FFfAW

Full Time — FFfAW Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 25 Comments

Title: Full Time
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
Word count: 160 words

Marina

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Michelle De Angelis. Thank you, Michelle!

It was a long, hot summer and Alysia had nearly finished. The thirty-three-foot Chris Craft needed a total overhaul. She purchased her in early spring and by St. Patrick’s Day had the boat gutted. The wooden hull was sound and didn’t need a lot of patching. She sanded, caulked, painted and varnished. She applied six coats of varnish herself. The engine, however, needed a complete overhaul.

Then she ran out of money. Alysia took a second job, sold her apartment and moved onto the boat. She slept on the deck in a sleeping bag under the stars. The boat owners in the surrounding slips noticed and monitored her progress. She often found gifts on the boat when she returned from work.  When she questioned them, they laughed and denied her accusations.

The summer boaters winterized their boats as Alysia put the final touches on her full-time home. They threw a housewarming cookout and promised to be back in the spring.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Protector — FFfAW Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 4 Comments

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 Little Engineer — FFfAW Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 7 Comments

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

Tap and Stitch — FFfAW Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 17 Comments

Title: Tap and Stitch
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
Word count: 175 words

walls-of-mismatched-shoes-sandals-on-peg-board

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

“Are they asleep yet?” Tap whispered from the inky shadows of the rain barrel.

“The light is out, but we should wait, make sure they’re fast asleep.”

“Stitch, you’re too cautious. They’ll never hear us.”

“Shh. You mean they’ll never hear me.”

Tap scooped up a pebble and lobbed it in Stitch’s direction. The stone skidded to a stop inches from his feet. Even in the darkness Tap saw the smile spreading across his face. She loved Stitch and his sense of humor. They had been together forever, on a joyous adventure. She smiled, remembering while they waited.

“Tap, come on,” Stitch hissed as he walked through the brick wall. Tap snapped back to reality and followed.

Inside the workshop Tap and Stitch stared at the pile of shoe leather.

“Ooh,” Tap rubbed her hands over the leather before jumping into the center of the pile.

Stitch giggled and landed in the pile next to her.

“Ready to make shoes?” Stitch asked.

Tap rubbed the supple leather against her cheek and nodded.

“Ready,” she said.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Next Season — FFfAW Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 12 Comments

Title:  Next Season
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
Word count: 175 words

Lovers-on-beach

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Michelle DeAngelis. Thank you, Michelle!

My thundering heartbeat pulsed, obliterating the sound of the crashing surf. Its steady thumping was the only sound I heard as I stared at her face, trying to understand.

“Jeremy are you ok?” she asked.

I didn’t respond as I struggled to comprehend. Every second together we documented and shared with the world. The first time I saw her, our first date, our first kiss and my declaration of undying love, were tested, rated, liked and judged. My moves were orchestrated, planned and executed ensuring I won her heart.  And it worked. Last night I held her close, and she told me she loved me, and she wanted to grow old together.

“How did this happen?”

“Jeremy, you know the rules. They voted, and the results are in. I am in love with Gabe and will marry him.” She kissed my cheek and walked away. The director motioned, and the camera zoomed, recording my tears, capturing every emotion before they drifted away following her, the star. Stunned, I smiled, knowing I was next season’s star.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Gone — FFfAW Challenge – 182th

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 5 Comments

Title:  Gone
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
Word count: 165 words

Foggy-window-deserted-street

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

It was cold outside, and the Jeep’s heater didn’t work. Condensation formed on the window while I waited. I rubbed my hands together, leaned over and blew. My breath warmed them for an instant. With my right hand, I smeared the foggy window. I needed to watch the street, needed proof she wasn’t there.

I tucked my hands under my armpits and hunched over the steering wheel. My mind played tricks on me and I heard her call my name. She wasn’t there. I couldn’t admit the truth. Not yet. I didn’t want to feel, not the heartache or the choking in my throat. I didn’t want to barter with the devil. I’d bring her back for the price of my soul.

Hot tears fell on my checks. Did I have the strength to carry on, or did I let the jeep’s carbon monoxide take away my pain? They’d tell me I’d make it, and I’d find somebody new. For now, I waited and prayed.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Battle Above the Clouds — FFfAW Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 11 Comments

Title:  Battle Above the Clouds
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
Word count: 160 words

Mist at dawn house rail fence

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Jodi McKinney. Thank you, Jodi!

