Our gracious host, Rochelle, at Friday Fictioneers
asks us to use the photo below as inspiration
to write creatively in 100 words or less while
making every word count. This is my flash.
Tag: Lovers
January Heart
This week at Glyn Wilton’s Mixed Music Bag,
he’s asking us to write about a song in which
the title or a line mentions the current month.
Here’s my featured January artist and her song.
Sweet Talker
Written for Esther’s “Can You Tell A Story In…..?”
exactly 18 words using the required three words
‘resolutions’, ‘custard’ and ‘hairdryer’. I have also
responded to Sue & Gerry’s Weekly Prompts Colour
Challenge (‘Blanc’) and used one of the great images
by Kevin at The Beginning At Last/No Theme Thursday.
This is my 18 word story.
A Long Hot Soak
Written for Wordle #679,
using the 12 prompts below.
Here is my story.
sighs ・ fire ・ flip ・ ravaged ・ blue ・ floor ・
emerge ・ masks ・ ashes ・ soak ・ skin ・ weave
A Great Working Relationship
Written for The New, Unofficial, On-Line Writer’s Guild.
This week the three prompts from Aooga at OLWG #388 are
(1) tea coloured eyes, (2) change the words of this poem,
and (3) New Mexico schmerz. We can use them as is,
as an inspiration or not at all. This is my story.
To Kiss Your Lips: A Dectina Refrain
Written for Sadje’s What Do You See # 258,
this is my Dectina Refrain response.

Come,
my love,
lie with me
on the cool grass
beneath the pear tree,
Read love sonnets to me
till I grow warm with desire.
Now the wine has gone to my head
and I ache to feel your lips on mine.
Come, my love, lie with me on the cool grass
NAR©2024
#WDYS
This is “Shut Up and Kiss Me” by Mary Chapin Carpenter
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.
I’ve Given Up: A Dectina Refrain
Written for Sadje’s What Do You See #253

Out!
Go on!
Take your stuff
and hit the road.
You are not wanted
around here anymore.
You broke my heart with your lies.
I abhor the feel of your mouth.
My bed is not big enough for three!
Out! Go on! Take your stuff and hit the road.
NAR©2024
#WDYS
This is “Don’t Come Around Here No More” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
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.
In A Groove
Written for dVerse Poets Quadrille #207 Spin Cycle

Hold my hand, honey
and take me for a spin
Twirl me ‘round the dance floor
I’m loving the spin I’m in
Whisper those sweet nothings, baby
send shivers up my spine
and make my head spin, lover
tonight I’m gonna make you mine
NAR©2024
44 Words
This is “That Old Black Magic” by Louis Prima and Keely Smith, the Heppest of the Hep!
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.
The Condo
Written for Six Sentence Story where this week
we are challenged to use the word “faint”
in a story of exactly six sentences. Here’s mine.

After the boating accident, I returned to New York but didn’t have the heart to stay in the condo where Kevin and I used to live; I drove to my parents’ beach house in Amagansett, leaving the apartment untouched, thinking to return one day when I summoned the courage.
Too many memories and sleepless nights at the beach house brought me no comfort or closure …. an impossibility since Kevin’s body was never recovered …. and I now found myself back in Manhattan staring up at the window of my old condo and seeing ghosts …. ghosts of Kevin.
An overwhelming force drew me closer and I slowly entered the building and climbed the stairs to the apartment we once shared. Approaching the door, I could hear faint music, laughter and the sound of familiar voices; a man and a woman were inside, unaware of my presence as I stood outside the door for what seemed a lifetime …. and in that passage of time I knew beyond a doubt who they were.
Blood pounding in my head, I raised my fist to knock on the door, then stepped back.
Resolutely and silently, I walked away.
NAR©2024
This is “Ghost Behind My Eyes” by Ozzy Osbourne
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.
Come Softly: Dectina Refrain & Haiku
Written for Jim’s Thursday Inspiration #231 –
“Come Softly To Me”. Here is my piece,
a Dectina Refrain followed by a haiku.

