Prompt

Treasured Moments – Flash Fiction Challenge

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Title: Treasured Moments
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story that makes a big splash.
Word count:  99 words

My daughter stood at the lake’s edge, trying to skim stones across its surface. As they plunged into the water, I remembered standing on this shore, throwing pebbles to master the skill. My father showed me the proper wrist flick to send a stone bouncing over the glassy expanse. Those rocks inspired my love of geology and my assemblage of semi-precious gems.

As I reached the shoreline, she stooped, selecting another rock from the bowl holding my collection. I gasped. Then I cradled her hand, positioned her wrist to the proper angle, and together we let the beauty fly.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Defying Disapproval – 3 Line Tales

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 5 Comments

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

photo by Samuel Taylor via Unsplash

Feeling liked I didn’t belong, I strengthened my defenses, embraced my differences and flaunted them before my critics.

I owned my label of the Black Sheep of the family.

But a black sheep is never alone, we gathered together and found unity, acceptance and our new relatives.
______________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Memory Lane – 100 Word Wednesday

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 2 Comments

Title: Memory Lane
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 123
Word count: 100 words

Image by Bikurgurl

I hadn’t been here in years. Mom said it was parked behind the barn, and I walked the path I had taken countless times as a kid. It felt strange to be home, and my past seemed surreal.

The band bus held fuzzy memories of endless road trips as we traveled from one gig to another. If we were lucky, they paid enough for gas to the next town, eating was optional. I wouldn’t change the hard times that honed our band’s unique sound and created a family. Music shaped my whole life and forged the musician standing here today.
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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Drawing Inspiration – Weekend Writing Prompt

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 17 Comments

Title: Drawing Inspiration
Source:  Weekend Writing Prompt #109 – Idyll
Objective: Write a poem or piece of prose in exactly 84 words.

Jason grew up in the city. His parents shuttled him from school to soccer practice, music lessons and extracurricular activities. He sat in the backseat and drew. Crayons, markers and pencil stubs littered his backpack. They chalked his drawings up to childish pursuits, but his third-grade art teacher had a different opinion.

As a professional artist, he moved to a rural idyll. He painted his surroundings, lush landscapes infused his work with an exuberance that propelled his career to heights he had never imagined.
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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Free Falling – Thursday Threads

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 6 Comments

Photo by Web Donut on Unsplash

Joe knew how to fly. His daddy had zoomed his infant son through the air, a sure-fire tactic to transform cries into peals of laughter.

On his fifth birthday, his uncle gave him a bicycle, and Joe discovered the joy of the wind in his hair. He spent every available hour outside burning around the cul-de-sac. It wasn’t long before the training wheels came off and Joe was in search of bigger thrills.

Bike tricks, wheelies, and stoppies were followed by plywood ramps. An upgrade to a motorbike provided powered flights into big air. There were crashes that demanded trips to the hospital where he collected plaster casts, splints, and stitches. He wore bruises with pride, badges of courage and testimony of a new skill attempted and mastered.

“Why can’t you keep your wheels on the ground?” his mother asked.

“Well, that’d be no fun,” Joe answered with a smile and a wink.

“I love the acceleration, the sensation of a rocket launch into space. Each jump lets me leave this world for a while. Time slows as the bike and I float in thin air. For a split-second, everything stops. The world’s demands fall away, and I am free.” Joe paused, eyes closed, joy painted his face and touched his mother’s heart.

“Pain doesn’t exist, misery is suspended, and life has meaning. Then I’m free falling. I return to earth knowing I bring a piece of that feeling with me.”

His mother ruffled his hair and hugged him tightly.

__________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Promise Land – Friday Fictioneers

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 48 Comments

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

PHOTO PROMPT © Ceayr

Joyce gently lowered the heavy shopping bags to the ground. She breathed deeply and considered the looming stairs.

“You have made it to base camp, Joyce,” she said. “You are an experienced Sherpa, and you can summit again. Your team is counting on you.”

Each day the climb grew harder. Years ago, she bought the dream, she worked hard, scrimped and saved.

“Retirement is a bitch,” she said picking up her load.

One foot followed the next in her steady, slow ascent until she reached the top where she paused and swallowed her tears.

“Sweetheart, I’m home with your medicine.”

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Sweet Competition – Flash Fiction Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 9 Comments

Title: Sweet Competition
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story that includes strawberries and mint.
Word count:  99 words

 

Edith set the heavy mixing bowl on the counter and surveyed today’s haul. She absentmindedly patted her chest with her right hand as she thought.

She was tired of strawberry shortcake, and Elenore’s receipt had won for two years running. Strawberry pie was too simple, and her strawberry jam cookies had competition from Ruth.

She caressed the velvety surface of a large berry.

“Red velvet,” the words slipped from her lips, and an idea formed. Red velvet strawberry cupcakes with minted whipped cream, topped with a huge glazed berry.

“Eat your heart out, Elenore,” she said with a smile.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Charmed – 3 Line Tales

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 7 Comments

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

photo by Alexej via Unsplash

I checked the crumpled scrap of paper and read the faded writing once more.

It marked the end of duality, signifying birth, life, and death, the beginning, middle, and the end.

Raising my fist, I pounded on the ancient door, once, twice, thrice.

______________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Celestial Transit – Weekend Writing Prompt

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 5 Comments

Title: Celestial Transit
Source:  Weekend Writing Prompt #108 – Mercurial
Objective: Write a poem or piece of prose in exactly 38 words.

Photo by DAVIDCOHEN on Unsplash

Alistair peered through the bushes amazed by the spectacle before him. He was cautious, unsure of his fate should the Mercurial beings discover him. He dared not breath as he watched them dance in the moon’s pale light.
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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Ascension – #MenageMonday!

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 5 Comments

Title: Ascension
Source:  #MenageMonday! Challenge Week 2×35
Word count: 250 words

To Camp, by Zhong Fenghua
Source: deviantart

I was alone. The campfire crackled and popped while the swamp echoed with chirps of tree frogs and trills of the moorhen. The barred owl’s distinctive call signaled the end of a day to remember. One I could never forget.

Pulling my coat collar tight around my neck, I moved closer to the fire. Cold, exhausted from the journey, I missed Sōshō. I wasn’t ready for the responsibility and I beseeched him to stay. He only smiled, patted my arm and handed me the massive leather-bound tome.

“You will record the entries now,” he said.

The weight threatened to crush me. “I can’t do this. Please, Sōshō,” I begged.

“I have written your destiny.”

He took his place on the rocks and began the incantations that would meld him with the earth. He left me no choice, and I performed the rituals with him. The transformation required the entire day. When it was complete, his chrysalis appeared as if it had stood on this spot for thousands of years. As my final act, I inscribed the sacred message on the monument’s base.

We had passed hundreds of stone statues on our journey. At each shrine, we repeated the prescribed devotions. He had taken his place among them. Tomorrow, I would strike camp, pack everything on the two mules, and return to the Eagle’s Aerie as the new Sōshō.

Pulling the book onto my lap, I opened it. I caressed the words he recorded only yesterday, then I turned the page.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer