Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
our prompt words are shown below.
Here’s where the prompts took me.
huge, proper, colleague, space, alone, try,
force, tremble, fear, laughter, serious, hard
Tag: Lies
The Fool’s Almanac: A Thursday Inspiration
Written for Thursday Inspiration #325 –
“Evil Ways”. Here’s my response.
The Ring
Written for Muse On Monday where David
has asked us to write a story where one
character knows another is lying to them.
Here’s where the prompt took me.
The Color Of Lies: A Dirk Malone Story
Written for Violet’s Literary Quote Challenge
where she asks us to include the following line
into our writing: “Things need not have
happened to be true.” Here’s my response.
Redemption: A Dirk Malone Story
Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle – #742. Our host is
Brenda Warren; her prompt words for this week are
shown below. Here’s where the prompts took me.
below, renew, weaves, through, cloaks, holy,
untethered, tendrils, gods, spark, ash, and wonder
The Trench
Written dVerse Prosery Monday – Bury Me.
Our host Lisa asks us to write a 144 word piece
of flash prose incorporating the line “Bury me
with the lies I told” from the song “Bury Me” by
Alejandro Escovedo. Here’s where the prompt took me.
Having It All
Written for Fandango’s Story Starter #228.
Here’s my story using Fandango’s opening line.
Sky Full Of Lies: A Dirk Malone Story
Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle – #734. Our host is
Brenda Warren and these are our prompt words: rinse,
days, still, thicket, bomb, fake, criminal, foster, imagine,
lies, sky, and sink. Here’s where the prompts took me.
Done
Written for dVerse Quadrille #237 – Zero.
Our host, Melissa, from Mom With A Blog,
invites us to create a poem of exactly 44 words
using the word “zero”. This is my quadrille.
His Life Of Elaborate Poverty
Written for Sue & Gerry’s Weekly Prompts
Weekend Challenge using the word ‘excessive’.
Here’s where the prompt took me.
Broken Promises
Written for MLMM Monday Wordle #451.
Our prompt words this week are: banish,
sad, guilty, weak, push, cute, way, cheeky,
sweet, furry, trick, and battle. Thanks, Di!
Here’s where the prompt words took me.
Discarded
Our gracious host, Rochelle, at Friday Fictioneers
encourages us to be creative by writing a story in
100 words or less using the photo shown below.
Here’s where the photo prompt took me.
The Journey
Written for MLMM Monday Wordle #449.
Our prompt words this week are: follow, future,
happiness, inspire, lie, mistake, monument,
secure, short, stunned, thought, and walk.
Here’s where the prompt took me.
Lying Lips
Written for Fandango’s Story Starter #219.
This is my story, using Fandango’s opening line.
Imitation Of Love: An Etheree
Written for Melissa’s Fandango
Flash Fiction Challenge – #330.
Here’s where the photo took me.
Bad Romance
Written for OLWG #425.
The prompts are below.
This is my story.
Some Explanation
Written for Sue & Gerry’s Weekly
Prompts Colour Challenge, using
the phrase ‘black & white’.
This is my story.
Strange New World
Written for Only Murders In My Mind
Weekly Writing Prompt #61. This week’s
inspiration is the photo seen below.
This is my take.
Never An Honest Word
Written for Esther’s “Can You Tell A Story In…..?”
#287 – exactly 40 words using the five required
prompts: ‘curl’, ‘potion’, ‘robin’, ‘unicycle’ and
‘bombast’. In 40 words, this is my story.
M.I.A.
Written for WTFAIOA Pick 3 #3.
Each week the inspirational list will
be comprised of 21 randomly selected
words; we must use at least three.
Here’s our list of words; I have used all.
The Sentinel
Written for The Unicorn Challenge where
we are urged to get creative in 250 words or less.
The photo below is our inspiration; this is my story.
To Tell The Truth
Written for Kymber’s Get To Know You #55.
What Are Two Truths And A Lie?
Here’s my response.
El Paso
Written for OLWG #401-Ojínaga. The three prompts
for this week are shown below. I have also used one of
Kevin’s great graphics from The Beginning At Last.
This my story.
Enough’s Enough
Shweta is our host for the Saturday Six Word Challenge – #111.
This week’s prompt word is “believe”. Here is my 6 word story.
A Sudden Slip Of The Tongue
Written for The Unicorn Challenge where we are
asked to get creative in 250 words or less using
the photo below as inspiration. This is my story.
The Letter
Written for Kevin’s No Theme Thursday 10.24.24,
Fandango’s Story Starter #172 (#FSS), Eugi’s
Moonwashed Weekly Prompt (pretend), and
Gerry C & Sue W’s Weekly Prompts Wednesday
Challenge (fascination). This is my story.
Faith No More: An Ovi
Written for Ovi Poetry Challenge #71.
Our inspiration word is “respect”
and this is my ovi.
The Lake
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.
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
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.
View From The Bridge
Written in response to The Unicorn Challenge
where we are asked to be creative in 250 words or less
by using the photo you see below. This is my story.
NB. My story is another perspective prompted by C.E. Ayr’s intriguing response to this week’s Unicorn Challenge. Please check out C.E.’s story here and/or here. I hope you enjoy my version and his.
