Category: Flash

Flash

Who’s Kidding Who

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where our gracious host,
Rochelle, has asked us to use the photo below as inspiration
to get creative in 100 words or less, making
every word count. Here’s my flash.

© Lisa Fox

Sue was excited as she showed her husband Ron her purchase.

“Isn’t it gorgeous, Ron? My latest acquisition from the Mystical Emporium. It’s supposed to…”

Ron cut her off. “Not again, Sue! You’re so gullible!”

“Ron, wait! It really works!” But Ron left, slamming the door behind him.

Sue would have to wait until Ron returned from work to show him how the pitcher set glowed whenever someone lied.

As usual, Ron was late and Sue was waiting for him.

“Not now, Sue! I’ve had a grueling day at the office!”

And the magical pitcher set glimmered like a supernova.

NAR©2024
100 Words

20 September2024

This is “Lies” by the Knickerbockers

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

Flash

Going To The Mattresses*

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Weekend Writing Prompt #381 where
Sammi asks us to use the prompt word “bungle” and
get creative in exactly 41 words. Here’s my flash.

© Pinterest

Dio mio! I’m afraid I’ve bungled things quite badly.

While planning the seating arrangement for my son’s wedding, I inadvertently placed Zia Carmella at Table 1 and her sister, Zia Francesca, at Table 2.

An insult! Disgrazia!

This means war!

NAR©2024
41 Words

* In times of war or siege, Italian families would vacate their homes and rent apartments in safer areas. In order to protect themselves they would hire soldiers to sleep on the floor in shifts. The meaning of the phrase “going to the mattresses” symbolizes the association in Italian folk-memory of mattresses with safety in wartime. The phrase wasn’t well known outside the US and Italy prior to the Godfather movies. It was used there, and later in The Sopranos, to mean “preparing for battle”.

Weekend Writing Prompt #381 – Bungle

When Kay met Michael, scenes from an Italian wedding (Godfather, 1972) featuring Al Martino as Johnny Fontane. This is “I Have But One Heart (O Marenariello)”

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

Flash

Just A Part Of Life

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where our host Rochelle
has asked us to use the photo below as inspiration
to get creative in 100 words or less, making
every word count. Here’s my flash.

Photo Prompt © David Stewart

Jenny looked around the no-frills room which was now her home. A shy girl, she’d never spent a single night away from home; now she was half-way across the country at an unfamiliar university with thousands of nameless faces.

At first she didn’t want her parents’ help moving but at the last minute she relented. They were on their way home now and all Jenny wanted was to grab her phone and beg them to come back and take her home.

The sound of girl’s excited laughter echoed in the hall; Jenny peeked out and someone happily waved her over.

NAR©2024
100 Words

13 September 2024

This is “What Is Life” by George Harrison

 

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

Flash

Tears Come Easy

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Weekend Writing Prompt #380 and
Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge where the required words
are ‘auction’ and ‘lilac’. In exactly 78 words, here is my story.

My husband came home from grocery shopping and after putting away the ice cream said to me, “I stopped by the Chatsworth Auction House. Look what I found.”

He handed me a small box; inside were vintage lilac gemstone and silver filigree earrings.

I started to cry … tears come easy … and he asked “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. They’re perfect” I sobbed. “Just like the ones I lost years ago.”

“I remember” he whispered and kissed my head.

NAR©2024
78 Words

Weekend Writing Prompt #380 – Auction
Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge – Lilac

This is “I Remember You” by Frank Ifield

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

Flash

Sign Language

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where Rochelle asks us to
get creative in 100 words or less. Making every word count
and using Dale’s photo below as inspiration, here is my flash.

© Dale Rogerson

Since we was kids it was just me and Roxie. Nobody wanted us but we didn’t care.  We was crazy in love, wild about each other. We didn’t need nobody stickin’ their noses in our beeswax.

Long as we was together, nothin’ else much mattered, y’know?

