challenge

The Protector — FFfAW Challenge

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Title:  The Protector
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
Word count: 175 words

This week’s photo prompt is provided by wildverbs. Thank you Wildverbs!

Cornered, Lodovica ran into Piazza San Marco. The open Piazza and the full moon gave her nowhere to hide. Figures wearing plague masks surrounded her on three sides. She ran toward the Canale Grande. Her pursuers slowed, and she heard laughter. They had captured her.

Nearing the water, she noticed the center of the canal. Water churned and rose into the air forming a colossal wave topped by a giant winged lion. It rushed toward the Piazza, depositing the lion between Lodovica and the masked men.  The lion lifted his massive front paw and gestured at them.

“Begone, you will remember nothing of tonight,” he said.

The men dissolved into the shadows. The lion folded his wings then turned to look at Lodovica.

“Who… who are you?” she asked. She stepped back as the lion raised his paw pointing to the granite column and the statue of the winged lion.

“The protector of Venice,” Lodovica said.

“This was not your day to die. The Saints call you for important work. Are you ready?”

Lodovica nodded.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Catalogue Dress

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Source: Julie Duffy at Story-A-Day Challenged us to “Write an imaginary entry for a pretentious, high-end catalogue.” I love the J. Peterman catalogue and was a customer long before Elaine from Seinfeld had a job writing for them. I enjoy the stories and the clothes, so this was a no-brainer for me.

Photo by Pete Bellis on Unsplash

The yacht anchored in crystal blue water near St. Tropez and I ferried to Plage de Pampelonne.

Jacquelyn met the launch wading in, thigh deep, to greet me. The day was planned she said.

The rented cabana was in the center of it all, only steps away from the swanky restaurants which lined the beach. It was the best place to see and be seen she said.

Jacquelyn periodically waved to restaurant patrons, calling and promising to meet soon. We were going to dinner she said.

I would need to go to the yacht and change. Jacquelyn pulled the wrap dress from her dainty beach bag, slipped it on and tied it at the waist. Darling you must learn to be more spontaneous she said.

I agreed.

Plage de Pampelonne Wrap Dress (No. 1496). Low maintenance dress made from a silky jersey knit with a little spandex is ideal for travel. The flattering silhouette is packed with glamour, V-shaped crossover neckline, shaping princess lines and a flowing full sweep. Ties at waist. Lower calf length.

This dress belongs in your beach bag.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Exit Light — 3 Line Tales

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From Sonya’s 3LineTales at Only100Words.
You can find the original prompt here. Thank you, Sonya.

photo by Ernest Brillo via Unsplash

They jumped, hands held high, gyrating with uncensored abandon as the music thumped, a pounding heartbeat replacing their own.

Desperate to escape, willing sacrifices they rushed headlong into promised bliss.

A promise that was only another way to die.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Plot Line — 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: Plot Line
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 91
Word count: 100 words

Image by Toa Heftiba

I was a regular at the coffee shop and selected my usual seat facing the window, the one that provided an unobstructed view of the street. This seat let me see who approached, who watched and who entered the shop. The window provided a bonus, reflecting the scene behind me. Here I had a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view.

I slung my bag across the back of the chair. I didn’t need to order; the barista automatically delivered my steaming cappuccino. I dug my journal from the bag to review the details. Careful planning and consideration yielded perfection, and tomorrow he would die.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Sirocco Seduction — Friday Fictioneers

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 51 Comments

Title:  Sirocco Seduction
Source:  Friday Fictioneers sponsored by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple
Word count: 100 words

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

Aderyn drew mindless patterns in the sand. She sat where wave dampened sand met mounds blown dry by the Sirocco. She searched the spot where the sky kissed the sea. The spot his ship disappeared.

The Sirocco blew hair across her face. Strands she tucked behind her ear. The sun beat on her, teased her memory of a long-forgotten heat. The Sirocco caressed her, whispering long-forgotten words. Her body arched, longing for a long-forgotten feeling.

A lone gull’s feather drifted to her. Aderyn clutched it to her breast as she returned home, adding it to her collection of daily reminders.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Little Engineer — FFfAW Challenge

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Title:  The Little Engineer
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – Week of 10-02 through 10-08-2018
Word count: 145 words

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Yinglan. Thank you Yinglan!

