Love this photo prompt from Jean L. Hays; it offers so many options and possible directions to go. I am opting to be intentionally vague; this could be any number of situations. Thanks to the intrepid Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, who wrangles this weekly group of Flashers. Check out the photo and write a 100-word (or less); then spend some time reading the stories that the Fictioneers write. This is one of my favorite things I do each week! Join the fun or find the other stories on Rochelle’s blog, Addicted to Purple.
As always, constructive, honest feedback is welcome. Leave a comment; I’d love to hear what you think. Happy New Year Y’all!
© Jean L. Hays
I’ll Take Your Word (99 words)
“Where do we begin?”
“Honestly, I don’t know what to say.”
“I don’t either, but if we can just try to get back on track, I can live with that.”
“It’s complicated. Where do we start?”
“Isn’t this a start? Aren’t we starting right now?”
“This? We haven’t done anything yet.”
“Well, I don’t know what it should look like, but this seems as good a place to start as anywhere.”
“I want to believe that, but what does ‘on track’ even mean?”
“We’re talking; we’re listening; we’re sitting with our feet in the fire. That’s where we begin.”
* * *
Help Me Reach My Goals! I’d love to see the Tales From the Motherland Facebook page reach 700 likes in 2015. Have you stopped by to spread some fairy dust? Follow me on Twitter, it’s where I’m forced to be brief. Most importantly, if you like a post I’ve written, hit Like and leave a comment. I love to hear what readers think. Honest, positive or constructive feedback is always welcome. Click Follow; you’ll get each new post delivered by email, with no spam. If you see ads on this page, please let me know. They shouldn’t be there. ©2014 Please note, that all content and images on this site are copyrighted to Dawn Quyle Landau and Tales From the Motherland, unless specifically noted otherwise. If you want to share my work, please give proper credit. Plagiarism sucks.
TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
Dear Dawn,
I loved the line…’..we’re sitting with our feet in the fire.’ This was a good tale told through well spoken conversation. I loved it and applaud you for bringing it to life. I was there a week ago and am still in hotfoot country.
Aloha,
Doug
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Oh man! Doug, I hope your feet find some cool sand soon. I’ve spent lots of time in the fire, and it’s so much better after the burn… generally. 😉 Thanks for your kind feedback. Mahalo!
Dawn
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Dear Dawn,
At least there’s communication here and with their feet warming by the fire, perhaps they can avoid the cold war I’m all too familiar with. Relationships can be complicated. Spot on dialogue.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Feast or famine– that’s so often the issue! Despite the burn, my husband and I still rush to the flames, and or languish in the cold, when rapprochement is so much nicer. Thanks for the kind feedback, Rochelle. As always, it’s much appreciated! d
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Talking is more productive than running away. Nice dialogue.
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Indeed! Thanks, Dawn.
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Which way, which way. You capture a turning point so well, Dawn.
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Thanks, Audra. Lots of “research.” :-p
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Lovely. They’re definitely on track. Beautiful portrayal of sincerity and good-heartedness, notwithstanding some confusion and maybe even disappointment. I can hear all this in your dialogue. Great writing.
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Thanks so much Margaret. I’m glad the idea came through. Thanks for stopping by; it’s much appreciated.
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I’m beginning my mediation practicum in a few weeks. This dialogue sounds very much like where two people would be at the beginning of an opening session. I think it is a perfect example of how many of us feel when treading into unknown territory. Excellent example of a real human experience.
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Thanks so much, Honie! Honestly, I think this is progress. So many of us start out… not speaking. Or, refusing to listen. Just my experience.
You will be wonderful at mediation! I can practically bet on it. 😀
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Good one, Dawn
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Thanks Marian! And welcome to Tales From the Motherland! I’m pretty sure this is your first time in my comments! Much appreciated. 🙂
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Wonderful interpretation. If what they say is true, each day really is a new beginning. We have to start somewhere.
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Indeed. I think sometimes, all we can do is keep our feet in the fire. 😉 Thanks, Carrie.
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Love, especially, the last line and within that “feet in the fire.” Nice.
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Thanks, Susan. I’ve had some experience with singed toes. 😉
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Dawn, Good story done with conversation. At least they’re talking, and as was said, that’s a beginning. Well done as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks so much Suzanne. Yes, breaking the ice, talking, and listening, are so important… to get anywhere!
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We do this at our Friday Writing practice – stories told only through conversation. You’ve done a stellar job with this, which I never seem to do. Kudos, dear.
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Thanks, darlin’! It’s so great to have a writing group, where you can try these things out. I’m sure you do very well! 😉
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Talking is especially important in relationships, Dawn, as your story points out so well.
janet
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Thanks, Janet. Of course, listening is probably as important… but some good dialogue trumps silence, in storytelling.
