Friday Fiction: The Passenger

Friday Fictioneer photo prompt; copyright Ted Strutz

Friday Fictioneer photo prompt; copyright Ted Strutz

It’s amazing how much can go wrong on vacation,” he said, paying for a replaced filling. Later, looking out across the street, I saw him arguing with Peter. Peter, nicknamed Peter Plan, always had a sure thing going; all he needed was other people’s money. The man shoved Peter. Recovering his balance, Peter glanced up in my direction. I turned away.

This morning’s news announced the murder of a passenger from the ship. Yesterday’s patient. Had I seen something worth mentioning? I’ll call the police tonight. I opened my door to leave for work, only to find it blocked.

Peter!
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Friday Fictioneers: Write a 100-word story based on the photo prompt.

Friday Fiction: The Crane

Masako stayed where she fell, freezing and exhausted. A silhouette blocked the light and she looked up: a crane. Not this high on Mount Fuji, she thought; she must be hallucinating, close to death. The crane shielded her from the falling snow, nudging her until she arose. Masako stumbled, following it to a crevice on the cliff where she sheltered until the storm passed, beneath wings of refuge and warmth.

Another such storm, tonight. Masako closed her eyes, knowing the crane will appear in her dreams. In the morning she will climb the mountain and rescue the one safeguarded there.

Friday Fictioneers photo prompt; copyright Douglas M. McIlroy

Friday Fictioneers photo prompt; copyright Douglas M. McIlroy

Friday Fictioneers: Write a 100-word story based on the photo prompt.

Friday Fiction: The Design

“Surely thou jest,” Denis cried out. The duke, with bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, pushed his sketch towards Denis who cringed inwardly: I wouldn’t build a mud hut for my dog with that design! He prayed to be delivered from men with more money than brains, especially those who thought they were the Lord’s gift to modern 14th century architecture.

“Pointed arches are the wave of the ecclesiastical future,” Denis announced. He stretched open his design for the new church. The duke dropped his head on the vellum, snoring.

“Good,” Denis said, “we agree. I shall commence on the morrow.”

Friday Fictioneers photo prompt.  Copyright Jennifer Pendergast

Friday Fictioneers photo prompt. Copyright Jennifer Pendergast

Friday Fictioneers: Write a 100-word story based on the photo prompt.

Friday Fiction: Full Of Surprises

“Stop him, please!” The caller identified “him” as Nelson and gave details linking him to two homicides. Calling himself “The Admiral,” Nelson’s bullying started in secondary school; she and many others had the scars to prove it.

Driving through sunshine one minute and mist the next, she smiled at how both life and the countryside were full of surprises.

Nelson saw her entering the pub and shouted, “Hey! Dunce Diana! Still falling down stairs?”

His laughter ended as he watched her. “That’s Detective Chief Inspector Penrith, to you,” she said, reaching for her handcuffs. “You’re under arrest.”

Friday Fictioneer Photo Prompt, copyright Erin Leary

Friday Fictioneer Photo Prompt, copyright Erin Leary

Friday Fictioneers

Friday Fiction: The Scar

And now for something totally different: Last week I discovered Friday Fictioneers. Each Wednesday Rochelle Wisoff-Fields posts a photograph as a prompt with the invitation to write a story of 100 words. Here’s my first Friday Fiction story, 100 words exactly (not counting the title), and the photograph prompt.
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The Scar

Ow! A sheep bit Trina’s hand as her arm dangled out the window. Her index finger was bleeding, next to her scar. She bared her teeth, growling at the herd.

The scar. She had been five and the goat she was feeding nipped her finger, thinking it a treat. Nana cleaned, bandaged and kissed it to make it better. Nana was in a nursing facility now, but Trina hadn’t visited in months.

She looked at her scar again. Taking out her phone to video the sheep, Trina smiled. Sunday I’ll visit Nana. Lots to talk about this time.

Photo Prompt, copyright Sandra Crook

Friday Fictioneer photo prompt, copyright Sandra Crook