Contrary to popular opinion, sometimes these things really do just happen – at least that’s how it was for me.
My husband was out for the day … the monthly visit with his son from his first marriage. I never fault him this time alone; it’s good for him and it gives me the chance to spend a day in my favorite book store.
One day while on my way home, I paused to watch the swans; from the bridge I saw a man emerge from his boat. As if drawn by my presence, he glanced up at me and waved. I waved back. Then the most unexpected thing happened: he beckoned me. I went down to greet him and that was the beginning of our affair.
Now I live for my husband’s monthly visits with his son.
This month my husband’s son is backpacking with friends and there is no visit. He busies himself with tennis and darts at the pub. Desperate to meet my lover, I bailed on our tennis game, pretending to be sick, and my husband went off alone to find a partner.
The afternoon with my lover was heavenly; half-way home I turned around and returned to the boat.
How could I know my husband had paused on the bridge to watch the swans and saw me leave the boat?
How could my husband know that while he was plotting his jealous revenge, I had returned to the boat and was inside when he torched it?
NAR©2024
250 Words
This is “Diary Of Hate” by Michael Nyman
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.
GONE SOUTH
“Lie to me one more time, boy, and I’ll toss that mutt of yours right off the cliff” Sidney Granger threatened his stepson, Harry. “Now, I’m gonna ask you again; where’s my compass?” His upper lip quivered into a sinister smirk.
Harry glanced up at Sidney with an indifferent look on his face. “I don’t know where your stupid compass is, Sidney. Have you tried looking up your ass?” Harry quipped, knowing the comment would only make matters worse. He didn’t care; watching his stepfather get apoplectic was worth it.
Harry immediately regretted what he’d said, not for himself but for his dog. Sidney reacted in his usual way – one swift kick of his hobnail boot directed at Harry’s springer spaniel, Charlemagne. The dog sensed what was coming and quickly darted away, baring his teeth and growling at Sidney. Charlemagne remembered the pain of that boot all too well.
“You got lucky, mongrel. Next time I won’t miss” Sidney snarled. “And, boy, you keep calling me by my name and there’ll be hell to pay. You’re to address me as ’Sir’, is that clear?” Sidney turned and angrily walked away. Harry gave him the finger behind his back.
“Sir!” Harry muttered under his breath. “You’re not in the navy anymore, you bastard! Now you’re just an angry impotent nobody who abuses animals and women.” Harry’s eyes turned dark as he thought of the fresh bruises on his mother’s arms and legs. The man had no conscience.
Barbara Granger fell under Sidney’s spell the first time they met. She always had a weakness for a man in uniform and longed for the life as the wife of a highly regarded military man. Widowed for several years, Barbara happily accepted Sidney’s proposal but her joy was short lived when he was forced to retire due to his age before reaching the coveted position of Rear Admiral. Barbara’s disappointment paled in comparison to Sidney’s humiliation and indignation.
Now Sidney vented his frustration and disillusionment on Barbara and Charlemagne. He tried several times to dominate Harry but the boy’s resilience and stubborn dismissiveness caused Sidney to feel weak and powerless – a role he was not familiar with. He wanted nothing more than to wring Harry’s neck. He knew there was more to the boy than met the eye. Harry would not succumb easily, if at all, and that concept enraged Sidney.
Harry waited until Sidney was far enough away before he whistled for Charlemagne. The two friends walked to a secluded bower on the other side of the large garden. Harry reached into his pocket for his treasured penknife, one of the few possessions he had from his late father. He looked for the small marker he’d carved in a tree, crouched down and snapped open the knife.
Charlemagne sat quietly in the shade as Harry carefully cut a circle in the moss-covered ground, then painstakingly began to dig until the blade of his knife made contact with a rock he had buried. Harry wiped the knife clean and folded it closed, slipping it back into his pocket. He removed the rock and placed it to his side. Reaching into the hole Harry retrieved a dirty burlap pouch and gently loosened the drawstring to reveal Sidney’s precious compass. Even in the shade of the willow tree the compass gleamed.
Just then Charlemagne began growling and barking; instinctively Harry knew Sidney was standing behind him.
“You thieving little liar!” Sidney spat out furiously. Harry reached for the rock but Sidney kicked it out of Harry’s hand, causing him to cry out in pain. Harry managed to whistle and Charlemagne lunged at Sidney with a force so powerful he fell backwards. The spaniel sank his teeth into Sidney’s neck. Writhing on the ground, Sidney managed to break away from Charlemagne who relentlessly attacked again in an effort to protect Harry.
With arms flailing Sidney edged closer to the side of the cliff but once again freed himself from the clutches of the dog. Harry grabbed the rock from the ground and with a mighty force flung it at Sidney, hitting him squarely on his forehead. Stunned and bleeding, Sidney reeled and careened off the edge, bouncing off the boulders on his way down and disappearing into the choppy sea.
Charlemagne ran to Harry who scooped him up in his arms. “Good boy” Harry said soothingly as they walked to the cliff’s edge. The only sign of Sidney was one hobnail boot sticking out of a crevice. Harry realized he was still clutching Sidney’s compass. Glancing at it, he smiled slightly. How fitting that Sidney had gone south.
NAR © 2023
This is “Lies” by the Knickerbockers:
The Elephant's Trunk 