We got a gig flippin’ flapjacks, a tin roof over our heads, a bed, and a hi-fi for spinnin’ tunes.

We do our jobs each day, make mad love every night, and dance in the glittery moonlight.

We’re happy and there’s no hidin’ the signs. The whole shack shimmies.

That’s more than most folks got.  

NAR©2024
100 Words

6 September 2024

This is “Love Shack” by The B-52’s

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

Flash

From Where to Eternity*

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Weekend Writing Prompt #379 and
Weekly Prompts – The One-Day Prompt. In exactly
82 words and including the required words
“timepiece” and “one day”, here is my flash.

© HBO, The Sopranos

The Sopranos, Episode 2.09. A post-surgery Christopher Moltisanti frantically pumps his morphine drip.

Those were my thoughts at 4AM after waking up in agony; my 8-Hour Tylenol  had worn off two hours early, alerting the pain timepiece in my brain.

Clearly the Tylenol isn’t cutting it, but due to federal guidelines and crackdowns, a doctor’s ability to prescribe necessary painkillers has been seriously restricted and people like me living in the US are getting screwed.

Maybe one day they’ll get it right.

NAR©2024
82 Words
*The Sopranos, Season 2, Episode 9

Weekend Writing Prompt #379 – Timepiece
Weekly Prompts -The One-Day Prompt (5)

This is the opening theme for The Sopranos, “Woke Up This Morning”, by Alabama 3.

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

Flash

Hanging In There!

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Hi, kids! I’m still here … a little worse for wear but hanging on.

It’s been just over one week since my spinal fusion surgery and I’ve asked myself the same question a few dozen times:

“WHY DID I DO THIS??”

I was talking to a friend today about back surgeries and, since my incision is centrally located on my lower back, I feel the pain everywhere regardless of my position or what I’m doing … and it hurts a lot.

Having gone through this herself a few times times, my friend reminded me that back surgery is a major deal and to cut myself some slack. I did what was necessary and recoup is going to be hard but I also need to remember it’s only been one week. I feel pretty dreadful right now but I realize that’s the norm.

“You’re strong … you got this” she said, and she’s right.

Well, on the bright side, I walk around the house with my walker every 90 minutes, then apply ice. I was walking every hour but by the time I finished walking and icing, there was little time to do anything else!

There’s no point in trying to play catch-up with your posts; once I start blogging regularly, I’ll begin reading your posts as well. But I’m not back yet; this is just a note to say “Hi” and to let you know I’m still here! And big hugs to those of you who scoped out my email address. It was really nice to hear from you.

I didn’t want to end this message with a downer of a song so here’s one of my favorites … a classic R&B tune by Booker T. & The M.G.s to help us chill out. It’s called “Green Onions”.

Thanks, again. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2024

~ Nancy

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

Flash

Don’t Cry For Me Agrigento

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where we are asked
to get creative in 100 words or less using the
photo below for inspiration. Here is my story.

Photo © Mr. Binks

It was 1965, a big year – my sister’s graduation, the Beatles concert and our trip to Sicily.

We spent a day at Mom’s cousin Concetta’s farmhouse outside Agrigento. Goats, sheep and a donkey grazed in the field among the olive trees. Chickens scurried around the barnyard like drunken spinning tops. They were extremely entertaining – our favorite.

We hung out with the animals all morning. In the afternoon we drove to Agrigento to explore the shops.

Upon returning to Concetta’s, we sat down for dinner. Pasta to start, of course. When she brought out the roast chickens, we burst into tears.

NAR©2024
100 Words

16 August 2024

Here are three ridiculously talented Sicilian guys from Palermo playing a tune called “The Chicken”. They are Matteo Mancuso (guitar), Riccardo Oliva (bass) and Salvatore Lima (drums). Enjoy this one.

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

Flash

Not My Bag, Baby

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt #376
where we are to write something in exactly 20 words
and include the word ‘handmade’. Here’s my flash.

© Nancy Richy

This quilted pillow is the only handmade item I’ve stitched.