Do
You hear
Me tapping
On your window
Come softly darling
Sit right here beside me
Kiss my trembling fingertips
Take me in your arms and hold me
Tell me you will never let me go
Do you hear me tapping on your window
A petal soft kiss
Fluttering cherry blossoms
Love’s gentle breezes
NAR©2024
The Dectina Refrain is written as follows:
1st line is 1 syllable,
2nd line is 2 syllables,
3rd line is 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines;
the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines
and written as one stand-alone line.
This is “Come Softly To Me” by the Fleetwoods
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.
Endless Love – Part 2
It’s time for Friday Fictioneers Fun with Rochelle! Here’s something different for you today. I wrote Part 2 to Dale Rogerson’s terrific story, Endless Love and piggy backed my story onto hers. Here’s the link to Dale’s site; please read her story before mine. Thanks to our host Rochelle and my friend Dale for a fun read and a great photo!

Aw, do you love me, Baby?
Oh, Honey, you know I do.
Then come and show me, Baby.
Now, Sugar Cookie, what if I slip and hurt something important?
I’ll give you my very special TLC, Baby.
Really, Sweet Pea? What kind of TLC?
Why, I’d give you some hugging, Baby.
Then what, Munchkin?
Some squeezing, Baby.
Ooh, then what, Turtle Dove?
Some kissing, Baby.
Oh, Sugar Lips, I do love your hugging and squeezing and kissing.
You coming over tonight, Baby?
Aw, Honey Pie. It’s freezing outside.
But it’s sizzling in here, Baby.
Mmm, Sweetness! Nothing’s gonna stop me!
This is Mickey and Sylvia with “Lover Boy”
NAR©2024
100 Words
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is 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.
High And Dry
Sammi at Weekend Writing Prompt
is challenging us with the word “note”;
in exactly 72 words, this is my response.
🍸

After thirty minutes and two martinis I began feeling paranoid. It was painfully obvious, at least to me, that everyone who saw me sitting by the bar thought I was either an elegant call girl just past her prime or a lonesome, tedious housewife who had been stood up.
I became aware of someone approaching. I looked up expectantly, smiling; it was just the concierge. Whispering discreetly, he handed me a note.
NAR©2024
72 Words
This is “The Queen of the Blues”, Dinah Washington, with “Drinking Again”
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is 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.
As He’d Hoped
Rochelle at Friday Fictioneers
has challenged us to write a 100-word
story prompted by the photo below.
Incorporating prompts from
Weekly Prompts Wednesday and
FOWC with Fandango,
this is my response to Rochelle’s challenge.

How many years does someone need to spend in a loveless marriage before the word divorce is mentioned?
That was Barbara’s regrettable life. When her husband finally approached her, she didn’t hesitate; she knew she couldn’t love him as he’d hoped.
Their split was swift and formal.
Now Barbara walked out of the Prada shop in Salamanca and, with thrilling expectation, waved when she saw Evelyn across the street.
Their pace quickened and they embraced passionately, unafraid and unashamed to show their love for each other.
They walked off, hand in hand, toward a romantic outdoor café.
Happy at last.
NAR©2024
100 Words
This is Elbow with “Grounds For Divorce”
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is 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.
ALONE TOGETHER

Listen to the waves as they kiss the shore, the rustle of the beachgrass in the gentle breeze. The golden hues of sunrise pirouette gracefully on the terrace and across the bed. The start of another day, as blissful and serene as the one before it. Summertime.
Is that my heart beating deeply or yours? Both, you say. You caress my shoulders. Hold me in your arms as if it’s our first time, our last time. I feel free. I feel ageless. I feel more cherished than any other woman.
You are my one, my soul, my heart. I watch your profile as you gaze out the window, peaceful and content. My fingers curl through the hair on your chest, now grey. That does not matter. Only we matter.
How long have we been alone together? A thousand summertimes, you say. How long will we be alone together? For a thousand more, I reply.
You pull me closer, eyes dancing in the morning light. Let the world go on without us. We are here where we belong – alone together.
NAR © 2022