Fifties by the Fire — a fifty-word, prompt-based writing challenge. Feel free to share your response below, or read and comment to join in on the fun.
Prompt: Write a fifty-word story that ties into the concept of a “fresh start” or a “new beginning.” Here are the other guidelines:
Make sure your piece is exactly fifty words. Feel free to use Word Counter or the word processor you use.
Write a title with the genre in the first line. (Example: Off the Trail, Fiction)
The title does not factor into the word count.
Good luck and have fun. Happy writing!
Special thanks to John Lightle for providing his photo for our writing prompt.
John Lightle is a Texas writer, poet, and photographer who spends many hours sitting on his woodpile contemplating. When away from his frame shop, he schleps his artwork among area art shows. The job takes him across the countryside, occasionally overseas, photographing the quiet resolve found within the golden hours.
Dominic and his mom bounced all over the Northeast. They uprooted annually, traveled to the next claustrophobic city – next dull town. Everywhere felt the same.
When Dominic met Katie – another teenager and fellow forced wanderer – sparks flew right away. The two latched on, held tight.
Tom gave one last look around the family restaurant. So many memories. Checkered tablecloths. Gumball machine. Height markers from when him and his brother were kids.
He finished emptying the gasoline onto the kitchen floor, then struck a match. Tom walked away into the cold night. He never looked back.
A beautiful 40 degree afternoon melts the stubborn snow still stuck to the street. The car wash is packed with salt-encrusted cars and owners who are excited that their doors won’t freeze shut after washing.
The next morning it doesn’t matter. Snow blankets the ground. Fresh from a midnight storm.
Sparks, Fiction
Dominic and his mom bounced all over the Northeast. They uprooted annually, traveled to the next claustrophobic city – next dull town. Everywhere felt the same.
When Dominic met Katie – another teenager and fellow forced wanderer – sparks flew right away. The two latched on, held tight.
And they never let go.
The Family Restaurant, Fiction
Tom gave one last look around the family restaurant. So many memories. Checkered tablecloths. Gumball machine. Height markers from when him and his brother were kids.
He finished emptying the gasoline onto the kitchen floor, then struck a match. Tom walked away into the cold night. He never looked back.
THE FRESH START, prose poem by Sharron at 🍁Leaves
Although many reckless and impulsive promises will fail,
young women know that after the fading of the bruises,
the licking of the wounds,
there is always a chance to start over.
When women are older, chances for new beginnings run out
and time remains only for the wisest of choices.
Step, Fiction
Today was Arthur's 70th birthday. The mirror confirmed as much, with his stretched leather skin and his nicotine-yellow teeth.
All his life, Arthur had lived indoors
doing nothing but worry, leaving his dreams for sleep.
Today he stepped out for the first time.
He never stepped back.
Severance Pay (Fiction)
She'd hoped nobody would recognize her with longer hair and bold lipstick,
being used to a face that blended with the background, except when she smiled
and then only because of her overbite. She smirked as she cleared the lobby unobserved
surprised no one noticed the blood on her shirt.
Winter Highs and Lows - CNF
A beautiful 40 degree afternoon melts the stubborn snow still stuck to the street. The car wash is packed with salt-encrusted cars and owners who are excited that their doors won’t freeze shut after washing.
The next morning it doesn’t matter. Snow blankets the ground. Fresh from a midnight storm.
Zillow - Fiction
Under contract, finally. Thirty five years, four kids, six dogs, one long career.
Little plastic people, staring out with smiles.
Acrylic paint peeling off, revealing colors more vibrant, beautiful, some scars.
They embrace. One, maybe both, whispered “fuck yeah!”
They tumbled down, scraped off the icing, and didn’t look back.
That Missing Minute
streaming all New Year's Eve
mostly Action Kid from Times Square
out on the street
but in the last minute of countdown am buffering
am I stuck in a time warp
out of sync
time traveling between the years
don't feel any different
but am I sensitive enough to know