Dust it with sugar
Serve it up with festive flair
It’s still a fruitcake!
kat ~ 22 December 2016
For Sonya’s Three Line Tale Challenge based on this photo by photo by Jennifer Pallian via Unsplash. Happy Holidays to you and yours! ❤
Category Archives: Flash Fiction
Fool Me Once … A Three Line Tale
Star Light, Star Bright…
Illustration by Virginia Frances Sterret
It was a cold, dark night when Eveline saw her, like a glowing specter, behind a grove of persimmon trees. She had heard legends about the white doe who roamed the woodlands near her grandparent’s estate. If one were fortunate enough to look into the eyes of this elusive creature, they would be allowed three wishes. But there was a caveat. Only wishes of pure intention would be granted.
Eveline stood perfectly still as she watched the white doe meander through the trees, pausing to savor sweet persimmons along the way. Her old cat brushed against her, purring loudly.
“Shhhhhh, Fiona!” Eveline whispered, but it was too late. To her dismay, she had captured the doe’s attention. It ambled to where she stood bowing its head.
To Eveline’s surprise the doe spoke audibly, “Fortune comes to thee this night. Reveal to me thy wishes three. And if thy heart is pure as light, I’ll grant thy wishes unto thee.”
“But what shall I wish for?” Eveline queried. “A wish by it’s very nature seems a selfish thing to me.”
Eveline looked deeply into the eyes of the enchanted doe. In that moment of silence she realized she knew exactly what to wish for.
“Very well,” she said, “here are my wishes. First, I wish a wish for my family: that they would never have to toil to survive another day. Second, I wish for peace in the world. And third…” she looked at the doe and smiled, “my third wish is for you dear one, that you would have the desire of your heart.”
“As you wish,” the white doe responded, “you and your family shall never want, and nevermore shall any of you toil. You shall have plenty for as long as you live. As for your second wish, I hereby grant that the world will know 100 years of peace.” (From that very day there was, in fact, peace in the world that lasted 100 years.)
“And my third wish?” Eveline smiled.
The white doe spoke softly, “I have listened to and granted wishes for centuries. In all my travels, I have never beheld a heart such as yours; one whose wishes are completely selfless and pure. You, Eveline are my wish. You have set me free to grant wishes with every fiber of my being.” The doe nuzzled Eveline gently before transforming into a thousand stars that drifted skyward settling in the firmament above.
There is an old nursery rhyme that goes something like this…
“Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have this wish I wish tonight.”
Now you know how that rhyme came to be. And it is true, if you believe.
~kat – 21 December 2016
For Jane Dougherty’s Microfiction Challenge based on the illustration by Virginia Frances Sterret above.
Twittering Tales #9 – 20 December 2016
About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a prompt, and your mission, if you choose to play along, is to tell a story based on that prompt in 140 characters or less.
If you accept the challenge, 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 us a new prompt.
Have Fun!
Here are the results for Twittering Tales #8 based on this photograph from last week:
From Michael at MorpethroadMorpethroad:
Christmas eve it’s just us. The cold is all around us save for the fire in the hearth. We snuggle close, its where we want to be. Together.
(140 Characters)From Ladyleemanila:
flames licking the logs
warming glow, crackle, sparkle
keeping each other warm
ecstasy and passion felt
ah! the love for each other
(127 Characters)From Lorraine’s Frilly Freudian Slip:
She loved a good fire. So warmed her heart and her pyromaniac soul.
(67 Characters)From Willowdot:
Glowing logs capture the imagination.
Dreams arrive in concentration
Memories fill us with happy contemplation.
Yule tide celebration.
(137 Characters)From Pat at Black Cat Alley:
Swarthy skin, crocodile grin, she sold herself to the devil; fire-whiskey lipped, slip of the tongue – she can’t recall the terms of use.
(137 Characters)From Elsie at Ramblings of a Writer:
Watching that flame burning the wood reminded me it’s summer in New Zealand, please be careful when lighting fires.
Beware of forest fires.