I’m a cook and crafter but sewing’s not my thing!

NAR©2024
100 Words

Weekend Writing Prompt #376 – Handmade

This is “I Am Woman” by the one and only Peggy Lee.

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

Flash

Goose It!

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where we are
asked to get creative in 100 words or less using
the photo below for inspiration. Here’s my story.

© Jennifer Pendergast

Gregory Goose shouted:

“Stop lollygagging, you gang of pencil neck geeks, and get a move on! We don’t have a gazillion hours to waste. A performance awaits us so step lively. And speaking of step, watch yours. There’s goop about.

Greta! Grab hold of those goslings!

George! Stop giving Ginger googly eyes!

Glenda and Gloria! Quit gabbing!

Listen up, guys. Christmas will be here before you know it. If you don’t wanna get cooked, we gotta nail that ‘six geese a-laying’ verse. We need two more geese in our gaggle to make three groups of six.

Ladies, who’s feeling romantic?”

NAR©2024
100 Words

9 August 2024

The is “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye

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

Flash

Long and Winding Road

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

So, I was on the road early this morning and there was a good deal of traffic. Fortunately, the long version of “Light My Fire” came on SiriusXM followed by a Rush yawn-athon. I won’t inflict Rush on you but here are the Doors. Knock yourselves out, kids!

NAR©2024

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

Flash

Brace Yourself

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Weekend Writing Prompt #375,
Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge and
Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge,
31 words exactly using the three prompt words
of defray, brown and rigid. Here is my flash.

Mary went rigid and her soft brown eyes filled with tears when she saw the orthodontist’s bill. With no dental insurance, she’d have to find some way to defray the expense.


NAR©2024
31 Words

https://sammiscribbles.wordpress.com/2024/08/03/weekend-writing-prompt-375-defray/

Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge – Brown
Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Rigid


This is “Easy Money” by Billy Joel

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

Flash

The Lake

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where we are
encouraged to be creative in 100 words or less
using this photo for inspiration. Here is my story.

Photo Prompt © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Eileen gathered some boxes from the attic and began to pack up her late husband’s belongings; Ned always told Eileen he wanted his things donated to the men’s shelter.

Now the drawer was empty except for a folder; inside Eileen found Ned’s sketches of their lake. Leafing through them, Eileen was outraged to see drawings of her sister Denise in the lake dated 2023 – the last time she visited. Ned and Denise had a fling years ago but Ned ended it – or so he said.

Eileen put the sketches back into the folder. Time for a little chat with Denise.

NAR©2024
100 Words

2 August 2024

This is “Cry Me A River” by Diana Krall

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

Flash

Paying Through The Nose

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where we are asked
to get creative in 100 words or less using the
photo below for inspiration. Here’s my story.

Photo Prompt © Roger Bultot

“Did you get it?” Ray asked when the door opened.

“Yeah, but I had to shell out more money for it” grumbled Joe-Bob.

“That rat bastard! Hand it over … and a flashlight.” Ray demanded.

“This is primo, Joe-Bob! Gimme six Ds, will ya?”

Ray inserted the Ds and turned on his newly acquired battery-operated fan.

“Listen, Joe-Bob. When Uncle Lester died, he left me a slew of money. I’m gonna buy a state-of-the-art, solar-powered, non-electric RV. I’m stocking up batteries ‘cos when that asshole gets elected, gas and electric prices will be insane. I’m finally gonna beat the man!”

NAR©2024
100 Words

26 July 2024

This is “Tax Man” by The Beatles

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

Flash

What Would Dylan Do?

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where we are asked
to be creative with 100 words or less using the
photo below for inspiration. Here is my story.

© Lisa Fox

“Lieutenant! We’re getting a reading from the drone!”

“Gimme that, Krebbs! It shows beyond these woods is a clearing with what appears to be life forms. Round up the team; let’s check this out.”

Guns drawn, the squad stealthily worked its way to the clearing. Slowly they emerged; the lieutenant pushed back his fedora and whistled through his teeth.

