(Instead of using the photo, I used the idea of "a sharp exchange of words" for my story this time around. Look at me...breaking my own guidelines. Ha!)
House of Cards, fiction
A boy stacked a house of cards on the kitchen table. His older brother walked by and knocked it down.
“What was that for?”
“For being an ugly little shit,” the brother said. “What are you going to do about it?”
A family spat can be many things. Simmering. Explosive. Painful. Cathartic. Inevitable. Necessary. Hard words like wild zoo animals escaped, rarely re-penned without damage done.
When it spills from private grievance to the public square, moving from pitiable to performative, it can take on a poisonous new dimension: spectator sport.
Thx, I really wanted to put in feisty dialogue like you and the rest of the group did so well but what really hit me were those open mouthed bystanders.
I cheated a little, ha! Yours was special. It was neat seeing the camera lens pan out from the family to those in the general vicinity. I agree—my favorite part of the photo was the bystanders.
I've never understood that one, either, and I love how you capture that idea and feeling here, Sharron. Beautifully done. (Also, I really struggled with this prompt and ended up doing the same thing as you. Posting now!)
It felt like the air was sucked from the room. In the silence, he looked around at everything they had gathered, clawing for something, anything. Remembering the Bowie top she’d slipped over her nakedness when he’d first felt it, said it.
Ooh this is great, Kathleen! It perfectly depicts and works with the photo! I love it. An entire story is unraveling in my mind. Thanks so much for sharing!
That’s such a courageous first step, Kathleen. Putting your work out there for the first time is always nerve wracking, but it gets easier every time you do it. Your story is wonderful!
“I literally don’t care where you trained to become a hairdresser.” The woman clutched her red shawl tighter as her anger grew at the coiffeuse. “You have ruined these people’s lives with your carelessness. Every single one of them forced to wear a hat now because of your shoddy work.”
Everyone was dancing and drinking. Having a great time. Suddenly, one of the ladies went to a man sitting and watching, screaming at him that his wife was a bully.
“Go home!” he said.
Then we witnessed the mans wife, fly across the room.
I'll be opening my post on Thursday Feb. 20 with my 50-word effort for this prompt along with six other fiction flashes. These are fun to write, Justin. Thank you for your prompts.
Haha! This is excellent, Barrie! It made me smile. Please don’t ever worry about that, my friend. I didn’t even follow my own prompt…sometimes we all have to veer off the trail a bit! 😄
(Instead of using the photo, I used the idea of "a sharp exchange of words" for my story this time around. Look at me...breaking my own guidelines. Ha!)
House of Cards, fiction
A boy stacked a house of cards on the kitchen table. His older brother walked by and knocked it down.
“What was that for?”
“For being an ugly little shit,” the brother said. “What are you going to do about it?”
The boy bit his tongue and started to rebuild.
Showtime/Fiction
A family spat can be many things. Simmering. Explosive. Painful. Cathartic. Inevitable. Necessary. Hard words like wild zoo animals escaped, rarely re-penned without damage done.
When it spills from private grievance to the public square, moving from pitiable to performative, it can take on a poisonous new dimension: spectator sport.
This is brilliant, Scott. Well done, and thank you so much for sharing!
Thx, I really wanted to put in feisty dialogue like you and the rest of the group did so well but what really hit me were those open mouthed bystanders.
I cheated a little, ha! Yours was special. It was neat seeing the camera lens pan out from the family to those in the general vicinity. I agree—my favorite part of the photo was the bystanders.
Ooooh. Yes, indeed.
Camera. Action. Roll’em.
(A sharp exchange of words, but not using Lightle's photo this time)
TIME AND SPACE, fiction
It was such a cliché. “It’s not you, it’s me,” she'd said. “I love you, but I need space, some time to find myself.”
“Go then,” he shrugged. “It hurts too much to keep on trying.”
Now she’s free, and can’t remember why time and space were so damned important.
