THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT

THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT… A Drabble

“Guess what, Cheryl? I’m in a play!”

“Let me guess? Are you acting or a prop?”

“Haha, very funny. I’m going to be Dorothy Gale! Betty is directing at the Senior Center.”

“Wait a minute, Ethel. Dorothy is a young girl? Why in the hell are you playing her, won’t that seem a little weird? And, how are you going to remember all those lines, you can’t remember a grocery list.”

“You’re going to cue me, Cheryl. I’ll look young, because everyone else is way older. I’m the star, it’s my chance to shine.”

“Just don’t break the Spotlight, Ethel!”

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This week’s photo prompt is from Kent Bonham… check out his blog for the real story of the lights.  To see other Friday Fictioneers stories, head over to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields blog. 

Friday Fictioneers: THE TRESSPASSERS

THE TRESSPASSERS… A Drabble for FriFic

“This place looks creepy, do you think it’s safe?”

“Of course, no one’s here but us.  I think there’s an opening around the side somewhere.”

“Perry, it’s dark in here.”

“Don’t be such a baby, Rene, you still want to do it don’t you?”

“Yeah, I guess, but it’s gross in here.”

“Look there’s a mattress!”

“Yeah, that’s real romantic, along with the needles and used rubbers.”

“It’s not so bad.  Wait!  Did you hear that?”

“It snarled, like a dog. I’m scared!”

“No, more like a wolf. It’s getting close!”

“Oh Nooooo it’s… THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES!!! 

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Now, you are probably wondering about the ending of that story.  It is a followup to the story I wrote last week… INVITATION TO A RIDE… after I had received this in the mail…

I promised a full report… I boarded the MV Chelan as requested shortly before 8 a.m.

 This is actually not the real ferry-boat (I forgot to take a photo), but a stand in.  The model can be seen at Seatown in Seattle.

I settled into a booth and my daughters showed up with a delicious breakfast of quiche and fresh fruit… after arriving on the mainland we readied to depart the ferry… After a stop at the first of many Starbuck’s we had an exciting car wash…  and upon reaching Seattle, my Birthday got off to an exciting start in the make-up department at Nordstrom… somehow this was a familiar theme throughout the day.  We stopped to admire the Christmas windows at Tiffany’s (designed by my friend Christopher Young in NYC)… After a delicious lunch at PF Chang’s, we boarded the famous Monorail…  and headed for the Seattle Repertory Theater to see a matinée performance of… It was an excellent production and lots of fun…   Checked out the Space Needle on the way back to the Monorail…  We went back to the Mayflower Hotel…   in the heart of downtown Seattle and got ready to go out to dinner at one my favorite Tom Douglas restaurants …  A fabulous meal of Pork Chop and Garlic Sausage followed with a nice birthday dessert…  A restful sleep at The Mayflower and a day of shopping finished off the Birthday Bash.

This week’s Friday Fictioneer’s photo prompt is courtesy of Randy Mazie.  Rochelle-Wisoff Fields chose it to be this week’s inspiration for some 100 Word Flash Fiction.

Friday Fictioneers: KEEP ON PUSHING!

KEEP ON PUSHING!… another 100 word story

It was hard dirty work.  He thought, when reaching this stage of his life, he could just rest.  But, it hadn’t worked that way.  Not only was he in a dark and confined space, but just a few days ago they put in a new guy next door, he was making a lot of noise every time he pushed.  It bothered him, affected what little sleep they were allowed.

“Hey there! Stop groaning, you’re waking the dead!”

“Sorry, can’t help it. I’d heard they said we did this, but these Lilies are heavy.

“It’s supposed to be Daisies, you idiot!”

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New York City writer Lora Mitchell gave the Friday Fictioneers an interesting photo to prompt our stories.

Here they are…

Friday Fictioneers: HORSE SENSE

     HORSE SENSE… a 100 word story

There had been a fire at the barn, most likely started by a idiot cigarette.  Got the animals out first, then set hither and skither to attack the blaze.   Even that old fool of a circus horse got into the act by bringing me a garden hose.  I squirted it a bit, then thought stronger measures were called for and filled buckets from the trough.  It wasn’t much, just a little scarring in one of the old unused stalls.  I’d spent time there with some of the girls.  Now that damn horse, she looks at me with one eye raised.

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Our photo, to wring stories out of Friday Fictioneers this week, comes from Rochelle Wisoff-Fields pal, the Aloha Man himself, Doug MacIlroy.

More stories… 

Friday Fictioneers: BIG DAY

”Coffee, Tea or Me?”

Oh God, Renee’s in her stewardess mode again.  She should know by now I don’t like to play “Fly Me to the Moon”.

“Come on, let’s get you undressed Mr. Grumpy-face”.

Ooh… watch it with the arm, bitch.  Why can’t Jan do this?  I hate Renee’s baths, she gets the water too cold, and leaves me sitting too long.  

“Big day today, sweetheart.  Do you want to wear the blue shirt or the tan one.”

Why does she always ask me?  I don’t even remember what blue looks like.

“Okay then, the blue one.”


“Hello Grandpa!!!”

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Big thanks to Rich Voza for taking this week’s Photo Prompt for the Friday Fictioneers 100 Word Flash Fiction.
If you want to join in with your some of own writing, see Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple
Read my friends stories here…

Friday Fictioneers: THE PART’S THE THING

The familiar faces adorning the entrance to the Globe Theatre emerged from the fog, reminding Mr. James Teach how much in demand his services were. With his lithe frame and lyric voice he always got the part. Problem was, he was tired of playing maidens.

The Drury Lane manager had put in a good word to the playwright of a new work about a prince in Denmark. James was confident of landing the part of Laertes, he had been practicing sword-fighting for days now.

There was the familiar bald pate.

“Ah, Mr. Teach, how would you like to play Ophelia?”

Laertes and Ophelia by William Gorman Wills

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My 100 Word Flash Fiction based on the photo by sculptor and writer Claire Fuller of one of her works.  Thanks once again to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers.  To read all the stories inspired by Claire’s piece, go here…

Friday Fictioneers… THE TELEPHONE RINGS…

Copyright-Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

“Mr. Watson–come here–I want to see you.”

“Number please.”

“Doug!  Get off the damn line!  I’m so sorry Parul, you can always tell when someone is eavesdropping.

“Operator… May I help you?”

“Is that you Janet? Can you hear me? It’s Rich!”

“The number you have reached has been disconnected, and there is no new number.”

“A gracious good morning to you… have I reached the party to whom I’m speaking?”

“If you would like to make a call, please hang up and dial again.”

 “Hi this is Ted (very perky voice)… leave a message and I’ll call you back.”

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I’ll just phone this one in to Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers… To see other writer’s stories inspired by Rochelle’s photo…

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Friday Fictioneers: Horror… BRIGHT LIGHTS

You know she is coming.  The Mother of All Bitches.

You thought, if you hide in a dark place and lay very still she might miss you.  It never seems to work that way.  With the lights, she arrives.

Your skin is starting to tingle.  It won’t be long now.  She stays longer each visit.  You hope for a different side this time.

Oh, your family has been very helpful, although you can detect a certain disbelief that she is not as bad as claimed.

You have heard acupuncture helps, but no time for that… the auras are getting worse.

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The photo prompt comes from A Writer’s Perch this week.  Lora Mitchell was good enough to send Rochelle a pic from her New Year’s Celebration.  After reading Rochelle’s story, click on the Frog to see other Friday Fictioneer’s takes.