Every Friday authors from around the world gather at the virtual fireside of fellow blogger Rochelle Wisoff to share flash fiction stories of 100 words, all prompted by a common photograph, and exchange constructive criticism. Readers’ comments are also welcome.
This week’s photo prompt has been provided by Beth Carter whose blog Beth’s Banter is about writing, marketing, motherhood, timely topics and random thoughts. I write children’s picture books, women’s fiction, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, six-word memoirs, short stories and haiku. Beth took a first prize with this photo at the Ozarks Writers League photo contest in February. Congratulations!
Here’s the story that Beth’s photo inspired:
The Last Road Trip
Sure she breathes! Though it sounds like Siberian throat singing.
She’s just your everyday girl, though the boy next door avoids her.
Built her with my own hands, though I had to pay two men at night for some of her parts.
“I’m yours, baby,” sang Ray.
“Hotter than July,” sang Stevie.
“Let’s take the long way around the world,” sang Ronnie.
“Love at first sight,” they joked.
She fitted right in with those hot rods in Bonneville.
She took to disappearing. There’s news of a hit’n run.
We’re heading for the mountains: me, her, Ray, Ronnie and Stevie.
(c) Ann Isik 2013
100 words
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Poetic Mapping: Walking Into Art 
Siberian throat singing! Brilliant! Nice road story..
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Thanks for reading. Ann
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Nicely said, liked the personification of the car.
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Thank you Danny. And I hadn’t noticed, but as someone pointed out, your story has a bit of Good Will Hunting about it. I love that film/movie. It’s a rags-to-riches story with a difference and so is yours. Ann
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Several stories going with the “on-the run” theme. Fun flash fiction
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Thanks for reading.
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your story has a surreal feel to it.
Very nice and calming! 🙂
I wish I could go on a holiday like that with the Rays, Rons and Steves of my life! 🙂
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Thanks for reading. It’s ‘The Last Road Trip’ (see title). ‘She’ – the car – isn’t coming back from it, since she went out one night and hit somebody and left them injured or worse, just drove off: hence ‘hit’n run'(hit and run). 🙂
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the first three lines all contain “though,” with a similar sentence structure. were you going for that repetition, or was that just a coincidence?
well done, and good use of so much of the picture.
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Hi Rich. Thanks kindly for reading. Yes, on the repetition. It’s a literary device. If you’re going for emphasis, repeat a word three times. Can’t remember the source of that! It’s also a rhythm thing. Thanks as ever, for your trusty magnifying glass! Ann
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Beutiful poetic description. 🙂
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Thanks kindly for reading. Ann
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Intriguing story, though I’m still not still about whether I want to hear “Siberian throat singing.” Fun and expansive take on the prompt!
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Ann, this is such a lively and spirited kind of piece. I especially love the first two lines. Magnificent and memorable. Thanks for linking to me. I appreciate that! – Amy
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Thank you kindly. Ann
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i like your, “news of a hit’n run…” and i am guessing by your tags that those three were hit artists once upon a time. good story.
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Thanks for reading! Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Ron Wislap …:)
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Siberian throat singing… interesting. I like how you used the names on the sign, Ann… clever story.
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Thank you Ted. I did try throat singing – once. I need my vocal chords for a little while longer!
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Dear Ann,
I have to admit a bit of a disconnect. Was this story a reference to a particular song? In any case your MC sounds like a free spirit. Had to pay two men in the night for parts? Now that’s intriguing not matter what.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle. Thanks for reading. I did a bit of detective work for this one. The names on the cardboard sign I think are Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Ronnie Wislap. Each of their lines of dialogue is the title of one their songs. All were blind from birth or almost, so ‘love at first sight’ has to be a joke. I surmised that whoever built the the car played their music while he worked on it. The phone number’s Bill Wendt’s. He’s a hot rod star; he won a race or whatever at Bonneville. One of my tags is ‘Frankenstein’. Frankenstein’s creation went to the bad and ended up in the mountains. At one point he took refuge with a blind person and a little child. The blind person couldn’t see what he looked like. The child was too young to make evaluations. I can’t understand the pin-ups though. The car was built in the 21st century. The pin-ups look like 1950s girls; the coloured lass is demuredly dressed. Anyway, fantastic photo – best one yet for me, I think. Ann
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Thanks for the explanation, Ann. It all makes sense now.
shalom,Rochelle
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Liked this a lot!
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Thanks for reading! Ann
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I enjoyed this, well done.
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Thanks Sandra! Ann
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All that’s needed now is a dog named Boo. 🙂
janet
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I know that dog. I’m sure he went along. Thanks for reading. Ann
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Really good stuff here! Love the feel and voice
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Thank you. Ann
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nice twisty story. I enjoyed it!
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Thanks Jackie!
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Love the Siberian throat singing! A great story with plenty of spirit and a bit of a twist at the end. Really enjoyed this one (and thanks for mentioning my story in related articles – much appreciated!)
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Thanks! And you’re welcome. Ann x
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Well done! Love how you incorporated the singers and what a great line: “…though it sounds like Siberian throat singing.” haha. I’ll definitely print this one out for the owner (once I locate him in Florida!)
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Let me know when you locate the owner. He or she will be interested to read all the stories your excellent photo of his/her car has generated, I’m sure. And I’d really like to know if it does sound like Siberian throat singing!
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“She’s just your everyday girl, though the boy next door avoids her.” <— love, love, love this line!
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Thanks!
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That I still ‘sing with the boys’! Hah! No, far too old for that any more…
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Never too old! I’m 62 next month but last Christmas I made my solo debut singing Mozart’s Laudate Dominum. The doors were sealed in advance, of course, so the boys couldn’t escape.
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Love this – that the car has her own spirit and despite her poor looks, both she and all the boys still sing.
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Thanks Claire, for your insightful comments. And you made me laugh as from your description, it may be unintentionally autobiographical. Just a bit! Or more than!
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Oops, I posted my reply in the wrong place!
That I still ‘sing with the boys’! Hah! No, far too old for that any more…
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excellent – i was looking for a way to incorporate all the words present as well – good work
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Thank you! Your comments are always valued and appreciated. I’ll be checking your story out shortly.
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