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 lady herself.
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Good and Evil
Our faces reveal much about our lives.
And how we have lived them.
Much of life revolves around the conflict between good and evil.
Evil tends to approach us with a smile of complicity.
It tries always to seduce with the temptation that this way is more fun.
Good, on the other hand, usually appears with a serious, honest face, urging us in all sincerity to do the right thing.
Telling us virtue is its own reward.
Our faces, I believe, reflect our choices.
People often remark on my cheerful, smiling countenance.
Well, arsenic in her sugar brightens my day.
What a last line, C.E.
A smile and an evil grin is often hard to distinguish.
Which is kinda a good thing for the evil grinners among us, Bjorn…
What an excellent punchline, Boom!!
Thank you, sir!
Clever, CE, clever. I love the way you set up your punchline.
Thank you, Penny, happy to amuse!
Yes, you’re often up to no good. 😀
Ronda
Sorry, Ronda, I’ll go to my room now…
sometimes i wonder why fun can be so bad it synonymous with evil. 🙂
Sorry, Plaridel, good question, but I don’t have any answers
Ha, I liked the philosophical build-up!
Thanks, Ali, glad you enjoyed!
It sounded like a homily, right up to the last couple of lines. Expertly crafted, as always.
Yeah but no, Linda, you should know by now that homilies are not quite my scene…
🙂
There is nothing wrong with a good bit of evil to brighten up the day and put a smile on someones face.
My thoughts exactly, James!
The master. He smirks as he kills. As always, so well done.
Thanks, Sascha, very kind words, and ‘smirks’ made me… well, smirk!
Those bright, chipper faces can be the most frightening. Good story.
The ‘shiny happy people’ of the song always gave me the creeps, I have to say
I like the way evil shows in cheerfulness rather than the conventional tell of ugliness. Great story.
Well, sometimes a bit bad is fun, yes?
Goodness, according to one of the characters in my novel, The Tears of Boabdil, is an angular solid, while evil is a smooth liquid. It requires a little evil so that the edges of the goodness don’t maim as you swallow them
Great concept, Neil, and I agree, too much good can be hard to swallow.
I look forward to your Great Scottish Novel.
Isn’t it funny how a simple scene can prompt such sinister stories? As always, I love the narrated version as much as the reading.
Thanks, Honie, I do like when someone enjoys the whole package.
And maybe we just can’t write sweet stories about sugar, hmm?
One lump or two? does beg the next question, which is, of course, whodunnit? Weapon of choice? Name your poison. : ) There really is no end of possibilities.
Oh, that last line! Great story, CE. 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thanks, Susan, glad you enjoyed!
A philosophical tour de force, my friend, ending with the rapier thrust of a Machiavelli.
How very kind of you, Dora, thank you
The smiling assassin strikes again.
A guy needs a hobby, Keith!
More fun than stamp collecting I guess!
If it keeps you happy! I like the notion of reading people by their faces – we all do it, and jump to assumptions.
Ain’t that the truth, Iain, books and covers, far too often.
I feel bad for laughing. Good and evil is a matter of perception.
Oh please don’t, Tannille, laughter is good (or evil?) for the soul.
Good words, cruel outcome. Beware the smiles of old men… definitely. LOL! Have a great week!
Hey, what do you mean old men?
Thanks, Jellico, you too!
hehehe… any man with white hair ought to apply. haha!
I enjoyed listening to you telling this story, which like Rochelle brought a smile to my face.
Thanks, Michael, glad you enjoyed.
Dear CE,
This is definitely not written from the POV of a good person. Another day, another murder. And I laughed in spite of myself.
Shalom,
Rochelle
If you laugh, m’lady, then I am content.