*Arrgh! I did it again! Posted this to my blog this morning, and forgot to add my link. Alas, to the bottom of a long list I go…*
Join us each week for the best of flash fiction, with Friday Fictioneers. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields hosts writers from all over the world, on her site Addicted to Purple. The challenge is to write a 100 word (or less) story, with a beginning, middle and end, from a photo prompt. Add your own story, or check out the other wonderful tales. This week’s photograph comes from Dave Stewart.
(100 words)
Villagers diligently went about their business: setting up the weekly market of food vendors and artisans. Tourists would flock here to purchase the finest local wares, and gifts to bring home. For locals, the market was the best place to socialize, while purchasing fresh produce and meats.
The sun burned strongly in the sky. Late spring flowers added color to an already vibrant community. Mothers carried their babies; children chased each other around the stalls and carts; fathers sat in the shade, smoking and discussing crops.
As the giant wave built up velocity, no one manned the warning bell.
* * *
If you like the posts on Tales From the Motherland, please subscribe to this blog. The link is in the upper right hand corner of this post. Then, check out Tales From the Motherland on Facebook and hit Like. I’d love to hit 400 likes there this year, and I appreciate the support. I’m on Twitter; Follow me and be dazzled by my mostly lame witty and clever Tweets. If I don’t follow you back, send me a tweet reminder and I will. I often miss the cues, when new people join. I’m older, and slower that way.
© 2014 Please note, that content and some images on this page are copyrighted to Dawn Quyle Landau and Tales From the Motherland. If you want to share my work, please give proper credit. Plagiarism sucks.
Any ads at the bottom of this page are not endorsed by Tales From the Motherland. I am just not willing to pay extra to have them not appear there.
That was brilliantly done, lulled me in with such beautiful imagery, then WHAM you blew the bloody doors off, 😉
LikeLike
Thanks Helen! You other Fictioneers are generally so good at that… I tend to hold back. I’m glad I managed to have an impact! 😀
LikeLike
Lovely use of description to paint a word picture and a surprising and threatening twist at the end. Well done as usual.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Patricia, I always appreciate you reading and commenting! Not sure why, but the story came to mind almost immediately upon seeing the photo. That’s always the best. 😉
LikeLike
Love me a good impending horror story.
Great set up!
LikeLike
Thanks Guapo! Sounds like some waves for you… 😎
LikeLike
Oooh such a happy but tense story… Well done!
LikeLike
Thanks so much! I wanted to make it edgier.
LikeLike
I was lulled into anticipation of the summer farmer’s market and then you pulled it all away. Excellent.
janet
LikeLike
Thanks Janet. I wanted to bring home that idea of how normal things are, just before it’s not. I appreciate the feedback.
LikeLike
nooo…. the imagery was so lovely that i didn’t see that one coming. well done. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh my, to surprise you, KZ? Now, that is a pat on the back. 😉 I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLike
I actually gasped and my hand flew to my mouth at the last line, Dawn. Talk about emotional impact!
LikeLike
Wow! That makes me ; thanks Karen! The image came to me instantly. I’m really glad it impacted others.
LikeLike
I only wish I knew how to surf! Well done shocker ….
LikeLike
Thanks Perry! I think they’re gonna need more than a surf board!
LikeLike
Dawn this was fabulous. I was shocked at the end. But then suddenly felt that perhaps it was for the best. They were together in loving community at the end. Not the worst way to go.
LikeLike
No, not the worse way to go… but no doubt none of us would feel that way, if that’s the day we’re on vacation. 😉 Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Ye Gods!Here I was reading and enjoying the daily humdrum of a beautiful county market and you punched me with that last line-exceptional!Loved it:-)
LikeLike
Thanks so much! Apparently my usual style lulls folks into believing I’ll bring them through comfortably. 😉 glad I could turn it around so unexpectedly.
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
I think that like your story the power of the tsunami is in it’s element of surprise.
LikeLike
Indeed! Thanks Dawn.
LikeLike
Wow, didn’t see that coming! In fact, I missed it and had to go back. I was all caught up in the beauty of Spring and a Farmers Market! I guess you can tell what I’m longing for. Ha! Nice job Dawn. I’m not sure I’ll be at FF this week as I jumped in and tried the speakeasy. I was so so nervous but so far great feedback so we will see! Maybe I can do this fiction stuff after all. 😉
LikeLike
I think you can indeed do fiction! Personally, I’ve found that these prompts have really helped hone those skills. I really need to check out (or, figure out!) the Speakeasy venue, and other opportunities there. I don’t think I’ll do TL this week… not liking what it brings out in me, competing that way. Send me your link… I’ll check out your story there! Good luck!! 😀
LikeLike
Thank you! I think you’re right. It’s challenging to get it all done in 100 words which opens you up creatively. It was because of ff that I decided to try the speakeasy and that’s what I love about it too is that you don’t have to promote for votes. Here’s my story, prompt info at the end with a link to the speakeasy.
http://mymutedvoice.com/2014/02/18/the-prophet/ Thanks!
LikeLike
Thanks Deanna! Catching up on stories this morning, before I have to get to work on a fundraiser I’m chairing… love reading all of these great stories!
LikeLike
Oh of course! No rush. I appreciate you reading if you end up having time. Have a great day!
LikeLike
I will MAKE time… You have a great day too!
LikeLike
Hey Deanna, I tried posting a comment yesterday and today, and was unable, after multiple attempts. Arrgh. Great story! Here is the comment I’ve tried posting: Deanna, I read this twice… it is so haunting and real. It pulled me in, and shook me up. The narrator’s voice is so authentic and vulnerable, while the building tension is heavy and disturbing. I wanted to yell, run! Great job!!
