Categotry Archives: Friday Fictioneers
Friday Fictioneers
“You are so stodgy!” Courtney leaned over Aidan to pluck the tablet form his hands. “Can’t you imagine how romantic the place is? I mean, I know the rock work isn’t that old, but it give you the feeling the place has been around forever. But the sign is kind of modern. But just imagine! Going on a train ride! Don’t you want to give it a shot?” “No.” “At least come down to the station to see for yourself.” […]
Over Head
“This mansion predates The Civil War. If you look up you’ll notice the distinctive wainscoting.” The tour guide pointed up. “Are there any ghosts here? I have a pamphlet that names this as one of the three most haunted houses in the county.” Clair waved the paper in question. “That’s just a folk tale. The most you’ll find here is a stiff breeze. Now, moving on….” The tour continued up the hall. While all the other tourists followed, Clair paused. […]
His Mother
His mother ran a ship-shape house. There was never a dust speck or dirty dish to be found. She ran the women’s league the same way, and even had time to volunteer at the election polls. Yet never did he feel that she neglected or hovered over him. When he asked about the solar system, she helped him measure it off in proportion, though the sun was a copper penny and Pluto had to be placed beyond the edge of […]
Ahoy Matey!
Blue Beard’s treasure map came at a great price paid in blood and betrayal. In the end, only Little William Kilpatrick remained from the crew that buried the stolen bootie, and Jack Ripley held the map. William disappeared into the frontier lands. Jack followed the map. Through storms and raging seas he traveled until he reached the deserted island. He followed all the landmarks, but in the end the only thing he could find was an enormous chain and anchor. […]
Leaping Lizards
The witch of Belliniton added some belladonna to her brew, then found the eye of newt complexly out. Well, nothing for it. She would have to go collect some. “Stay out of the cauldron, Fang.” She gave her pet dragon a quick scritch behind the ear before heading into the woods to replace her stores. When she returned, she found that Fang had not obeyed. His bony remains coiled into a decorative but tragic shape. Returning him to life would […]
Dewdrop Philosophy
Two Micorgians sat side by side on the very edge of the word. Unlike their brethren, they enjoyed the view from the shimmering line between their world and the next. “What if we were in reality so small that our whole world fit into a dewdrop from another world?” “What does it matter? On something of that scale, the things that happen on one plane of existence will have no effect on the other. We will live out our whole […]
Silos
Alicia, Sally, and Liam walked along the dirt road from Sally’s house to Liam’s. Along the way they passed the grain silo that Liam’s father had tried to build. Before it was complete the money ran out. There had never been a roof. “What a waste of money,” Sally said. “He’d have been better off just building a roof than building the walls but not the roof. “You’re the only family without one,” Alicia said. “But we do have one. […]
The Tell Tale Faucet
“Sure, Honey. Have a good time.” Fred didn’t think twice about it when his wife told him to turn the sprinklers off. He changed channels on the TV and completely forgot about the water. “Dear, did you turn the water off like I asked?” She came home late at night and crawled into bed with him. “Yeah, yeah.” He rolled over. “But I keep hearing water dripping.” First thing in the morning his little “white” lie was quickly revealed, and […]
Your Choice.
“Ugh. More clouds?” Jane’s frown lines deepened. “Who knew Barcelona had a rainy season?” “Name a place that doesn’t.” Marge tried to take a picture around Jane’s head. “India. Anything is better than this.” “I’m pretty sure India also gets rain. You should have done more research before you picked Barcelona.” “As much research as you did last time?” Jane gave her a snide smile. “I can’t control climate change,” Marge said mildly. “Then where do you want to go […]
Inveterate Travelers
“I thought you said the reason this place had so many observatories was because it had the clearest skies.” Jane huffed as they hiked the last few steps up the hill. She had on her gore-tex Patagonia jacket and her high tech boots, but the bitter cold still made her old bones ache and she could hardly see the snow-bound ground before her. “That’s what the tour group web site said.” Marge hiked along in apparent comfort. “Well they lied! […]
Head In the Clouds
“Wow. Look at that.” Sally pointed down the street she and Liam were crossing. “Oh my. That is… certainly an interesting exhibit of the intersection between a nebulous airborne structure and the human psyche. I mean, consider the fact it isn’t possible for nature to intentionally create a phallic symbol out of particulates in the air, and yet that one is undeniable. I have seen ones far less detailed…” “What are you talking about?” “The shape of the… wait, is […]
The Hitch
Gil grew up on the wastelands. When he was five, the fields grew just enough to keep his small home town going. Then the rails came, bringing toxins that killed the crop even as they carried away most of what they grew. By the time he turned ten, half the population had moved or died. By fifteen, a couple dozen faced starvation even as the train stopped long enough to take everything. That was when he came up with the […]
Urban Renewal
Matt sat in his little second hand shop and cringed with every step the renters next door took on his roof. Clunk, clunk, clunk. How unfair that they should have easy access, and him none at all. It was all because these old buildings had been renovated so many times. The neighbors put something down with a thud, and little bits of ceiling plaster came filtering down. Then he had it. A great idea. If he did a little renovation […]
Fireworks
Jimal entered the gazebo like a warrior to battle. He had two more weeks to whip this amateur band into a Fourth of July force to be reckoned with. Twenty years ago they predicted the band’s demise. “The median age is ninety” the newspaper touted. Look at them now. Well over a dozen regular members, including two – count them – two! – tubas. Sure, they may have a little trouble with their hearing, but they gave it their best. […]
Spring!
Finally, Sally got to claim her own little piece of land for a kitchen garden. It seemed silly to her that the family raised acre after acre of wheat, yet had to go to the store for cucumbers because no one wanted to deal with it. Finally, at the beginning of March, her parents said she would use the old garden plot next to the house. It was up to her what she did. She bought a bunch of seeds. […]
