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 one and only C. E. Ayr.
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Bridge
I have a rope around my neck.
My hands are tied behind me.
They drag me like a dog onto the bridge.
It’s a solid structure, built of stout timber.
Quite strange, because there isn’t a decent-sized tree for miles.
That’s why they’re going to hang me from the bridge.
It crosses a wide gorge, with a fast-flowing river far below.
I am a big man, over six foot and heavily-built.
Johnson, tugging the rope, is a weakling.
I’m pretty sure he’ll let go.
Fingers crossed.
I bend over the barrier, and lift my feet.
It’s a long way down.
Sound Bite Fiction 
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Love the cliff-hanger feeling here. A great snapshot of a story.
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You create a strong sense of time and place, with the big man at its centre. A compelling tale ceayr.
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his chance of surviving from the fall is unlikely, but you’ll never know.
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Great writing and building up the suspense. Thanks for donating the picture for this week too.
-David
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I’d say he’s not in a very good position. But, I guess by jumping he has a chance. You always offer an excellen read, CE!
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Thank you, Brenda.
You always offer an encouraging comment!
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Maybe he’ll take Johnson with him…
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Always a possibility, Ali!
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It appears to me he has no choice, but to jump. the question is, will he survive the fall or else break his neck on the way down? There are others to hold and help Johnson, or would it be better to let him fall?
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Laughing.
That’s a lot of questions, James!
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Love it. Talk about high-dive. Hopefully, Johnson is just weak enough to lose the rope.
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If not, it’ll be a snappy ending!
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Oh. that’s really bad. Lol! Snap!
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Ominous and tense. I hope he got away. Good one CE, based on your own photo.
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Thanks, GiN
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I always enjoy your tales. I could see the scene in my mind! Well written!
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What a lovely comment!
Thank you, Ashley
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You almost gave me vertigo, great writing
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Don’t look down, Mike!
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Cheating the gallows, nice tale, I hope he makes it. Nicely done sir
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Thank you, sir
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He’s a brave man, not giving up hope to the end.
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He likes to keep his options open!
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He seems most certainly to be taking it quite well
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Anything but hanging, basically
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Hoping for a Butch & Sundance-style escape or “escape”?
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escape or “escape”?
I think I’m missing something here, sir!
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Butch and Sundance’s escape wasn’t really much of an escape. I’m wondering if your protagonist’s fall escaping hanging is really an escape or just a different way to meet the same fate.
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You made it sound like a fervent death wis. Nice build up..to what? I, like others, am left hanging, Ceayr.
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More a fervent life wish, escape at all costs!
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You are sounding highly strung ‘ole chap!
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Gur-roan, old bean!
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This reminds me of a story I used to teach in American Lit. “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce. Only in that story, we’re are with the victim as he dies. You, however, have left us. . . .um. . .hanging 🙂
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Thanks, Linda, I like to leave my narrator a chance of survival
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Loved the tension (excuse the pun) in this story! I wonder if he’ll survive the fall?
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks, Susan.
Tune in next week…
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I think Johnson won’t attempt & our hero will be safe.
Long legs and height to the rescue!
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Laughing. Thanks, Anita!
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And he lived to tell the tale. I like the dark humour in it 🙂
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So far, JJ, now he just has to survive the drop and the river!
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Love the way you see a river and a rope in the photo, it does have that look of a flowing river. Great stuff – hope he makes it!
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Well, Iain, I know it’s a rope, I took the photo!
The river and the rest I created, of course.
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And suddenly he wakes up? Great storytelling!
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Oh c’mon, Tannille, I’d never stoop to the dream scenario, you should know that!
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Never say never! 😀
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You can take it as a promise!
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A cliff-hanger of an ending there, CE. Well done.
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Better than a coat-hanger, I guess!
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Dear CE,
It’s a long way down if Johnson lets go. You left us hanging. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And a more immediate problem if he doesn’t!
And that deserves a groan, m’lady…
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This… somehow reminds me of Victorian times and I wonder, what has happened to the ‘I’? Why are they tied? Are they alright? Great story, though.
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Interesting that you see it then, DW, thank you.
But, alas, no more words…
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Desperate times and desperate measures
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A man’s gotta do, Neil…
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Leaves us on more than a life-saving hook 🙂
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Suspense is cool!
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