“Well, lookie here! It’s the MIA grunge band, Rockit Gibraltar!”

“Are they dead, Lieutenant?”

“Nah! They’re stoned. Must be that ramped-up drug …. Double Rubble. Call for a chopper, one equipped with a boulder holder. This ain’t no soft rock band!“

NAR©2024
100 Words

19 July 2024

This is “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan

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

Flash

Feeling Punchy

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt #371
where we are asked to get creative in exactly 54 words using the prompt word “timorous”. Here’s my story.

Nelly was a timorous sort; every little thing turned her into a nervous wreck.

So the other night at the dinner party when everyone except Nelly started feeling deathly ill while she stood off to the side calmly sipping her water, the truth became obvious.

Nelly was the one who poisoned the punch bowl.

NAR©2024
54 Words

Weekend Writing Prompt #371 – Timorous

This is “Little Drop Of Poison” by Tom Waits

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

Flash

Hippocrisy

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where Rochelle
encourages us to write creatively in 100 words or less
using the photo below for inspiration. And would you look
at that! Today’s photo is one of mine! Woot woot!! Here’s my story.

© Nancy Richy

“OMG, Vern! People are starting to arrive. This is the most thrilling day of my life! Imagine me …. Hazel Heftybottoms …. a published author! I wonder how many of my friends will be here.

Oh no! Look who’s prancing down the street like a prima donna. It’s that cow Eloise and she’s wearing the same outfit as me! That pachyderm has really packed on the pounds! And provocative pink lipstick on her proboscis? What a slut!

I can’t believe she actually published her poetry book. What a pile of poppycock!

Yoo-hoo! Eloise D-A-R-L-I-N-G!! You look absolutely M-A-R-V-E-L-O-U-S!!

Mwah! Kissy, kissy!”

NAR©2024
100 Words

5 July 2024

This is “One Hippopotami” by Allan Sherman

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

Flash

Noble Spirit

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Weekend Writing Prompt #370,
incorporating the word ‘pirate’ in a story of exactly 74 words.
Also for Thursday Inspiration #234 – ‘No Matter What/Nothing’,
What Do You See #242 (#WDYS) and Weekly Prompts –
The One-Day Prompt (3). Here is my story in exactly 74 words.

© Michael Dziedzic @ Unsplash

The fiery battle raged for days; in the end Evalyn, the Pirate Goddess, was victorious … but at what cost?

While fighting on deck, there was a sudden cannon retort followed by grapeshot finding its mark … Evalyn’s beautiful face. Her eyes were spared but she was disfigured.

That one day changed Evalyn into a stronger woman. For her, nothing else mattered.

Fashioning a mask of solid gold, she became Evalyn, the Noble Pirate.

NAR©2024
74 Words

Weekend Writing Prompt #370 – Pirate
Thursday Inspiration #234 No Matter What
What do you see # 242- June 24th
Weekly Prompts -The One-Day Prompt (3)

This is “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica

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

Flash

Bumble, Mumble

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where Rochelle
encourages us to get creative in 100 words or less
using the photo below for inspiration. Here’s my story.

Triplet bumblebees Bizz, Bozz, and Buzz loved to bob from plant to flower to vine in the neighborhood alley. It was so bucolic, even the occasional visitor didn’t bother them.

Being such busy bees, they barely noticed the giant structure by the entrance.

“What’s that thing?” they asked in unison.

“Keep back! It’s a trap” warned Groucho the Grasshopper. “People say bad ideas are inside, dangerous goings-on about a Very Hungry Caterpillar, an Ant Bully and Bug Muldoon.”

The terrified triplets trembled, their little knees knocking.

 “Bugger off now, boys! You don’t wanna be here when the soldier bees arrive!”

NAR©2024
100 Words

28 June 2023

This is “Sons of 1984” by Todd Rundgren

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

Flash

Bad Medicine

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt #369
where we are challenged to write something clever
in exactly 33 words using the word “spoonful”.

