Tony – at least he tries to talk idiomatically!
LikeLike
Oh, Liz, he tries all sorts of things…
LikeLike
Easy mistaka to maka, peixes e margaridas are easily confused!
LikeLike
D’you think we could introduce him to Rosey, Keith?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mmmm, not sure!
LikeLike
haha! I love the last line, Tony’s language skills are top notch, maybe he should practice those a little more than his aim!
LikeLike
Yep, Jen, he can talk rubbish in several languages now!
LikeLike
Everyone’s favourite gangster, glad to see Tony is flourishing, even in lockdown, and has managed to use the time to learn a new language!
LikeLike
I think ‘learn’ is maybe too strong a word, Iain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not going to be the one to tell him he’s getting it wrong.
LikeLike
What a great read! These are such vivid characters, CE.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLike
Thanks, Susan
LikeLike
Dear CE,
Now I’ll have that line running through my head, “Lou Cabrini sleeps wit da fishses.” LOL. Glad Tony’s working on his English. You made me laugh.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Happy you had a chuckle, m’lady
LikeLike
It’s unjust that with Covid in the air, peeps should die of gun shots 😉 🙂 Lovely little piece that make me smile. 😀
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed, JJ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been watching too many gangster movies I think!! Good to see P Tony once more
LikeLike
Just not quite grasped the concept, has he!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too True
LikeLike
And a delightfully poetic first stab at English it is
LikeLike
About as good as his French!
LikeLike