*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.
©David-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.
* * *
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TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
That was brilliantly done, lulled me in with such beautiful imagery, then WHAM you blew the bloody doors off, 😉
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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! 😀
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Lovely use of description to paint a word picture and a surprising and threatening twist at the end. Well done as usual.
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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. 😉
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Love me a good impending horror story.
Great set up!
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Thanks Guapo! Sounds like some waves for you… 😎
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Oooh such a happy but tense story… Well done!
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Thanks so much! I wanted to make it edgier.
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I was lulled into anticipation of the summer farmer’s market and then you pulled it all away. Excellent.
janet
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Thanks Janet. I wanted to bring home that idea of how normal things are, just before it’s not. I appreciate the feedback.
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nooo…. the imagery was so lovely that i didn’t see that one coming. well done. 🙂
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Oh my, to surprise you, KZ? Now, that is a pat on the back. 😉 I’m glad you liked it!
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I actually gasped and my hand flew to my mouth at the last line, Dawn. Talk about emotional impact!
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Wow! That makes me ; thanks Karen! The image came to me instantly. I’m really glad it impacted others.
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I only wish I knew how to surf! Well done shocker ….
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Thanks Perry! I think they’re gonna need more than a surf board!
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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.
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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!
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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:-)
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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.
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🙂
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I think that like your story the power of the tsunami is in it’s element of surprise.
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Indeed! Thanks Dawn.
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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. 😉
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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!! 😀
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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!
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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!
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Oh of course! No rush. I appreciate you reading if you end up having time. Have a great day!
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I will MAKE time… You have a great day too!
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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!!
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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 🙂
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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!
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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!
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Love the tension! You’re having fun with your 100 words…good on you!
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Loving Friday Fictioneers! A really fun challenge each week. Thanks Susan. 🙂
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Oh no… when your guard is down, I guess. Excellent build up, darling.
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Thank you Helena! I appreciate your feedback.
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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.
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Like watching an accident unfold… right? I’m so glad my story pulled you in. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
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Awesome! You nailed it with a home run ending. Wonderful!
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Thanks so much! I appreciate your kind feedback and the time you took to read my story.
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I take time to read the good ones. You’re one of them!
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Aww; that just made my (very early) day! Thanks so much.
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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
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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!
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You painted an idyllic picture of the calm before the storm! Great set up, nice writing!
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Thanks Amy. I enjoyed writing this one! Still dying to get over to your new post… but, bat shit crazy week! :-p
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This brings back uncomfortable images from the movie The Impossible about the big tsunami in Indonesia. Peace and safety, then sudden destruction.
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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.
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Sad to say this might become more commonplace as a result of global warming…
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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!
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Wonderfully descriptive!
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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. 😀
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The memories of the Tsunami in 2004 is still in my memory.. this hit home
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I cant’ imagine ever forgetting that, Björn! Thanks for taking the time.
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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
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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
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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! 😉
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Of course it does. It falls that way for emphasis. 😉 I didn’t see anything else to crit.
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Oh, damn! YOU are far too clever for me, friend. 😉
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ha! Just know my cliches. 😉
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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.
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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.
😉
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And tragedy strikes. Good twist at the end.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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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.
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Just another peaceful day until WHAM!
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Isn’t that exactly how life goes, Russell? Thanks for reading!
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You paint such a vivid picture… But alas, there’s no one to ring the warning bell!
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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.
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Oh God! An innocent, sunny story giving way to such horror! You gave me a mini heart attack with the last line. Well done!
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I hope you’ve recovered! I love that you enjoyed my story, but please… no heart attacks! 😉
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Haha sure 😀
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😀
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