We woke in darkness. General Geary ordered us to prepare to cross Lookout Creek at dawn. The November morning dawned chilly and damp in the valley. Our brigade massed as the fog swirled around us. The creek water ran high, and we waited. An hour and a half past dawn the water ebbed, and we received orders to move. Crossing the footbridge, we knew the objective was to meet near the Cravens house.

The mist and fog rose as we advanced up the mountain. We engaged in skirmishes with an enemy we could not see. The terrain proved rougher than any we had encountered. Rocks large and small had fallen from the mountain’s wall littered deep ravines. The forest claimed any space not occupied by rocks. Our force outnumbered the rebels, yet each step was a battle, and we fought to claim the inaccessible heights of Lookout Mountain.  The mountain was ours and the battle above the clouds became folklore.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Precious Treasures — FFfAW Challenge – 180th

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 12 Comments

Title:  Precious Treasures
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
Word count:   175 words

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

“I don’t understand why she wants this thing,” Marie picked up the ceramic dog and wrinkled her nose. “But she told me not to come home without it.”

“Grandma sure kept a lot of junk. I mean, really. Did you see this Marie?”

Marie placed the bubble-wrapped dog in a box marked “Mom”.

“See what?” Marie asked.

Angie pulled a large pink elephant from the cabinet and placed it on the table. Marie chuckled when Angie added a slightly smaller teal elephant. The laughter increased as Angie added four more colored elephants to the lineup.  Tears blurred their vision when Angie added a tiny yellow elephant.

 

Cora dug in the box marked “Mom” and found the ceramic dog. She unwound the bubble wrap, turned the ceramic dog upside down and removed the rubber stopper. Gnarled fingers fished into the small opening and teased out a tissue-wrapped package.  Cora ripped open one end of the tissue and dumped the contents in her hand. She blinked back tears, and the diamonds sparkled and winked back at her.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Duped — FFfAW Challenge – 179th

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 11 Comments

Title:  Duped
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
Word count:   200 words

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

Jason, Alex, Nick and I discovered the museum’s exhibit of the terracotta warriors. We knew the story, researching each new archaeological discovery. Excited, we bought our tickets and stood in line expecting amazing things.

China’s First Emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, took the throne as King Zheng of Qin at thirteen.  By forty he conquered his enemies ending the period of the Warring States. Even before proclaiming himself Emperor, construction of a vast underground empire, the ultimate tomb began. To protect his tomb, he commissioned an army of terracotta warriors. Eight thousand figures each with distinct faces stood over six feet tall. Hand-crafted from clay, they were assembled, fired in a giant kiln, then hand painted.

When we left the exhibit, I threw my ticket and the brochures in the garbage.

“Hey, man? What’s up?” Jason asked.

“I expected to see real terracotta warriors. Actual artifacts.” I said tugging on my coat.

“What are you talking about?” Nick looked at me with raised eyebrows.

“Didn’t you read the tags? ‘Replica’ this, ‘Model’ that.  Maybe three pieces were true artifacts.” Pulling my phone from my pocket I flipped through photos proving my point.

“Bummer,” Alex said and tossed his brochures in the garbage.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Facing Fear — FFfAW Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 6 Comments

Title:  Facing Fear
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – Week of 08-14 through 08-20-2018
Word count:   170 words

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Ted Strutz. Thank you, Ted!

What was she doing here?

Diana pulled her car into the parking lot and shifted into Park. A ferry approached the launch and cars waited to load. Diana’s hands trembled, and she breathed in ragged gasps.

Why had she agreed?

It was her therapist’s idea. She insisted Diana confront her fears and leftover emotions from the accident that were controlling her life. It sounded rational in the therapist’s office.

How was this going to help her?

They called it a freak accident. The water was choppy the day she drove onto the ferry. She was the first car in line. The ferry lurched and the truck behind her rear-ended her, hard, causing her car to catapult into the bay. She remembered trying to escape, water filling the car and the sky disappearing as she sunk under the waves. She didn’t remember being rescued.

When would she get past this?

She realized she didn’t need to relive boarding the ferry to face her fears. Diane turned the car and headed home.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer