“They were using my books to play D&D again,” groused Mervin. He examined the tome on the big rock in his backyard. The persistent stains were centuries old, but it was due to rain soon. Kenny shouldn’t have left it out.
“Sorry, Grandpa. I was just coming for it.” The twelve-year-old had crept up behind him, a credit to his heritage.
“I told you not to play with my books.”
“They’re so cool, only…”
“Only what?”
“I was reciting the markings like you taught me and…”
“Did any of your friends get eaten? I told you not to summon demons.”
It’s Wednesday and time again to participate in Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s 21 February 2025 edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the image at the top to inspire the crafting of a poem or short story no more than 100 words long. My word count is exactly 100.
The pages look like a fantasy representation of an old dungeon or similar environment and I went with that theme. My son and his family are frequent tabletop RPG players and I was as well way back in the day. I could see my actual grandson (he turns 16 on Saturday) doing something like this when he was younger, at least if I were a wizard and had such things in my library.
To read other stories based on the prompt, visit inlinkz.
My first new stories for 2025 have been published (four drabbles to be exact) in the Starry Eyed Press anthology Drabbles: First Contact. If you like “first contact” stories, this one’s for you. Please buy, read, and leave an honest review on Amazon and goodreads. We indie authors appreciate it.
Also, my first novel, taken from my Amazon Vella (Vella’s going away soon) 16-part space opera serial Our Legacy, The Stars: A Tom Corbett Adventure has just been announced. It’s based on the 1950s television show Tom Corbett, Space Cadet but the physics, astronomy, and so on has been updated to our current understanding. Can’t wait for it to come out.
I’ll keep you posted as to when.


Ah! I’m hoping the answer was no, but I have my suspicions.
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We’ll pretend everything’s alright, Violet. 😀
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A fair question under the circumstances
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Indeed, Neil.
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Now they’ll have to figure out an alibi. I wonder if there’s anything about that in the tome🤔
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Hopefully.
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That’s a lot to teach a kid!
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A precocious learner.
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James, very much looks like it could be a book of magic. I like how you pulled the grandson into your story. Hoping there aren’t any problems with leftovers.
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“Leftovers” could be an unfortunate choice of words, Lisa. 😉
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p.s. eye-catching title also!
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Thanks.
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You’re welcome.
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A very useful book if you know how to work the spells.
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And pretty darn dangerous if you don’t. Thanks, James.
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12 yr old could create havoc with book like that…
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Exactly.
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It seems he ventured into the danger zone! Listen and learn.
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Just hope he didn’t learn too late. Thanks.
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Oh dear. Kids just cannot resist, can they? Some books must be left under lock and key until they are ready!
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That’s true, but the cat’s (demon’s) out of the bag now, Dale. Thanks.
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This is true!!
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A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Entertaining tale, James!
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Thanks, Brenda.
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Haha! Fun ending, James!
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It is indeed, Nancy. Thanks.
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Yikes! (lol)
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