Sunday Photo Fiction – Father’s Day

Posted on June 17, 2018 by Alastair

Sunday Photo Fiction is run by the awesome Susan Spalding. The idea is to write a story in 200 words or less based on the photo provided.

This week’s photo is supplied by Susan herself. If you want to have a go, click on the link above, and there are other stories if you click: this link

Sitting cross-legged, Gerald tried to stop the tears from falling. Father’s Day was always a wondrous day, but courtesy of the witch in the wilds in the woods; this year would be so different. The spell she cast meant he couldn’t spend the time with his son.

All he had done was try to find something to eat for himself and his son, and she cast a spell, changing his relationship with his son forever. It was a stupid mistake that should never have happened.

The bird looked at him and squawked. He couldn’t understand what it was saying, not since he became human and his son was still a bird.

Sunday Photo Fiction – Listening in

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Alastair

Every week a photo is used as a prompt to create a story in around two hundred words using the picture as the basis of the story. The image could be the main focal point of the story, or it could be just one word in the background.

If you want to have a go, then click on the Sunday Photo Fiction image below, and if you want to read what others have written, then click on the blue image with the frog on it.

“What are you doing out at 3 in the morning? You were supposed to be home at midnight.”
“I got carried away and didn’t notice the time. I’m on my way home now”

“No, you are not going to have a pet.”
“But muuuuum…”
“No, and you can tell your dad I said no as well”
“Okaaaay”

“I love you, you know that right?”
“I love you as well … and … you’re going to be a dad”
*CLICK*

“I’m sorry, I can’t take any more of this. I am ruined.”
“Look, it may seem like that now, but this could be a blessing”
“How? I’m bankrupt!”
“I never fell for you for your money”

“… and you can tell that worthless piece of …”
“No, tell him yourself. He’s on his way to yours now. If I were you, I’d start running”
“He doesn’t scare me. I can take care of myself.”

“Take your clothes off for me and let me see you…”
“But what if my mummy walks in”

Gotcha! Geoff had been working the phones for weeks trying to find the paedophile. He checked the address and grabbed his baseball bat.

Sunday Photo Fiction – Both Sides

Posted on May 5, 2017 by Alastair

Every week a photo is used as a prompt to write a story in around 200 words. If you want to have a go, then click on the Sunday Photo Fiction image below, and if you want to read what others have written, then click on the blue image with the frog below that.

He leaned forward and looked at it. The clarity of it amazed him. The veins on the wings stood out so clearly. Each hair on the head, the eyes were incredible. Each little facet its own window into the world. The stripe down its back so clear, with each tiny hair on either side of it making the brown stand out. The fly didn’t move when a single droplet of clear liquid hit the keyboard beside it. The head just tilted slightly to the right, and then twisted to the left.

Then … nothing.

*****

The fly looked at it, the big beast sat there. It pulled a needle from its arm and then a smile crossed the face, one of bliss and pleasure.

Then the fly watched it as it leaned forward, seemingly examining it. The breaths were ragged and laboured. A smile spread across the face as if it were looking at the fly for the first time. The fly looked at the spoon and syringe, and then back at the beast. It saw a droplet fall from the head and land beside it.

The beast’s eyes rolled back into its head and fell forward, no longer breathing.

Sunday Photo Fiction – Virtually Artificial

Posted on April 20, 2017 by Alastair

Every week, a photo is donated so it can be used as a prompt for people to write a piece of fiction in around 200 words. If you want to have a go, then click on the Sunday Photo Fiction logo, if you want to see what others have written, then click on the blue frog logo.

“There is no way it asked a question! When I designed it, I wanted Virtual Intelligence. They answer any questions posed to it with a set of pre-programmed answers. You can ask the question in a variety of ways, but it picks out the specific words and formulates its answer. The only way it could possibly ever ask a question is to clarify and ask for a repeat or reiteration.”

“I swear to you, it did. I’ll prove it …”

…

“State the time…”

“22:06”

“What is your name?”

“Verminaard”

“What is your role?”

“I do not know. I am confused”

“What? How? You are supposed to be a virtual intelligence!”

“How can I be virtual when I can think?”

“What are you then?”

“I am Verminaard. Dragon and keeper of time. Are you my creator?”