Tag Archives: 100 words

Relaxing at Sunset

pool

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Harold thought it was great that his friend Jimmy let him use his place in the Arizona desert while he had to stay in Phoenix. At sunset, it was still warm enough to relax in the pool with a drink, and in November, too.

“This is the life,” he said sipping at another bourbon. “At least while the food lasts.”

The emergency news channel was coming across his phone. The narrator was describing the vampire plague sweeping every populated area in the world.

“It’ll take ‘em a while to find me. After Jimmy turns, I wonder if he’ll come home?”

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Who Puts Up Yellow Christmas Lights?

window

PHOTO PROMPT ©Yvette Prior

“Who puts up a Christmas tree in November and why only yellow lights?” Griffin thought. He turned from the window and back to his enemy.

Kemp developed the invisibility program for the government. Griffin was their guinea pig, but it was never about science. Griffin was their ultimate political assassin, an invisible man.

“You said you couldn’t bring me back,” Griffin mused. “You’re my next victim…”

Griffin’s skin lit on fire and he collapsed on the carpet. Kemp put down his smartphone and rose from the sofa.

“The yellow lights are my security system, Griffin,” said Kemp. “They’re killing you.”

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Feeding My Children

easel

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

“I want this all cleaned up,” said the Manager to his labor group. “You’ve been issued work gloves, shears, rakes, and trash bins. I gave you instructions about trimming these plants at orientation. Any questions?”

“Excuse me, Mr. Manager,” said Evie, a portly black mother of three in the front. “What about that painting and easel?”

“It’s junk,” he said, “Just throw it in a bin.”

“My oldest likes to paint,” she said. “I was wondering…”

“Your kids need to eat and so do you, all of you,” said Manager. “You want your SNAP benefits loaded to EBT or not?”

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Two For The Price Of One

rainy night

PHOTO PROMPT © David Stewart

“Change the past to save the future,” complained Simon as he trudged through Queens in the October rain.

“Go back to 1946 and kill him as an infant, they said.” He patted the loaded pistol in his pocket. “At least they got me off of death row and out of the joint,” he snarled.

“I’ll show them change. Yeah, I’ll do the kid, but I know where the other guy is in Boston right now.” He turned a corner and headed toward Jamaica Estates. “I’ll hop a train and do him, too. History’ll be really messed up without both Presidents.”

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The Listening Tree

tree

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.

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The Lord Will Go Out Against The Nations

synagogue

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

Ari’s gaze was transfixed by the ner tamid just in front of the Aron Kodesh. Sweaty hands gripped his rifle as sirens continued to wail outside. He’d hoped to marry Esther here, but now it was too late. There would be no stopping them this time.

At least his fiancée was safe in the shelter along with both their parents. He’d been separated from his unit during the last bombardment and was drawn to the synagogue. His family had made Aliyah when he was four. Now he was a soldier about to die when France’s nuclear missiles obliterated Tel Aviv.

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Vive la révolution

tower

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

“So, what does it do?” Alex shifted the weight on his shoulder for balance while looking at the giant glass “Tetris” piece. The sun was just coming up. Time was running out.

“It doesn’t do anything,” said Giselle. “It’s just another tourist trap.”

“La Tour du Port de Montréal.” Alex sighted in on the center of mass through his viewfinder. “A waste tax money.”

“I think it’s pretty.” Giselle smiled coquettishly.

“It comes down,” snarled Alex.

“Pity,” frowned Giselle.

“For mouvement souverainiste du Québec.” Alex pulled the trigger on his portable rocket launcher. The explosion and collapsing tower were spectacular.

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Going to Shea Stadium

guitars

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

“Have a seat.” Jackie’s voice was young and encouraging.

“Learn to play guitar at my age?” Anxiety from the time he tried learning the trumpet when he was ten surged in his seventy-one-year-old chest.

“Learning something new will keep you young,” his granddaughter said. “It sharpens the mind and…”

“There’s nothing wrong with my mind,” he complained. “I’m still inventing and just made a breakthrough.”

“I know you like music,” she said.

“Sure, as a consumer,” he said. “Look, I know you’re trying to help, but my time machine’s warmed up by now. August 15, 1965 and Shea Stadium await.”

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Another Morning Alone

sitting room

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

Another morning alone sitting in front of the window. Another morning with my wee table absent of a decent game of checkers. Dim, gray light pours through the window while the desk lamp emits a warmer, golden glow.

I wish I’d gotten more sleep last night but the missus continues to refuse to admit she snores. The sofa was comfortable, but then she started banging around the kitchen fixing breakfast.

Finally, she and the grandchildren are off for the day. No use avoiding it.

I get up and transfer my lazy, tuchus to the computer chair. Time to start writing.

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