Identical medicine bottles was how my non-English speaking grandfather almost killed my grandmother.

Alone for 15 minutes resulted in administering a near-fatal spoonful of massaging oil of wintergreen instead of dextromethorphan for coughs.

NAR©2024
33 Words

Weekend Writing Prompt #369 – Spoonful

This is “Bad Medicine” by Bon Jovi

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

Flash

Feeling The Burn

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where we are
encouraged to get creative by writing a story
of no more than 100 words using this photo
as our inspiration. Here is my 100 word story.

© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

It was the summer of ’59 and I was going to spend July and August with my cousins at the shore. I’d been packing since my last day of school, finishing two days before taking off.

The following morning I awoke with fever, sore throat, bumpy tongue and a facial rash. Scarlet fever, the doctor said. The disease was highly contagious. I was prescribed antibiotics and my parents were warned to keep me home.

My summer plans were abruptly cancelled; I was dejected. All I could do was watch my friends playing, my nose pressed up against the window screen.

NAR©2024
100 Words

21 June 2024

This is “Fever” by Little Willie John

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

Flash

Inquiring Minds

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge
and Weekend Writing Prompt #368 where we are
asked to be creative in exactly 100 words incorporating
the prompt words “sleep” and “quaint”. This is my story.

Poe Cottage Photo @ Pinterest

We visited the Poe Cottage this week, former home of the poet Edgar Allan Poe. It’s about a 30 minute drive from my house and I thought my two teenage grandchildren would enjoy the walk-around since they’re both reading the works of Poe in school.

It’s a quaint old place with small bedrooms, a common kitchen-parlor-dining room downstairs and an upstairs loft. My 6’ tall grandson questioned how a grown man could sleep in the tiny bed.

At one point I realized my grandson had gone missing. Imagine my embarrassment when he was found napping in Poe’s bed!

Inquiring minds.

Poe Cottage Bedroom Photo @ Pinterest

NAR©2024
100 Words

Weekend Writing Prompt #368 – Quaint
Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Sleep

This is “I’m So Tired” by the Beatles

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

Flash

Warts and All

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where we are
encouraged to write a story in 100 words or less
using this photo for inspiration. Here is my story.

Photo Prompt © Lisa Fox

There was a boy named Danny who sat directly in front of me in 5th grade. He had a perpetual case of ringworm which fascinated and repulsed me at the same time.

His beautiful black hair had been shaved to expose the circular rash on the back of his head. I imagined microscopic critters chasing each other around that stubbly maze.

The theory was that Danny caught the fungus while hunting frogs in the boggy bullrushes; somehow that didn’t make it any less gross.

I never could understand boys and their frog fetishes. Everyone knows that’s where warts come from!

NAR©2024
100 Words

14 June 2024

This is “Hop Frog” by Lou Reed featuring David Bowie

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

Flash

Love Happens

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Weekend Writing Prompt #367 using the required
word “party” in exactly 88 words; Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge,
with the required word “peak” and Weekly Prompts Wednesday
Challenge using the required word “sunset“. Here’s my flash.

Yesterday was our anniversary, wed 52 years. No party necessary.

None of our friends who married around the same time are still together. How sad is that?

People have asked “What’s the secret to a long and happy marriage?” For us it’s pretty simple: respect, communication, honesty, having a sense of humor.

When you combine those ingredients, love happens. You can manage the lows and celebrate the peaks, watch the dawns and the sunsets, walk hand-in-hand through the ordinary and make it extraordinary.

That’s us. Uncomplicated. Happy together.

NAR©2024
88 Words

Weekend Writing Prompt #367 – Party
Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Peak
Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Sunset

This is “Happy Together” by the Turtles.

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

Flash

Of Memories And Dreams

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where our gracious host, Rochelle,
encourages us to get creative in 100 words or less using this photo
as our inspiration. Here is my 100-word photo-inspired story.

