The Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the photo.

Photo copyright Janet Webb

The Lullaby

Lucy slept soundly in the soft bed, under the warm quilt in the cabin inherited from her grandmother. When she awoke, she discovered the light in the bedroom was not moonlight, but from the jar and the candle on the table: they glowed.

As she picked up the candlestick, stones lining the path outside the window lit up. She ventured outside, unlit candle in hand. The closer she got to the path, the brighter the candlelight became.

She thought she heard someone singing a lullaby. Lucy looked back at the cabin only once, then followed the sound of the song.

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The photo from this week is by Janet Webb. You can check out Janet’s blog here.

To read other Friday Fictioneer stories based on this photo, select the smiley blue frog.

The Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the photo.

Photo copyright Claire Sheldon

Retirement Plan

As a temporary employee, Bill met all kinds of people all over. Some stood in his cubicle doorway seemingly like forever, complaining about how busy they were. Others spent a great deal of energy planning their retirement 20-plus years down the road. Over the short cubicle walls, he regularly overheard arguments between the Comma Cliques: those who advocated for the Oxford comma, those against it at all costs.

Bill looked at his staple collection, aghast at how quickly time passed with so little accomplished and decided on his own new retirement plan: buy a lottery ticket on the way home.

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To read other Friday Fictioneer stories based on this photo, select the smiley blue frog.

The Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the photo.

Photo copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

The Maze Runner

Mario didn’t see the people who passed him. His eyes were full of memories: him chasing his brother Luigi down stone streets, their laughter echoing skyward. They loved surprising each other, popping up from behind, vanishing down an alley seemingly without exit. The maze they called a village held no secrets for them. A day of skinned knees and ragged shoes was a day well-spent.

Luigi was gone now, fighting in the war. Mario discovered life was itself an unmapped maze. With one deep breath he stepped out of the shadows, deciding there was only one direction to go: forward.

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This week the photo is from our host, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Check out her story here.

To read other Friday Fictioneer stories based on this photo, select the smiley blue frog.

The Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the photo.

Photo copyright Ted Strutz

Two Universes

Mark drove his car onto the ferry, the last one to board. They pulled away from the dock as the engines revved up. Those powerful rumblings always brought him peace, allowing him space and time to hear his own thoughts.

He wondered if the other passengers appreciated this sliver of time between two shores; a time of transformation. He agreed with Heraclitus: Rivers and men are not the same from day to day, regardless of the appearance of similarity.

Mark believed all lives embrace two universes: the one behind, the one ahead. He was grateful for this safe passage between.

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This is my 150th Friday Fictioneer story. Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for all her time and effort in facilitating this online community of writers.

To read other Friday Fictioneer stories based on this photo, select the smiley blue frog.

The Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the photo.

Photo copyright Dale Rogerson

Wishing

Sara wished she was anywhere other than here. The music was too loud, people too drunk, courtyard too crowded. She approached several people to ask the time. Looking up, she saw a woman on a top floor balcony. Oh how Sara wished she could trade places with her.

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Sarah leaned against the balcony railing, listening to the party, recalling the laughter of old friends, all gone now. Time will do that, she discovered: catch up to you when you least expect it. Sarah looked down, saw a woman standing apart. Oh how Sarah wished she could trade places with her.

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To read other Friday Fictioneer stories based on this photo, select the smiley blue frog.