LikeLike
That’s weird. I wonder why you couldn’t comment. Oh well. Thank you so much for the feedback and compliments! So nice to hear! Sadly, I didn’t win the challenge but the awesome feedback I received is well worth the participation. Plus I had fun! Come join us 🙂
LikeLike
I am interested… but in the middle of a bunch of big planning events. I think it may take a few weeks. That said, I do want to email back and forth a bit, to figure that out. Seems I read the instructions and come away utterly perplexed. :-p Sorry it didn’t win, Deanna… it was a fantastic story!
LikeLike
Sure, Dawn! Just drop me an email when you have time and let me know what questions you have. Also, I’d need to know which challenge you’re interested in, I’m assuming the speakeasy which is fiction and poetry. The yeahwrite challenge is for non-fiction blog anecdotes and essays. That’s the one I have been doing until I tried the speakeasy this week. Anyway, let me know and I’ll try and help. Thanks again for reading my story!
LikeLike
Love the tension! You’re having fun with your 100 words…good on you!
LikeLike
Loving Friday Fictioneers! A really fun challenge each week. Thanks Susan. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh no… when your guard is down, I guess. Excellent build up, darling.
LikeLike
Thank you Helena! I appreciate your feedback.
LikeLike
I so love a bit of peril. Your story builds so beautifully to the point of cataclysmic destruction I felt like I wanted to ring the bell myself.
LikeLike
Like watching an accident unfold… right? I’m so glad my story pulled you in. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
LikeLike
Awesome! You nailed it with a home run ending. Wonderful!
LikeLike
Thanks so much! I appreciate your kind feedback and the time you took to read my story.
LikeLike
I take time to read the good ones. You’re one of them!
LikeLike
Aww; that just made my (very early) day! Thanks so much.
LikeLike
I immediately thought of tsunami survivor stories from recent events and I also recalled this story which is full of writer prompts:
http://www.newser.com/story/182400/ghost-exorcism-reports-haunt-post-tsunami-japan.html
LikeLike
Thanks so much, and welcome to Tales From the Motherland! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my story, comment and share this link. Thanks!
LikeLike
You painted an idyllic picture of the calm before the storm! Great set up, nice writing!
LikeLike
Thanks Amy. I enjoyed writing this one! Still dying to get over to your new post… but, bat shit crazy week! :-p
LikeLike
This brings back uncomfortable images from the movie The Impossible about the big tsunami in Indonesia. Peace and safety, then sudden destruction.
LikeLike
That movie was so much more impactful than I’d anticipated! We had friends who were in Indonesia with their 2 young boys for the tsunami; their story was harrowing! Very compelling photo this week, David. Thanks for that, and your feedback.
LikeLike
Sad to say this might become more commonplace as a result of global warming…
LikeLike
Is there a link between tsunamis and global warming, Mamma? I definitely think that the impact of population influences the death tolls and catastrophic outcomes. Either way, it does seem that we are seeing more of this. Thanks for the feedback, Hugmamma!
LikeLike
Wonderfully descriptive!
LikeLike
Thanks so much, and welcome to Tales From the Motherland! I hope you’ll stop back. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. 😀
LikeLike
The memories of the Tsunami in 2004 is still in my memory.. this hit home
LikeLike
I cant’ imagine ever forgetting that, Björn! Thanks for taking the time.
LikeLike
Dear Dawn,
Deftly painted scene with a stunning ending. Just one nitpick. In the second paragraph your use of already in two sentences falls in the department of redundancy department. I would choose one sentence or the other. I’ll back off now.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Thanks Rochelle! I’ll look at that. I love when readers find something I could do to improve it all. I appreciate your thoughtful reading. Dawn
LikeLike
You were absolutely right! I’m embarrassed that I missed that; I changed it. Thanks again. Back off? Is there more? And, now that I read your comment, doesn’t “falls in the department of redundancy department” also fall in the redundancy department! 😉
LikeLike
Of course it does. It falls that way for emphasis. 😉 I didn’t see anything else to crit.
LikeLike
Oh, damn! YOU are far too clever for me, friend. 😉
LikeLike
ha! Just know my cliches. 😉
LikeLike
You painted such a charming picture and then gave a sobering reminder that life can change in an instant. Life can change in the blink of an eye, things can be so perfect one minute, and the next fall apart. Such is the nature of life.
P.S My blogger account is being marked as Spam in WordPress, can you unblock me from your spam folder.
LikeLike
Subrotop, your comment came through, so I’m thinking you didn’t get marked as spam here. Welcome to Tales From the Motherland; I appreciate you taking the time to read this story and share your thoughts. Stop by again; you are unblocked.
😉
LikeLike
And tragedy strikes. Good twist at the end.
All my best,
Marie Gail
LikeLike
Thank you so much Marie Gail. I appreciate you stopping by Tales From the Motherland– taking the time to read and comment; it means a lot.
LikeLike
Just another peaceful day until WHAM!
LikeLike
Isn’t that exactly how life goes, Russell? Thanks for reading!
LikeLike
You paint such a vivid picture… But alas, there’s no one to ring the warning bell!
LikeLike
As is so often the case. Life is often that way. Thanks for stopping by Tales From the Motherland. I hope you’ll come by again and tell me what you think.
LikeLike
Oh God! An innocent, sunny story giving way to such horror! You gave me a mini heart attack with the last line. Well done!
LikeLike
I hope you’ve recovered! I love that you enjoyed my story, but please… no heart attacks! 😉
LikeLike
Haha sure 😀
LikeLike
😀
LikeLike