Guy’s notoriety lay in taking things apart. He wasn’t always successful at reassembling them in working order. Mother could count on Guy dismantling an appliance at the precise moment she needed it the most. Like the time he investigated the microwaves inner workings the night before Thanksgiving. They made a mad rush to the store to purchase a replacement and save dinner.

Fatalities littered the garage, a waffle maker, toaster, several coffee pots, cell phones, a garage door opener, a heating pad, and two extension cords. Guy’s latest victim was the control for a remotely operated car. But Guy had discovered a resource to help him. Online, he located schematics drawings detailing the proper working order for appliances. He had cracked the control case, but he managed fixed it with the help of the internet schematics and a milk carton. His next stop was the garage.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Ode to Georgia — FFfPP

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Title:  Ode to Georgia
Source:  FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER- 2018 WEEK #40
Word count:  185 words

black-and-white-photo-white-cow-skull

1361226489r9nsl MorgueFile

If Georgia could use a sun-bleached cow’s skull, Kacy figured she could. When she asked her mother, her mother got weird.

“You want what? You need your head examined. No one in their right mind wants a dried-up cow skull. It’s against the law.” Her mother continued ranting.

Kacy stopped listening, planning to stop at the butcher shop after school.

“You’re one of those artsy kids, aren’t you?” the butcher asked concentrating on his work.

“I’m an artist too, you know. Most people don’t think so. The way I figure it, this animal,” he paused, jabbing the knifepoint at the hunk of meat he was cutting. “This animal gave its life so we can eat. It’s my job to use every bit. Make sure nothing gets wasted.”

“Come back next week. I’ll have your cow skull. Okay?”

Kacy nodded.

A week later, the butcher presented her with her very own cow skull.

“You’ll do a good job. That’s one lucky cow,” he said handing Kacy the carefully wrapped and tied package.

He smiled as Kacy left the shop, holding the skull tightly against her chest.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Trick or Treat — 3 Line Tales

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 8 Comments

From Sonya’s 3LineTales at Only100Words.
You can find the original prompt here. Thank you, Sonya.

snakes-in-baskets

photo by Jordan Gellie via Unsplash

Nani and I spent the day baking, creating our baskets of tricks, making sure every detail was perfect.

When the doorbell rang we opened our baskets to reveal our bread snakes to the children.

When they screamed and ran away, we smiled at our clever Trick or Treat surprise.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

In Time of Need — FFfPP

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 4 Comments

Title:  In Time of Need
Source:  FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER- 2018 WEEK #38
Word count: 175 words

foggy-meadow-with-fence-and-ghostly-trees

14946675160vn34 AugustMorgue File

It was a recurring dream, a nightmare really. She walked through fog barely able to see, her next steps uncertain and precarious. Searching.  Pursuing and pursued. The dark specter, a constant force, pushing her forward, denying her rest, threatening to overtake her. And then she screamed.

This time she did not wake. The dream was real. Her heart pounded, echoed in her ears, drowned rational thought. Her stomach tightened, choked her throat, cut off her air supply. She gasped and lurched forward, not ready to die. Salvation lay hidden in the fog.

Running now, adrenaline coursing through her body pushing her past her limits, and beyond the edge. Her next step did not hit the ground, she tumbled, falling, reaching, grasping nothing. A hand caught her, suspended in time, she searched the hooded face and saw only darkness.

“I can grant more than Salvation.”

The words filled her head, and she closed her eyes.

“Where is Salvation in your time of need?”

Despair consumed her.

“You only need to say the word.”

She nodded.

“Yes.”

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

B&B Breakfast — Friday Fictioneers

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Title:  B&B Breakfast
Source:  Friday Fictioneers sponsored by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple
Word count: 100 words

PHOTO PROMPT © Priorhouse

“Bacon, woman! I want bacon.”

“The sign said, ‘Canadian Bacon’, dear.”

He stabbed his fork into the meat disc and lifted it into the air. Grease and meat juices sprayed across the table as he shook the fork at her.

“Does this look like bacon?” His face turned red as he spoke, and the woman shrank in her seat.

“It said…”

“I know ‘Canadian Bacon’. They advertised American Breakfast. I expect American bacon.”

“I’d expect you’d have better luck in America than in Yorkshire, sir,” the waitress said as she plucked the fork from his hand and exited the room.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer