Category Archives: Friday Fictioneers

October 8, 2014 · 7:10 PM

Proud parents (Friday Fictioneers)

Image by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields at http://www.rochellewordart.com/please-say-kaddish-for-me.html

His parents knew the importance of providing their only child with a creative outlet. They filled his playroom with a drum kit, a guitar, an oboe and a double bass.

The first time he picked up the drumsticks his parents watched with keen interest.

A ray of sunshine hit the brass cymbals and reflected a distorted image of the room around him: the guitar, the oboe, the double bass and his parents’ beaming faces.

He lowered his drumsticks and turned to his parents.

He knew he needed to capture that moment.

‘Mum, Dad, I want to be a painter.’

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Read my reviews of books as I make my way through the 100 book challenge here.

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Friday Fictioneers is a challenge set by Rochelle Fields where writers around the world create 100 word stories inspired by the one image. For more information see: http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/10-october-2014/

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Tagged as children, drums, expectations, music, painting, parents

September 24, 2014 · 8:40 PM

The reminder (Friday Fictioneers)

Image by Marie Gail Stratford at http://mariegailstratford.wordpress.com/

‘It’s stunning.’

‘Gorgeous!’

‘How did you collect all those bottles?’

Visitors to the house always comment on my bottle wall. After my father died I couldn’t bring myself to throw his bottles out, so I made them into an art piece. A reminder.

‘I wish my parents left me something worthwhile,’ they say.

Visitors don’t know the story behind the bottles. Every bottle has a meaning. Every bottle ended in an argument. A broken promise. A broken glass.

Or worse.

‘You’re lucky your father left you this wonderful legacy!’

Yes, in a way. I’m lucky my father left.

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I’m feeling a bit dark after just finishing Iain Banks’ The Wasp Factory as part of my 100 book challenge (read my review here). I’ll try for a more cheery piece next week, I promise!

Read my reviews of books as I make my way through the 100 book challenge here.

Follow @jessieansons

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September 10, 2014 · 7:29 PM

The way you squint your eyes (Friday Fictioneers)

Image by Janet Webb at http://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/

Everyone says I look like her. You have your mother’s hair. I get sick of hearing it. Sure, there are photos. But they’re not the same. It’s the faces you pull. The face I only ever get to see in a mirror. The face that looks like the face I’ll never get to see. It’s the way your lips twitch. It’s the way you squint your eyes. It’s the way you play with your chin when you’re upset.

There’s only one person who deserves to tell me we’re alike. But she died when my memories were just beginning to form.

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Speaking of mirrors – check out the eBook on Amazon called ‘Mirrors: The Writing Workshop Anthology’ (you’ll see some familiar Friday Fictioneers authors in there)

In July this year I began my 100 book challenge, where I plan to read 100 classics in my lifetime.

See my recent reviews of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Brave New World and let me know what you think!

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Tagged as daughter, Friday Fictioneers, mirror, mother

September 5, 2014 · 8:32 PM

Desire by the fire (Friday Fictioneers)

PHOTO PROMPT -Copyright – Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Three of us are huddled by the campfire, nothing but our faces lit on this starless night.

Georgina’s between us and she’s laughing at Brad’s jokes. Jealously creeps up my spine.

But then a hand reaches across and holds mine. Instantly I relax. Georgina has chosen me!

‘I’m heading to bed,’ she says.

An invitation?

Her eyes will answer the question on my mind.

I turn to look at her and discover I’m looking deep into the eyes of Brad.

Georgina has already left.

Then whose hand…?

Brad’s own face turns from longing… to disgust.

And we never mention it again.

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In July this year I began my 100 book challenge, where I plan to read 100 classics before I die.

See my recent reviews of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Brave New World and let me know what you think!

Follow @jessieansons

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Tagged as desire, fire, flame, Friday Fictioneers

July 30, 2014 · 7:51 PM

Head in the clouds (Friday Fictioneers)

Image by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields at rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com

‘Did you pack your toothbrush?’

‘Yes, Mum. All in my bag, right here.’

‘What about a comb?’

‘Yes, Mum. Look at the clouds!’

‘And a spare pair of socks?’

Continue reading →

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Tagged as bags, clouds, flying, mother, Mum, packing

July 23, 2014 · 6:57 PM

Two short men (Friday Fictioneers)

Image by Marie Gail Stratford at http://mariegailstratford.wordpress.com/

The office was too small. They’d just employed a bunch of temps and crammed them into the corner by the window.

‘Check this out!’ shouted Jeremy, pointing outside. Everyone but Julia rushed to the window. She just rolled her eyes.

She never liked short men. Jeremy and his brother were only 6 inches tall. She had a good two inches over both of them.

But when Jeremy and Simon began clambering over the temps, Julia stretched her slender wooden body across the room to have a look.

‘Is that it? A bearded man? And he’s not even using a proper computer!’

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Today’s Friday Fictioneers is a #replyfiction to Mr Binks’ The Bearded Giant. To understand my piece, you might like to go there first.

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Tagged as chopsticks, cutlery drawer, flash fiction, fork, Friday Fictioneers, knife, mac, reply fiction

July 17, 2014 · 9:35 PM

Grandpa’s office (Friday Fictioneers)

Image by Adam Ickes at http://adamickes.wordpress.com/

Boxes, folders, papers and…

‘Check this out! It’s a pronghorn sheep!’

‘That’s not a pronghorn you idiot, it’s a longhorn.’

‘You two have no idea. It’s a stronghorn. I read about them in at school.’

Triplets are supposed to be close. Finish each other’s sentences. Read minds!

But all they ever did was fight.

Continue reading →

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Tagged as Friday Fictioneers, Grandpa, Pronghorn, Sheep, Triplets

June 20, 2014 · 7:35 PM

The old farmhouse (Friday Fictioneers)

Image by Mary Shipman

‘But the man said you shouldn’t go in the old farmhouse, Justin…’

‘Our one source of light and warmth is about burn out, we have no more firewood and it’s going to be a cold night. There’s bound to be some old planks in the farmhouse we can use.’

Continue reading →

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Tagged as camping, farm, farmhouse, fire, firewood, paranormal

June 11, 2014 · 8:01 PM

The black sheep of the family (Friday Fictioneers)

This week I’ve written a reply to Mr Binks’ story Docked Her which can be read here (Mr Binks did this with my story last week… and oh what fun it can be!)

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Image by Ted Strutz at http://tedstrutz.com/

She wanted to tell her father. But there was never a good moment. If he wasn’t at the dental surgery he was away fishing on the high seas.

Dad was a dentist and a fisherman. Just like his father. And father’s father.

But she wanted something else. He just wouldn’t understand.

Continue reading →

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Tagged as boat, dentist, family, fisherman, Friday Fictioneers, optometrist

June 6, 2014 · 3:55 PM

Comfortable footwear (Friday Fictioneers)

On the weekend our writers group held a live reading event at a local coffee shop in NSW, Australia. I was lucky enough to be the MC, and before introducing each of the readers I shared one of my Friday Fictioneers pieces. They went down a treat (Rochelle, you would be very proud)! To read about the event, follow this link.

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