Short Story

Big Red

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Our gracious host, Rochelle, encourages us
to be creative by writing a story in 100 words
or less using the photo prompt below.
This is Friday Fictioneers and this
is where the photo took me.

Photo Prompt © Dale Rogerson

Photographer Diane Miller leaned against her car adjusting her Nikon Z5 settings. It didn’t take long before the homeowner stepped outside.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

Diane explained that she was researching historical landmarks for her newest photography book.

The homeowner laughed saying his house was “no historical landmark”.

“Actually, it’s this magnificent tree stump I’m interested in” Diane replied.

“Big Red? He’s been here for eons. The town wants to grind him down, says he’s an eyesore.”

“That’s disgraceful! ” Diane exclaimed. “When my book is done, Big Red will be a household name. He’s going on the cover!”


NAR©2025
100 Words

This is “Redwood Tree” by Van Morrison

25 July 2025

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, The Rhythm Section, et al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

55 thoughts on “Big Red”

  1. Great dialogue, Nancy. A very confident and strong-willed photographer exposed in so few words. Lovely looking blog too. I will have to return….

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  3. Dear Nancy,

    That picture will make a great book cover. “Diane” certainly has an eye for composition, doesn’t she? As always, you chose the perfect song to accompany your story.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Dear Rochelle,

      Yes, she certainly does! I have strong feelings about trees as living things, deserving of our respect. Even after being cut down, what remains is the symbol of strength, might and grandeur. Big Red will be immortalized in Diane’s book, as he should be.

      “I think that I shall never see a poem a lovely as a tree.”

      Shalom.

      🕊️

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  14. I like the idea of Big Red already, Nancy… If anyone needs to stand round it a protest, I’m here, ready and able, and no way, Jose’ will we let the town people grind him down, …loved it , …💙

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  22. After the last hurricane hit Galveston in 2008, many of the old stately Oak trees were snapped or destroyed. A couple of local artists used chainsaws to turn the large stumps into sculptures of Dolphins, Mermaids, and other creatures. Looks like Big Red doesn’t need help. We have a soda that folks in Texas drink. It tastes nasty, like bubble gum. My buddy, Coach Tom, drinks Tequila and Big Red as a mixer.

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  23. Reminds me of the old Andy Griffith Show when a documentary filmmaker wants to make a film about Mayberry. The town goes nuts, with all the people dressing like stars, every shop suddenly has a Hollywood theme, and the town council decides to take down the tree that’s been in the town square for centuries. He’s like “My God, don’t do that!”

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