photo

September 23, 2016

FFfAW: Infinity

photo by Joy Pixley

“Come, follow me,” she breathed.

“All the way up?” A pain shot through my neck as I craned it back to look at forever.

“Of course. Where else?” She laughed and her dark hair flew behind her as she raced up the steps two at a time.

I tried to keep up, but she kept getting farther and farther away. My legs turned to lead and I leaned against the banister, gasping for breath. “Wait for me! I can’t make it!”

Her voice echoed down, tinged with sadness. “It’s okay. I thought maybe we could go together, but now I know it isn’t allowed.”

“When will I see you again?” I cried out.

Her full-throated laugh floated to my ears. “When it’s your time, love. And I’ll be here waiting to see you at the top. Now go.”

I trudged back down the stairs, my heart heavy and eyes wet.

Word Count: 150

Written for Priceless Joy’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. For more stories by talented writers click the blue frog button.

January 31, 2014

Flash! Friday Vol. 2-8: Promise Kept

Car wreck, ca 1920. Public domain photo.

Car wreck, ca 1920. Public domain photo.

Josephine puttered through the door of her daughter’s house, widow’s black draped on frail shoulders tired of sorrow and empty platitudes. Her grand-kids played in blissful silence. She knew their grandfather sat in their minds as a stranger’s face, rarely seen and not to be mourned by innocence.

The phone rang and rang. She let it go in her desire to evade the well-meaning well-wishers that plagued her.

“Ma! Could you get that, please?” her daughter, Kelly, shouted.

She sighed and picked up the old-fashioned corded phone. “Hello?”

“Joey? It’s me. There was an accident, but I’m all right. I’ll see you soon, love.”

She gasped and dropped the phone. Kelly ran in at the clatter to see what happened. “Ma?”

Josephine looked at her with tears in eyes. “He always told me he’d let me know he was okay if anything happened.”

She buried her face in her daughter’s shoulder. “Whatever his faults, he kept his promises. Remember that.”

Word Count: 160

For Flash! Friday – Vol. 2 – 8. The prompt this week is the photo above. There is an extra element, called the Dragon’s Bidding, that needs to be incorporated into the story. This week’s Bidding:

PhoneCall

Rules of the challenge:

* Word limit: 150 word story (10-word leeway) based on the photo prompt.

* How: Post your story here in the comments. Include your word count (140 – 160 words, exclusive of title) and Twitter handle if you’ve got one. If you’re new, don’t forget to check the contest guidelines.

* Deadline: 11:59pm ET tonight (check the world clock if you need to; Flash! Friday is on Washington, DC time)

* Winners: will post Sunday. 

* Prize: The Flash! Friday e-dragon e-badge for your blog/wall, your own winner’s page here at FF, a 60-second interview next Wednesday, and your name flame-written on the Dragon Wall of Fame for posterity. 

***Dragon’s Bidding (required element to incorporate somewhere in your story; does not need to be the exact word unless that is specified).

Hope you enjoy.

Happy Reading and Writing!

J. Milburn

January 27, 2014

Sunday Photo Fiction: Rolling Stoners – Ep. 8

44 01 January 26th 2014

 

The pachycephalosaurs thumped along the bridge above a burbling mini-waterfall. Rick watched as an unconscious Terry inched closer to sliding off the dinosaur with every jostle. “Just a bit more.”

The knights reined their mounts back at another knight’s appearance. Terry hit the ground with a thud. “Don’t leave, Miley! I’ll twerk with you!” Terry cried. His ass gyrated on the stone.

“What does that mean?” Gabby asked.

He sighed and hopped down. “It means he’s an idiot.” He strode over and patted Terry’s face. “Wake up.”

Terry reached up and pulled Rick closer to puckered lips. Rick slapped him…hard. “Dude!”

Terry’s fist shot out and Rick collapsed, holding his just-punched junk. “AAAAHHHH! Dick!”

Terry rolled over on top of Rick, punches rising and falling. “Why’d you slap me, asshole?”

Rick flailed back and the two scuffled around the bridge. A whirring sound rose above the noise of the brouhaha as the new knight stomped over. He reached them as Terry rolled into a pile of dinosaur dung.

Strong hands separated the two. “A cyborg?” Rick said.

“Hey, is your dong metal?” Terry asked.

The cyborg threw Terry over the bridge. “Ha! Than-”

Rick flew into the water after his friend.

Word Count: 200

Sunday Photo Fiction

 

Sunday Photo Fiction Time! Every week Al posts a photo and every week I try to advance Rolling Stoners by shoe-horning it into the story somehow. It’s been working…so far (and depending on your definition of ‘working’). Head on over and join in the fun!

Hope you enjoy.

Happy Reading and Writing!

J. Milburn

 

 

January 22, 2014

Friday Fictioneers: The Real Green Acres

Copyright - Björn Rudberg

Copyright – Björn Rudberg

Jed stretched his arms, breathing in the mountain air. “Ah. This is the life, ain’t that right, woman?”

Kate puttered around the living room, baby on one hip and laundry basket on the other. She eyed him as he sat in his rocker on the porch. “Hey, woman, fetch me a sammich.”

Kate set her burdens down, grabbed a broom, and stalked outside. She took pleasure at Jed’s surprise when she swatted him. A smile creased her face as the bastard went tumbling down the mountain.

Kate picked up her baby. “Time to move to the city, darling.”

Word Count: 98

Friday Fictioneers time again. Every week Rochelle at Addicted to Purple posts a photo and 100 or so intrepid writers craft a 100-word story from it. Head on over and join in the fun!

Hope you enjoy.

Happy Reading and Writing!

J. Milburn

January 19, 2014

Sunday Photo Fiction: Knights Riding Dinosaurs?

Stained Glass window on the old Town Hall in Dover. This building used to be Maison Dieu (house of God) when it was built in 1253. It was added to and added to, becoming a gaol, a hospital before becoming the Town Hall. The stained glass is representative of the Cinque Ports.

Stained Glass window on the old Town Hall in Dover. This building used to be Maison Dieu (house of God) when it was built in 1253. It was added to and added to, becoming a gaol, a hospital before becoming the Town Hall.
The stained glass is representative of the Cinque Ports.

Rick stumbled when the Leono guard shoved him. Gabby, of the Tigro clan and fellow prisoner, snarled and tugged against the ropes binding her body to the firing-squad post. Terry slumped against his restraints, not-so-victim of a butt-stroke from an enraged Leoness after she caught the gist of his comment about her four nipples.

Rick took position against the purple-plank set aside for his demise. He closed his eyes as clawed hands wrapped him in his death-shroud.

A roar caused him to peek out of one eye. His jaw dropped. “Are…are those…knights riding dinosaurs?”

Gabby grinned, fangs gleaming. “It seems you shall meet your kinsmen after all.”

The ground rumbled as three lizards with solid bone domes trampled through the Leono village. A knight rode each monster, shields reflecting red bolts of energy back at the stupefied warriors.

The improbable combination stopped in front of the prisoners, and Rick winced as a sword flashed. His rescuer hauled him on the back of the pachycephalosaurus and headed out.

Terry, wakened by the commotion, called, “Kniggets? This world is awesome!”

“Python? Really?”

“If the hamster fits,” Terry said before a metal elbow knocked him unconscious again.

“Thanks for that,” Rick called.

Word Count: 200

Sunday Photo Fiction

The Seventh installment of the ongoing epic saga, Rolling Stoners, for Sunday Photo Fiction. Every week Al posts a photo for various writers to draw inspiration from. And every week I try to figure out a way to cram that photo prompt into this story somehow. Serendipity struck as I needed a way to rescue the “heroes” from doom (okay, two heroes and Terry), and knights fit the bill.

For you haibunophiles out there, Al’s starting a new challenge Tuesday: Haibun Thinking. Make sure to check it out!

Pachycephalosaurus (Bone-Head)

For those who may be unfamiliar with the end reference:

Hope you enjoy.

Happy Reading and Writing!

J. Milburn