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great dialogue through and through. well done.
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Thanks so much, Plaridel. I appreciate your feedback.
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Good one! It reminded of the infamous, “Where do you want to go eat?” “I don’t care, where do you want to go eat?” “But I asked you.” “But I am asking you!” “I said I don’t care.” … LOL!!
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Back and forth… that’s how so many things go. It’s how we handle that back and forth that determines how long we last in the dialogue. Thanks for stopping by, Priceless Joy!
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If they’re starting with their feet in the fire, I think it can only get better. It can’t get any worse, can it? Great dialogue and direction to take for the prompt. They are talking and that is a start. For some, they can be the hardest part. Nice one!
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Thanks Amy. I saw the word “Begin” in the photo, and that’s where my conversation began. It can, indeed, be the hardest part. Thanks for stopping by!
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I couldn’t help noticing feet IN the fire. Hope they get it all ironed out.
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Yes, holding your feet (metaphorically) in the fire is the only way, sometimes. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Patti.
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Well they’ve made a start. But so would I if my feet were in the fire. It’s a good line to illustrate their situation. Well done.
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Thanks Sandra. It’s a line I use a lot. 😉
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Well, you’ve got to start somewhere, at least they’ve opened the lines of communication!
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Exactly! Thanks Draliman.
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At least they are in the same place and communicating! A well-captured moment. I love the ‘feet in the fire’ image. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Siobhan. It’s one of my favorite sayings. 🙂
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We all have different perceptions of where the starting line is as well as the finish. Very real dialogue, which you tend to write extremely well.
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Thanks, Russell. I think I’ll stick with FF… all y’all make me feel so good! 😉
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I can feel the tension. Cautiously optimistic. Like they’ve tried and failed before, but want to try again. Aren’t willing to give up yet. At least the voice of the first person is optimistic. Not quite so sure about the second. Always fascinated where you go with each photo prompt.
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Thanks Susan. I think you’ve nailed it. 🙂
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Great dialogue. Sometimes any beginning is a good one.
-David
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Indeed. Thanks Dave!
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Glad to see them begin, and I hope they will get somewhere. I know all about beginnings that peter out and anger and disappointment that follows. But great dialogue and a true sense of hopefullness does pervade the piece. Thanks, Dawn!
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Thanks, Perry. I suppose I’m feeling hopeful these days… write what you know, right?
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Interesting dialogue, I was challenged to untangle it in some parts. It’s clearly one of those conversations between people who have known each other for a long time, and the meanings are full of an unseen history, and are deeper than simply what’s said.
I liked the line about starting, it reminded me of a quote:
“A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead.”
― Graham Greene, The End of the Affair
I think these people are looking for a new beginning, and are in the process of drawing a line in the sand.
Cheers
KT
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Bravo, KT! Some very perceptive observations. Thanks for your kind and thoughtful feedback; it’s much appreciated!
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They have know each other a long time I guess, hope they just keep talking and listening…
So many relationships flounder because we stop listening and miss the all the warning signals.
Well written as always Dawn
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Thanks Dee. I appreciate your feedback and agree with your observations. 🙂
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All I can think of is the Scarecrow pointing both ways down the Yellow Brick Road and saying “Then again, some people go both ways.” The line about feet in the fire is wonderfully ambiguous — fire can warm or burn, right?
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Exactly! Generally, it refers to the idea that unless we’re willing to sit with some discomfort, and get burned a little, we won’t grow or change. It’s something I really believe. I appreciate you stopping by, Helena. It is a rare and lovely treat.
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Always good to talk when you are “sitting with our feet in the fire”. Or maybe just talk. Nice one.
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Thanks Subroto. I think this generally refers to discomfort, but the kind that brings change. Glad you liked it!
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I enjoyed the storytelling via dialogue. I had not seen that from you before, at least not dialogue exclusively. I found it to be realistic in that I have felt my own feet in the fire in similar conversations. I felt the tension in the dialogue because these conversations can just as easily remain circular as opposed to leading to a route out. – Mike
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Yes, and yes! We seem to agree on these things, Mike… though you have in fact read dialogue only. Love me some dialogue. I don’t do it often, but love doing it! Thanks for the feedback; it is always appreciated.
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Dawn, love your story and the dialogue. It’s time to turn over or your feet will burn! Great job, Nan 🙂
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Loved it, it has such an intimate fell. I felt like I was an intruder, invading their shared intimacy. This one really shines.
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Thanks so much! THAT means a lot. 😀
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