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Justin Deming's avatar

The Way of the World, fiction

“Oars up!” our captain bellows. The shoreline looms.

“First excursion, lad?” Skelgar asks. He has three teeth.

I’m silent.

He laughs. Spits. “Pillage and burn, boy. It’s all we’ve got left.”

Our feet hit the sand. I hesitate, sword drawn.

This can’t be the way of the world…can it?

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

"...He has three teeth." Oh my god, I loved that line!! A great fifty words here, Justin!

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Justin Deming's avatar

Thanks, Sharon! I thought about cutting those four words, then said nah…they’ll make a worthy sacrifice! 🤣

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Hey! Watch it! You're talking about my ancestors, here! (Apparently I did not inherit the gene. Phew!)

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Justin Deming's avatar

Ha! I’m sorry, my friend, I meant no offense! 😆 I’m thankful you didn’t inherit the gene, too. Thanks so much for reading!

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The Radical Individualist's avatar

Man's history in fifty words.

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Scott MacLeod's avatar

Past Tents/Fiction

The weary campers hunkered down in the night’s canvas shelter. Heard the nearby wildlife. Peered through their flap at the illuminating moon glow. Or was it the kitchen light? “Ma! When will the popcorn be ready?” We might throw a spare kernel to the backyard squirrels if feeling especially bold.

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Justin Deming's avatar

Ha, I love this! And it does perfectly capture backyard tenting/camping. It’s not for the faint of heart! 😆

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

Yes especially if there are wolf spiders in the grass.

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Scott MacLeod's avatar

Thanks! I can’t kill someone every time. You and I did a bit of a Freaky Friday switch this prompt! Love the hint of menace.

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Justin Deming's avatar

We sure did, didn’t we? Ha! We’ll take turns going dark.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

'Possums, raccoons and skunks, oh my!

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Scott MacLeod's avatar

That’s about my limit as a city slicker. 😎

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

Watch out for those squirrels! Love this!

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Bill Ferguson 🇨🇦's avatar

The Sea Excursion: Fiction

Sylvia scanned the horizon from her seat, looking for other boats near her. Spotting none she put the boat in neutral and tossed the package over the side where it floated for a minute and sank.

“One down, two to go,” she said, eyeing the other “packages” on the floor.

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Justin Deming's avatar

I want more, Bill! Great story—very intriguing! Thanks for sharing.

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Bill Ferguson 🇨🇦's avatar

Time to put the thinking hat on!

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Rian Greeff's avatar

Special delivery for Davey Jones!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Oh my. There's a mystery.

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Cassandra Davis's avatar

The quotes around packages is so evocative!

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

This is a great opening for a mystery novel, Bill. A powerful fifty words!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

NIGHT BUS, LONDON, fiction

They met in the stairwell of a London double-decker on a slippery night. He wanted off at the corner of Shoreditch. She was just getting on. They stood eye to eye on the steps, neither gave way. They instantly understood. It was an impasse, one that could last a lifetime

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Justin Deming's avatar

Just lovely, Sharron! A perfect snapshot in time. One that they may very well remember for the rest of their days.

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

A relationship beginning eye-to-eye, will surely overcome any obstacles. A great love story, Sharron!

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Scott MacLeod's avatar

Shall we dance lol

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Richbee's avatar

(Juxtaposition. Fiction)

Newlyweds head East; first long trip. Vegas pitstop, 109F. Wife hates heat, VW-Bug no A/C, gas/beer. Tempers flare. She reads roadmap, blue rivers as freeways. Fire Valley looms, Rockies rage. Sleep deprived, turn out/nap. Morning, trucks enclose. Sagebrush shields squat.. Shredded road map. Marriage, destination unknown.

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Justin Deming's avatar

You’ve encapsulated an entire journey in fifty words. Love all that is suggested here, and the uncertain tone for the future. Thanks so much for sharing, Richard!

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Rian Greeff's avatar

A long road trip should be mandatory for newlyweds. Classic

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

I can certainly imagine where this marriage is heading.. how many anniversaries? Diddly squat. A honeymoon in fifty words. Love it, Richard!

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Richbee's avatar

Could be a Perfidia moment that drive one crazy. Love has so many characteristics. Chapter six is a wager on a horse with no name. Climax comes later. No three act play. There was a return to west coast. Sunburn peels.

