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.
We don’t come for the food. Not really.
We come because someone said “Zara’s” and everyone showed up. Because a table this full means nobody is eating alone tonight.
The tower is just an excuse, a centerpiece for the ritual of passing, reaching, laughing exuberantly.
Someone is already photographing the memory before it happens. Another stares at nothing, present but elsewhere, thinking of friends who are missing tonight.
The beer is half-gone. The soup grows cold.
But nobody leaves.
This is what cities do to people. They scatter us, then pull us back, hungry for something the fire can’t cook.
NAR©2026
100 Words
This is “Senden Benden Bizden” by Athena
Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
Oooo terrific message in this one. Nicely done
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Thanks much, Laurie
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This was lovely.
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Thanks so much ☺️
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This is an amazing analysis of our ‘civilized’ disconnected lives. Beautiful wriring, Nancy.
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Thanks for your comments, Gabi. Some might call to mind the old adage, “waste not want not’, especially if parents or grandparents were products of the great depression. Regifting is an interesting phenomenon, isn’t it?
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This is lovely Nancy, almost poetic.
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That’s a very lovely comment, Dan. Thank you!
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So deep, so true …sad in a way… beautifully told 💜
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Maybe a little wistful, but not sad. This is very much a reminder of big families, people getting together to enjoy a meal, just like it was when I was growing up. Thanks so much, sis. 💜
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a pleasure Sis 💜💜💜
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Beautiful, Nancy!
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Thanks so much, Lisa. 🩷
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Dear Nancy,
Thank you for inviting me to the dinner party. Lovely story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure, dear Rochelle. You are welcome anytime.
Shalom
🕊️
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So true and elegantly said!
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When I was a kid, my mom prepared the table with all her fabulous food and everyone was welcome. There was always someone there I didn’t know! Thank you, Jodi.
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I love a gathering of good friends, but this one smells of rotten eggs …
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Oh, no rotten eggs here, my friend! This is very much how things were when I was growing up. Thank you for a bit of Bob Marley. 🩵 🎶
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I’m just a country boy at heart my friend 🥰📖🌏
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Well done my dear! Actually quite brilliant!
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Thank you, my dear D, for this beautiful comment ❤️
Sorry to say, I had to fish you out of spam 🙁
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Brilliant, cara mia! So much said in so few words!
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It’s been said we write about what we know; growing up, this was my family. Grazie, cara amica! 🥰
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I think this can be said for people ’round the globe. Beautifully done.
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Sounds like a good place to leave.
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I’m not so sure about that, James. I grew up in a similar environment where everyone felt welcome.
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Big cities aren’t for me anymore. I had my fill of them in my youth. My adventuring days are over. Time to grow comfortably older.
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A great take on the picture, Nancy, you brought it alive!
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I’m so glad you think so. Thanks very much, dear Keith. You were in spam again, my friend! 🙁
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I love the sentiment embedded in your story Nance and the last line is wonderful 🙌
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Thanks so much, Ange. I’m very glad to know you liked that line. This is how I grew up, always welcoming people to our table. 😌
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A good way to live Nance ♥️
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A beautiful take dear friend
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Thanks very much, my sister 😌
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You’re very welcome dear sis
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I sense from this how cultures and societies are born
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You are spot on! Thanks very much, Neil.
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I like how your draw out the human emotions, the inner feelings seeking community.
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Thank you, James. I come from a large family and no matter how many people were sitting around our table, my mother believed there was always room for one more.
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I love this, it’s so touching.
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Thanks so much, Sweets! I’m glad to know it resonated with you. ☺️
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A simple yet profound text: more than just food, it speaks of the need to share, to belong, and of those encounters that nourish the soul more than the body.
Best regards.
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Thank you, Lincol. I’m very pleased the essence of my story landed well with you. ☺️
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