May 1, 2018

Twittering Tales #82 – 1 May 2018

About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a photo prompt. Your mission, if you choose to accept the challenge, is to tell a story in 280 characters or less. When you write your tale, be sure to let me know in the comments with a link to your tale.

A final note: if you need help tracking the number of characters in your story, there is a nifty online tool that will count for you at charactercountonline.com .

I will do a roundup each Tuesday, along with providing a new prompt. And if for some reason I missed your entry in the Roundup, as I have occasionally done, please let me know. I want to be sure to include your tale.

Finally, have fun!

And REMEMBER…you have 280 characters (spaces and punctuation included), to tell your tale…and a week to do it. I can’t wait to see what you create this week.

Twittering Tales #81 – The Roundup

Starting us off…

The Excursion
Martin fumbled with the newspaper. “Don’t let them see you sweat, Martin,” he thought. How did they know he was on this train? Who was he kidding? They always knew.
As the train slowed to a stop, they made their move.
“Hello Martin. It’s time to get you back to the hospital.”
(276 Characters)

From Reena at ReInventions:
Unplanned
“Predetermined destinations take the charm off a journey.”
“You bought a ticket with a travel plan.”
“Certainly…..”
I watched helplessly as he flung himself into the valley. His entry in my life had been as dramatic …. an unplanned baby born to a teenager. Certain trips go anywhere.

From Ron at Reading for Fun:
A CAUTIONARY FOR OLD PEOPLE
The SS pension covered an unlimited monthly train pass. A bit for food plus what passengers left behind. Catsup and water equaled tomato soup. Since 2008 and retirement she and Ted lived like this. He was gone now but sometimes appeared in the window. He didn’t like tomato soup.
(279 characters)

From Fandango at This, That, and the Other:
Climate Change
I can’t believe my luck, which is always bad. I booked this train trip six months ago after doing extensive research into the weather in the Canadian Rockies. It’s supposed to be beautiful at this time of year. But all I see out of the train window is fog. Damn climate change.
(276 characters)

From Radhika at Radhika’s Reflection:
The Last Journey
Nick planned to surprise his old mother whom he hadn’t met for a few years now , as work had kept him busy. He planned to cook his mother, her favorite meal and catch up on all that he had missed.
The deafening sound pierced his thoughts and then there was only darkness.
Lc: 272

From Team Wellness at World of Wellness:
Natural Beauty!!
With such a beautiful girl seated in front of him… even nature’s scenic beauty outside the window seemed pale!!
This is going to be one long journey he sighed!!How do I ever look away from her was the only thought bugging him…
Character Count :230

From Deepika at Deepika’s Ramblings:
Alex was super excited as he embarked on his first train journey in a foreign land. The lush green country side the snow capped mountains, caused his adrenaline to rush. He was soaked in the scenic beauty, when he heard a loud blast, and the train came to a screeching halt….
277 characters

From Hélène at Willow Poetry:
Enchanted Dream
Iris had never traveled by train.
She purchased a trip through the Rockies.
The mist beyond her window seat presented a fairy tale panorama.
Enchanted, she let go into this dream.
(179 characters)

From Deb at Twenty-Four:
The view outside the window failed to inspire confidence and as the train entered yet another tunnel he smothered a groan.
Stunning landscapes, plentiful sunshine and panoramic views … of mist.
Travel agents were in league with the devil.
(236 characters)

From Jane at Jane Dougherty Writes:
Things
As the hypnotic movement of the train rocked her to sleep, Anne thought she saw something twitch inside the crack where the window blind fitted.
There were no survivors after the derailment to ask about the deep scratches like claw marks around all the window frames.
266 Characters

From Kirst at Kirst Writes:
Haunted Coast
Almost there. My new home by the sea. Watching the fog roll across the bay, I vowed I’d put the past behind me. “You’re new in town?” The old man next to me smirked over his book. Haunted Coast: Maritime Ghost Stories. I shuddered. As I looked away, a shadow rippled in the mist.
(278 characters)

From Willow at WillowDot21:
The Excursion
Everyday the same grind to work and back. If she lent against the window she could see him reading his paper. How she longed to sit with him.Daily he watched her reflection in the window praying their eyes would meet. He longed to sit next to her. Finally one day their eyes met.
(279 Characters)

From Oneta at Sweet Aroma:
Wanted Poster
The sweater sleeve reminded me of the poster in the train station, “Mother wanted for Child Abandonment.” It was the same pattern as on the woman in the poster. Curious, I leaned forward to see what she was reading. Headline “Mother Abandons Three Children.” Coincidence?

From Anurag at Jagshdilmein:
Young Guns
I had only a partial view of him, but it would have to do.
I aimed carefully, and fired.
And as I heard him cry out, my face lit up.
I imagined his newspaper turning red…with the colored water of my water-pistol. That’d teach Dad for scaring me with that toy snake yesterday.
277 characters

From D. Avery at ShiftNShake:
The Excursion
Engrossed with magazines and phones, indifferent to the thickening fog. Checking of phones as the ride grew long. Puzzled as phones stopped working. Fog thick and dark now, the train not slowing only hurtling endlessly along. No personnel. Someone tried the doors, to no avail.
(278 characters)

From tintins at Swerve Strikes Back:
Today’s paper held the caption, ‘missing’; my face center stage. I’d had the foresight to dye my hair. No longer blonde; it was now chestnut brown. No-one suspected. I was relieved as each station added welcome distance between us as I headed towards my freedom, away from him.

From blogsbyindhu at Always:
She painted her nails red. She dressed up in her favorite clothes. She has been waiting for this day for 7 long years. She looked at her ticket and in an hour’s time she will be on the train journey that will define her freedom.
Away she runs happily, from the ghosts of her past!
(279 characters)

WHEW! What a ride last week’s twittering tales were! Runaway trains and train crashes, monsters and things, homeless seniors, runaway mothers, children leaving the nest, star-crossed lovers, new-found love and ex-lovers on the run, demons, climate change, a child with a deadly temper, ghosts and living the dream. I must say this is one of the most diverse collections of tales yet! Bravo everyone!

This week, doors. Seven of them. Pick a door, pick any door and weave a tale about what lies behind one or all of them. I can’t wait to see what you all come up with. Hopefully, I’ll see you next week at the roundup. Remember to tag your post or leave a link in the comments so I know where to find you. Hmmm, behind door number 1, or 2 or 3? 🙂