I've never understood that one, either, and I love how you capture that idea and feeling here, Sharron. Beautifully done. (Also, I really struggled with this prompt and ended up doing the same thing as you. Posting now!)
Beautifully woven … and the aching sadness of the last line. So well done, Sharron.
Thank you for reading over here at 🌿Leaves, Barrie. Your words honor me and I really appreciate it.
💛✍️💛
From Three Penny Opera a sharp exchange.
You need to go up an octave. Suky said.
Beg pardon? Replied princess Victoria.
S. You’re no queen, yet.
V. Don’t get lippy.
S. Three pence, I’ll sing.
V. Three comeuppance.
S. Beggars’s choice.
V. Crown commands a reign.
S. Cuttlefish greed smells.
V. Stolen, an octave above your scales.
Fragile
“I never loved you anyway”.
It felt like the air was sucked from the room. In the silence, he looked around at everything they had gathered, clawing for something, anything. Remembering the Bowie top she’d slipped over her nakedness when he’d first felt it, said it.
“No worries. Me neither”.
Oh man, this one hurts my heart. So well done, Barrie!
Thanks so much, Justin. I’ve missed the fifties.
Oh. Been there…. But not had the courage to say it. Expertly written.
Thank you for the kind words.
Well, there's a burned bridge, if I ever saw one.
Burned and shoved unceremoniously into the fast-flowing river!
The truth
Oh, who do you think you are? I know I know what you've done.
You're not as coy as you think you are. Wipe that smirk from your face. Everyone knows.
Make up will never cover the truth. Take off that mask and show the real you. Oh no no!
Ooh this is great, Kathleen! It perfectly depicts and works with the photo! I love it. An entire story is unraveling in my mind. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks, Justin, that really means a lot to me. Gives me hope encourages me to continue writing.
This is the first time I've ever done this, hopefully I will get better in the future. So so many good stories here I love them all.
That’s such a courageous first step, Kathleen. Putting your work out there for the first time is always nerve wracking, but it gets easier every time you do it. Your story is wonderful!
Choose How You Respond/CNF
Someone gave me a copy of Joyce Meyer's book, Me and My Big Mouth. I couldn't understand why?
Not wanting to seem ungrateful or have a sharp exchange of words, I said, "Thanks a lot!"
"Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit--you choose." Proverbs 18:21 (MSG)
A perfectly placed proverb, GeorgeAnn! Words can start wars and calm storms. This is a lovely message here!
Amen to that.
A Sharp Exchange of Words
“I literally don’t care where you trained to become a hairdresser.” The woman clutched her red shawl tighter as her anger grew at the coiffeuse. “You have ruined these people’s lives with your carelessness. Every single one of them forced to wear a hat now because of your shoddy work.”
Just as enjoyable a read the second time through! Thanks so much for sharing, Jason!
The Party-Fiction
Everyone was dancing and drinking. Having a great time. Suddenly, one of the ladies went to a man sitting and watching, screaming at him that his wife was a bully.
“Go home!” he said.
Then we witnessed the mans wife, fly across the room.
“Get out!
Party over.
Whoa, I’d say! Great story, Kim! Thanks so much for sharing.
It was more like creative non-fiction but not naming names. 😉
I'll be opening my post on Thursday Feb. 20 with my 50-word effort for this prompt along with six other fiction flashes. These are fun to write, Justin. Thank you for your prompts.
Not for the first time, Justin, I ignored the brief … I didn’t base my tale on the photo.
So I made up for it today with this little offering:
Curtain Call
“Your line”, she hissed icily. “No wonder you’re just the understudy”.
“I’d rather be an understudy than get the lead by sleeping with the Director”.
“Well, girl, he prefers a woman to a scrawny wench”.
The cast held their breath.
“That’s not what he suggested in my dressing room yesterday”.
Haha! This is excellent, Barrie! It made me smile. Please don’t ever worry about that, my friend. I didn’t even follow my own prompt…sometimes we all have to veer off the trail a bit! 😄
Thanks so much for sharing this!
🙌