Mini Story, Photo Prompt, Writing Prompts

Smooth Sailing

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Our gracious host, Rochelle, is asking us to get
creative in 100 words or less using the photo
seen below. Welcome to Friday Fictioneers.
This is where the prompt took me.

© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

He promised her clear skies and smooth sailing; what a joke!

Susan watched the lone sailboat from shore, seagulls mocking her with their cackling laughter. Twenty years ago, Tony had swept her away with grand dreams ….Tuscany, corner offices, Rolls Royce.

Instead: a leaking roof, dead-end jobs, and Tony’s eternal cockeyed optimism that made her teeth ache.

“We’ll get there, Susie Q!” he’d say, winking like destiny owed him something.

The sailboat lurched sideways in the grey chop.

Figures.

Even a stranger’s boat confirmed what she already knew …. some men were simply better at leaving harbor than arriving anywhere.

NAR©2026
100 Words

This is “Smooth Sailing” by Ella Fitzgerald

10 April 2026

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

35 thoughts on “Smooth Sailing”

    1. Tony is deluded. He’s part dreamer, part loser; he really did believe his promises. Then you blink and half your life is gone and you’re still at the starting line. How sad.

      Ella was the queen; love this song.

      Thanks, Rochelle 💕

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  4. Great take on the picture, Nancy. The downside of optimism: only promises with no follow through. Reminds me of the concept of vaporware, when people or companies promise big innovations that eternally only a few months away.

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  7. Promises, promises… great story, Nancy, and what a last line. Although, eternal optimism paired with a loving character can be endearing… if the family doesn’t have to depend on it and all the real life load is on the other person.

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