Every Friday authors from around the world gather around the virtual fireside of fellow WordPress blogger Rochelle Wisoff to share flash fiction stories of 100 words, all inspired by a common photograph, and exchange constructive criticism. Readers’ comments are also welcome.
This week’s photo has been provided by Sarah Ann Hall. She explains that the photo’s of the Stretton Aqueduct, in Staffordshire, England. Below follows the story this ‘s photo inspired:
Globial Warming
“Dried up. Globial warming. ”
She didn’t correct him.
“Like your love.”
One from the army of nettles mustered on the aqueduct stepped up and stung her.
“My love never dried up.”
“You wouldn’t marry me afore I went off.”
“Didn’t want a fatherless mouth.”
“When I came back you’d married! A blind bloke with his legs blown off. He didn’t last a year. What good were he to you?”
“You never wrote.”
“It were the war.”
“It were.”
They kept vigil for two minutes.
She threw her bouquet. It plunged through the nettles, slapped water.
“River’s back.”
“Globial warming.”
(c) Ann Isik 2013
100 words
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Poetic Mapping: Walking Into Art 
They have an interesting dialect. Quite a unique feel to it. I like the image of the nettles jumping up to sting her too.
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I think I tried to give them a manner of speaking that was to do with social situation and age. Though I never know what’s going to turn up with these prompts. Good practice.
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That’s the fun of them. 100 words of pure creativity. 🙂
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Love the voices from this beautifully matched couple. ‘One from the army of nettles mustered .. ‘ is a wonderful line and image.
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Thanks Sarah.
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Love the dialogue , and I’m thinking about the symbolism in the water coming back. Is there som rekindled love?
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Thanks for reading, Bjorn. You are indeed correct about the water symbolism! I never know where it’s coming from, but I was quite pleased with what I wrote this week. I think it’s the first time I’ve been able to use dialogue to characterise. His remarks about the man she married … This weekly challenge is excellent practice.
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I think they’re going to enjoy an interesting relationship. Edgy.
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Nettly characters … Thanks for reading.
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Dear Ann,
Better late than never, eh. I liked the line, “I didn’t want a fatherless mouth.”
shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. You’re the second to like ‘fatherless mouth’ and I wasn’t sure about, but in 100 words, that was all the baby I could come up with (which is more than I ever came up with in real life)! 🙂
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Ironic that at the farmer’s market today, there were nettles for sale. I steered well clear of them!!
janet
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I picked some nettles to make tea with once. It was awful! I didn’t realise you needed to pick YOUNG nettles. I just grabbed anything! They are good as security barriers and cheaper than alarms!
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Hi Ann
Your stories are always so interesting! I like the phrase ‘a fatherless mouth’ and the river returning (like the ex boyfriend?). Thought-provoking as ever.
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Thanks for your kind comments. I wasn’t sure about ‘fatherless mouth’ but in 100 words …
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I so enjoyed the interaction between the characters. I wanted the conversation to continue.
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Thanks for reading and commenting. Many of the stories I’ve read this week have responded to ‘the past’ of the place in the photo, in different ways. Like yours. My characters will no doubt carry on their conversation now their wedding is over and done with!
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Interesting dialog! That bouquet she throws through the nettles – is it a bridal bouquet? Did the squabbling couple get married at last?
I like the image of the malicious nettle stepping up and stinging her. Hot-tempered plants? 😉 It certainly fits in with your prickly characters!
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Thank you for your feedback. Yes, these characters are well-suited. And they will be toasting their marriage to nettle champagne.
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It were the war. There are all kinds of wars, too, which force us to make decisions and take directions we wouldn’t normally encounter. It’s the stuff behind ALL fiction. Thanks for reading and kind comments. Ann
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