(138 Characters)From Kathryn at AnotherFoodieBlogger:
The large beam that held up the farmhouse fell crashing to the ground into the engulfing fire. At that point Jenny knew it was a total loss.
(140 Characters)From Sonali at Howling with the Wolf:
The flames lapped at her feet, ground unsteady, yet she still wielded her weapon, held her stance.
The real fire was in her eyes.
(128 Characters)From Poetry Joy:
Logs crackled in the hearth. Flames licked higher and he wondered what it would take to light even a spark in his dark, world-weary heart.
(138 characters)and from me:
Nothing warmed her heart more than a crackling fire, hot cocoa and a few banned books to burn; freedom of speech and expression be damned.
(139 Characters )
What an awesome collection of Twittering Tales we had this week. So many different takes on this prompt. Thank you everyone for playing along!
See this week’s prompt photo below:
_________________________________________________________________
Twittering Tales #9 – 20 December 2016
Photo from Pixabay.com
“It seemed like a good idea. They would wait for the perfect moment to snap a selfie. But the waves were larger than they thought!”
kat ~ 20 December 2016
(129 Characters)
Twittering Tales #8 – 13 December 2016
About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a prompt, and your mission, if you choose to play along, is to tell a story based on that prompt in 140 characters or less.
If you accept the challenge, 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 us a new prompt.
Have Fun! 🙂
Here are the results for Twittering Tales #7 based on this photograph from last week:
Photo from Pixabay
-From Sonali at Howling with the Wolf:
Jan 2012
Dear Diary,
I wonder what expression he has right now.
The soft teardrop on the page answered his wife’s question on her last entry.
(140 Characters)
-From Willow:
Reading the book brought him up short.
It was as he always thought,
The truth he sort .
The book fell his body taught.
Too late the truth.
( Character count 138)
-From Michael at Morpethroad:
He came to the difficult part. His abuse. His children knew nothing. Should he omit it? Pretend it never happened. Bury it forever? Dilemma.
(140 characters)
-From kiwinana (Elsie) at Ramblings of a Writer:
Have I cut enough firewood today?
I have run out of energy but I must keep the boss happy
Would prefer to read this novel today instead.
(135 Characters)
-From Kathryn at another foodie blogger:
“I have one more cord of wood to split before the cold freeze hits. Do I meet my honey for this dinner in my planner, or…?”
(122 Characters)
–From ladyleemanila:
To be or not to be?
Do I take it or not?
What will happen if I don’t?
Will I be given a second chance?
Or will I let my life be the same?
Dilemma
(140 Characters)
–From Pat at Black Cat Alley:
The shock of the find – her “big little black book” exists – and it was clear, she used it still – a hot date tonight – not with him.
(135 Characters)
-From Lorraine’s Frilly Freudian Slip:
He despaired of conveying the strange nature of his life story in a twitter-like format. So much to say and he was such a lousy self-editor.
(140 characters)
-From Itena at books ans hot tea:
He sat under his childhood tree, hoping he’d find inspiration for his novel. He was ready. Painful memories of the past welcomed him home.
(138 characters)
-and my take:
He found the journal in her dresser. As he read the words she wrote about “him” his heart broke. He wondered, “Should I tell them I know?”
(139 Characters)
Wow! What an awesome collection of tales. Thanks to everyone who played last week! If I missed your entry, please let me know so I can add it to the roundup.
See this week’s prompt photo below:
_________________________________________________________________
Twittering Tales #8 – 13 December 2016
Photo from Pixabay
Nothing warmed her heart more than a crackling fire, hot cocoa and a few banned books to burn; freedom of speech and expression be damned.
(139 Characters )
kat – 13 December 2016
Antique Camera
vintage celluloid
memories in shades of gray
iris shuttered darkkat – 7 December 2016
A three line tale in the form of a Haiku for Sonya’s Three Line Tale Challenge based on the photo above by Grant McCurdy.
Most Inspirational Blogger Nominee
like mercury colliding... 