PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox
Sixteen-year-old Keaton sat facing the bow tree as he did every day after school. Another tree to his back, he drove the lead pencil, its tip making familiar scratchy sounds across the paper in his sketch book.
It was his favorite tree and it listened. “I argued with my girlfriend again,” he told the tree. “Dad and step-mom are divorcing.” He was only six when Dad left his real Mom. “My grades suck and I can’t get to sleep anymore.”
He finished his sketch, stood, and nodded to the bow tree. “See you tomorrow, friend.”
Bow was a good listener.
It’s Wednesday and time again to participate in Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ 17 October 2025 edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the image at the top as the inspiration for crafting a poem or short story no more than 100 words long. My word count is exactly 100.
Cover art for the anthology “Fantastic Schools Familiars”
My son’s house has been going through some interior renovations in slow motion for the past several months so two of our grandchildren have been staying with us. My grandson has been going through some tough times and like a lot of kids he doesn’t like to talk about it, at least with us. That’s the basic inspiration for today’s story.
I considered something supernatural, but my muse took me in another direction this time.
To read other stories based on the prompt, visit inlinkz.
I’m still waiting on news for this one. “Fantastic Schools Familiars” will feature my short story “Dead Cat Fever.”
Cover art for iSoldiers anthology by Shacklebound Books.
What happens when a fifteen-year-old girl must retrieve a stolen magic book from a murderer? What happens when her only ally is a dead cat possessed by a demon? It’s supposed to publish sometime this month, but I haven’t heard back from anyone yet.
“iSoldiers Anthology of Military Science Fiction” is now available and contains four of my military SciFi drabbles. The skill to create those “100 word” stories was honed right here on “Friday Fictioneers. You can order it at Amazon.
There are several more announcements coming up but I can’t talk about them until the contracts are signed and I get the publisher’s permission. Stay tuned.
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This is lovely.
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Thank you, Tina.
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This evoked an old memory for me, about a song from the musical Paint Your Wagon, called “I Talk To The Trees”. It can be accessed at: YouTube https://share.google/ePqg0jcAOE3rHUtcx.
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I’ve never seen that film. I don’t usually think of Clint Eastwood as a singer. Thanks for sharing.
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James, I like where this image took you and the personal connection that inspired you.
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Thanks, Lisa. Most of my stories some from somewhere inside my life.
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You are welcome.
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You have captured the moments in our lives where we express our emotions out loud, but don’t want or need anyone to hear. Self-reflection is best alone.
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Or with a tree listening. Thanks.
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it must be comforting to talk and find a receptive listener. we all need that to keep our sanity.
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Very true. I think that’s why some people have dogs.
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How lovely – trees really do listen 💞
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Indeed. Thanks.
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A lovely tale James, I bet many of us have memories that involve trees, I know I do.
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Thank you, Keith.
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It is important for young ones to have someone (or a tree) to talk to and let go of those feelings swirling around inside. A lovely story, James!
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Thank you, Brenda.
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A lovely gentle story. I’m glad he has something that listens, it sounds as if that might be in short supply in the rest of his life.
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Thank you.
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Your explanation really deepens the meaning of your story. I hope your grandson has such a wonderful tree.
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Probably just a friend or two. Thanks.
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