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Cassandra Davis's avatar

Some discarded, half-eaten meal squishes as he steps behind the dumpster. The rats do not flee. They sit, in the darkness, watching, whiskers twitching.

They know he is not there for them.

He flexes his knees and rolls his shoulders. His ideal perch looms overhead.

Time to go to work.

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Justin Deming's avatar

What an excellent story and vivid scene, Cassandra! I love how you capture their familiarity with him. Thanks so much for hanging out “by the fire” with us. 🙏

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Cassandra Davis's avatar

Thank you for the compliment. I'm enjoying reading everyone's contributions.

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The Radical Individualist's avatar

By Night-Free verse

I can hear him.

I just can’t see him.

That old barn owl.

I’m in his world now.

He sees with clarity

What is too dark for me.

There is some nameless camaraderie

Between him and me.

I know he can’t help me see.

But somehow,

He helps me understand.

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Justin Deming's avatar

I often feel this same sentiment when out in the woods. You’ve captured their relationship beautifully!

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

Full Moon King, poem

The full moon

Ate up the stars

And sat, triumphant

In the cobalt sky

Pretending the stars were absent,

He ruled the night

As midnight gave way to dawn

The wide eye of the sun

Illuminated the truth

Like the stars in the sky

Our light has always been here

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Justin Deming's avatar

What a lovely image you’ve conjured, Sharon! The descriptions paint a vivid scene. Beautifully written!

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

Thank you, Justin! And thank you for the prompt…I always look forward to the “fifties!”

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Justin Deming's avatar

That means a lot, Sharon. Thank you! I always look forward to them, too!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

(Let us pray that the wide eye of the sun will illuminate the truth of millions of Americans in the streets June 14...)

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Scott MacLeod's avatar

Love the optimism

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Kim Smyth's avatar

Red Fog. Fiction

As Rick went in to register, Carrie saw someone’s tent blow right in front of her.

Rick and Carrie had just pulled into the Spring RV park and stopped. Neither could see three feet in front of them. This was the worst West Texas dust storm they had ever witnessed.

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Justin Deming's avatar

What a nasty storm. I’m sure they’ve seen all kinds of weather traveling around in their RV. Thanks for sharing, Kim!

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

Hi Justin, here's my take on that moody photograph.

Will Daylight Ever Return?

Instead of a sunset of salmon shapes in a sea of teal, wildfire smoke dimmed all hope of seeing daylight ever again. I was so desperate for clear skies I traveled into the southern desert and reveled under the full moon, dancing with Joshuas to the music of singing dogs.

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Justin Deming's avatar

Two perfect sentences, in my opinion. Thanks for bringing me there, Sue!

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Gerard DiLeo's avatar

TITLE: GRUDGES (fiction)

I wax circadian, a moon's weight nightly, approaching full, knowing that its dark side—forgiveness, anemia, and lethargy—await. I'll peak soon, then wane. I endure it nightly, when my memory's gravity accrues, then ebbs. Some people I will forget; others I will remember forever, until I get my chance.

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Justin Deming's avatar

I love this, Gerard! There’s a lot to dig into here, and that’s not an easy feat to accomplish in fifty words. Well done. Thanks so much for joining in and sharing!

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Gerard DiLeo's avatar

Thanks, kindly, Justin. I look forward to being a frequent contributor here. I've only recently begun microfiction. I find, like poetry, it's difficulty lies in it's need to be perfect in saying in the fewest words exactly what the message is. It's a fascinating exercise that has taught me a lot.

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Justin Deming's avatar

That’s wonderful to hear, Gerard. I look forward to seeing you around! I send out a prompt every other Friday, but I may try once per week with summer approaching. And what you said regarding microfiction is so true. I love writing fifty-word stories for this exact reason. The writer must consider word choice and economizing language to tell a story/deliver a message as succinctly as possible. I’m happy to hear you enjoy them as much as I do!

Take care and see you soon! 😀

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Rian Greeff's avatar

Night Excursion (complete and utter fiction 😏)

I stagger outside and stumble into an alley. A few steps later, I stand with pants unzipped and sway back and forth as I pee. I close my eyes and feel the whole world spin. I open my eyes again. The shadow on the wall is pissing back at me.

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Justin Deming's avatar

Love the story and the parenthetical, ha! Thanks for joining in, Rian. I appreciate you stopping by and subscribing. Hope to see you for the next Fifties by the Fire gathering!

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