© Roger Bultot

Funny thing about dreams and memories; sometimes it’s difficult to tell them apart. Sometimes I just don’t want to.

That summer …. after the breakup …. I needed to be alone …. to think …. to put the hurt behind me. A few days at that motel on the beach seemed like a good idea at the time. 

Everywhere I walked …. everything I saw …. reminded me of you. The scent of salt water. Scattered shells and seaweed. That song. Hot summer nights. Stars so close you could touch them.

Memories and dreams of you …. they’re funny that way.

NAR©2024
100 Words

7 June 2024

This is “In Dreams” by Roy Orbison

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

Flash

Check List

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt #366
where we are to get creative using the word ‘Monday’
in exactly 25 words. Here are my 25 words.

Garbage out? ✓
Clean sheets? ✓
Toilets swished? ✓
Kitchen mopped? ✓
Pain Management appointment? ✓

Trigger point injections and back massage? ✓

Lather, rinse, repeat next week! ✓

Routine Monday maintenance. ✓

NAR©2024
25 Words

Weekend Writing Prompt #366 – Monday

This is “Yakety Yak” by the Coasters

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not for use without permission which I usually give when asked. NAR©2017-present.

Flash

Uncle Bobby And The Spiders From Mars

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where we are
encouraged to write something creative in
100 words or less using the photo below as
inspiration. This is my 100-word story.

Photo © Mr. Binks

Uncle Bobby had this irrational fear of spiders. Well, it was irrational to his family; for him it was very real.

So when the new amusement park ride Spiders From Mars opened, Uncle Bobby wouldn’t go near it.

Everyone tried convincing him the ride wasn’t jinxed or dangerous but he wasn’t buying it. All their urging and encouragement fell on deaf ears. Uncle Bobby watched from the shadows as his nieces and nephews went for a spin.

That night the ride malfunctioned; several family members were killed, unceremoniously hurled out of the park.

Guess Uncle Bobby’s fear wasn’t so irrational. 🕷️

NAR©2024
100 Words

31 May 2024

This is “Ziggy Stardust” by David Bowie

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

Flash

Fanning The Flames

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Weekend Writing Prompt #365
and Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge.
Our write must be 61 words exactly and include
the words ‘pause’ and ‘heroism’. Here’s my flash.

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial
Cambridge, England

This weekend in the US we pause to honor all Americans who died in any war while serving in the US Armed Forces.

There have been 108 wars involving the US, including 11 major wars, 4 ongoing. That’s a lot of fighting, bloodshed, death, heroism.

If war is hell, why do we keep fanning the flames? When will we ever learn?

NAR©2024
61 words

Weekend Writing Prompt #365 – Pause
Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Heroism

This is “Where Have All The Flowers Gone” by the Kingston Trio

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

Flash

Carla’s Big Night

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Friday Fictioneers where we’re given a photo
and asked to let it inspire us to create something magical
in 100 words or less. This is my 100-word inspired creation.

© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

“Ungrateful … bastard … son-of-a-bitch … always telling me what to do … when to do it … waiting on him like a motherless child … picking up after him … cooking three meals a day … seven days a week … cleaning … cleaning … cleaning … and what’s my reward … an unwelcome fuck at 3 AM … pig … I … have … had … enough!”

Carla’s thoughts raced through her head like a locomotive engulfed in flames.

“You gonna cook that pizza or beat it to death?’ he snarled.

He died instantly. Death by rolling pin.

NAR©2024
100 Words

24 May 2024

This is a live acoustic cover of The Allman Brothers’ “Whipping Post” performed by Matie Cummings and Jeremy Edge

Another muse: my usually stoic mother
making an attempt at humor. Circa 1965.

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

Flash

Pointless

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt #364
where we are asked to be creative with the word
“squander” in exactly 11 words. Here is my creation.

Squander not your thoughts
on the predestined;
it is useless worry.

NAR©2024
11 Words

Weekend Writing Prompt #364 – Squander

This is “Why Worry” by Dire Straits.

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.