Such great prompts the past few weeks, and I’ve been MIA! Life has thrown some serious curve balls, and I’m trying to keep them all in the air. I had to rally this week; loved the photo too much to pass it up! It’s likely that I’ll miss more in the coming weeks, but oh how I’ve missed my flash fiction friends!
Friday Fictioneers is orchestrated by our talented leader Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. If you’d like to read more stories from this week, or learn more details, visit her blog Addicted to Purple. This week’s photo prompt comes from Sean Fallon. As always, I appreciate honest, constructive feedback; please leave a comment!
© Sean Fallon
Drained
“Everything in its place,” Joy’s mother demanded, and Joy followed rules.
She married a man who was conservative and proper, and then kept his life orderly and neat. She raised their two children, a girl and a boy, in a tidy home with homemade meals and structure. Dishes never sat dirty; laundry never waited–– everything in its place.
There were few thank yous; her family came to expect what they wanted, when they wanted it.
On her fiftieth birthday, Joy packed a bag and left. No note, no apologies; she simply broke all the rules at once.
(Word count: 100)
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TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
Love the last line in particular!
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Thanks so much Kj; I imagine a few women might relate! 😉
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Fabulous!
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Thanks so much!
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Great final image to end a fantastic story.
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Thank you very much! The photo gave me so many wonderful options!
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Reblogged this on ugiridharaprasad.
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Pingback: Friday Fictioneers: Drained. | ugiridharaprasad
Thank you so much for sharing my story; I really appreciate it!
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Don’t we all feel like breaking all the rules sometimes!
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I believe we do! Hard couple of weeks… hell, challenging year+, and this story was just waiting for the right photo! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, and thanks for visiting Tales From the Motherland; it’s much appreciated!
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Nice to see you back, if only briefly, Dawn!
Maybe one of those curve balls will end up in your wheelhouse and you’ll knock the heck out of it.
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Thanks so much Toby. I’m working on pulling myself back together. The past 1-3 years have been filled with some enormous challenges. Every time I think I’m in the clear, “POW! Right in the kisssah!” Thanks for the encouragement… my writing community is where I really draw strength and rise. You guys rock! xox
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Dawn…I have put myself back together so many times that my nose is so loose I might lose it if I sneeze. I think you’ll be fine. You are a very resilient woman…plus I have Faith in you to do so. Good luck, amiga!
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Sincere and loving thanks, T… it means a lot.
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“Broke all the rules at once”. Wow. Pretty much summed it up. Makes me wonder what’s next.
Well, from one MIA to another, how have you been, Dawn? Good to see you!
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Kent, is great to see you; you really have been MIA! Or, so it seemed when I wasn’t. 😉 For all I know, you’ve been back and I’m the missing one! Good to see you as well. 😉 Things have been busier than I’d like (being home for more than 3 weeks would be a great start); I’ve had more challenges than feel manageable right now, and I have’t done much writing in the past month or so. I miss it! Really miss the FF community! Et tu?
Thanks for stopping in to check on me, and for your kind feedback on my story!
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You’re welcome. This was my first day to check-in in several months. Been traveling and doing some other stuff. Work, projects, hobbies and no real inspiration to write stories. We’ll see how it goes. Good seeing you, Dawn!
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I’d wondered where you disappeared to, Kent! Good “seeing” you too!
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OMG how I love this one!!! Although my house isn’t neat and tidy and clean very often, and there are times when I’ll leave the day’s dishes until the next day, the voices are there in the back of my head (I should do this, I should be that) far too often, nagging me. And yes, there have been a handful of times when I almost packed a bag and walked away.
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It’s only a guess, but I think the plane, train, boat or automobile you’d leave in, would be filled with other women… doing the same thing. 😉 Life is just that way. Thanks Susan!
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With so many of your vignettes, I wonder what happens next – like the intro to a greater story. What I like about this story is that is no need for the next chapter. You somehow managed to say it all in 100 words.
I should probably not continue to be amazed at your talent, but you somehow manage to keep right on amazing. Great post! – Mike
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And you continue to lift me up, with every comment! Thanks so much Mike, your kind words are really appreciated right now. xox
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I love a rule breaker! Fantastic take on the prompt really enjoyed it, and to be honest…have days where I feel the same lol. Good luck Joy! 🙂
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Thanks so much Heidi; I’m fond of rule breakers too. 😉 Not all of them, but a few keep it interesting! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment; it’s much appreciated!
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NMS = Nothing missing here.
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Thanks Mike; I’m flattered. And thank you for stopping by Tales From the Motherland to read and comment; I really appreciate your time!
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for once, she proved she wasn’t a robot. good for her.
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Indeed! Thanks for your feedback, Plaridel. 🙂
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Oh, breaking all the rules at once would be marvelous, wouldn’t it? Take care of yourself… Alicia
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Thanks so much Alicia… it would indeed! Thanks for the encouragement! xox
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I love how you ended this. She broke all the rules at once. Sometimes that’s what must be done. If she did any other way, they probably wouldn’t notice or they would whine. Great story, Dawn. I hope you’ve been well. 🙂
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Thanks so much Amy. I always appreciate your feedback!
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Wow!
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Thanks!
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Dear Dawn,
I find myself cheering for Joy. Not much to say about this one other than Brava! Applause!
I understand busy…it’s why the rerun this week. A few of my spinning plates have been wobbling off center a bit. It’s all good but seems to be snowballing. 😉
I’m always happy to see you when you can join and miss you when you can’t. No guilt…just fact.
Shalom, my friend.
Rochelle
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Thanks so much Rochelle. Admittedly, there is more wobbling on my end, than I like. Some fairly huge family crises, as well as some sweet but busy things too… and I just haven’t been able to focus on my writing! But oh how i miss it! Thanks for the kind words of support; they mean the world. xox Shalom!
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You simply can’t help but admire a woman like that. You drew her so convincingly well, Dawn. It’s always nice to see your name on the list, we miss you when you’re not around.
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Ah, that means a lot Sandra; thanks! I miss the writing, the challenge, and most of the people… more than I can say! Thanks for your feedback and support. xo
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I’ve been disorderly and messy most of my life, so as not to set the bar too high. Who wants to say their greatest accomplishment in life was keeping a clean house?
I hope she finds her new found freedom refreshing.
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Thanks Russell. I think you’ve got it right! Always wonderful to get your feedback; thanks!
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Good for her! For a moment there I was afraid she’d completely wither away. Great story.
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Thanks so much Gah! This one just rolled itself out; so glad you appreciated it. 🙂
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I wonder how long she’d been contemplating her big rebellion. I hope she’s happy now. Well portrayed.
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Thanks Margaret! I appreciate the feedback.
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How sad. The poor woman had never done much for herself. I hope her family woke up when they found her gone. What a rude shock that would be. It sounds like the children were much like their father. Well written as always, Dawn. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks so much Suzanne! What a rude shock indeed!
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It took a turn I wasn’t expecting. Hope everything’s good with you.
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Thanks Melissa. I’m always happy to get your feedback.
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I really enjoyed your story.
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Thanks so much, and welcome to Tales From the Motherland!
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Yeah, I know how she feels. Takes a lot of guts to do what she did, though I probably would have left a note!
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I don’t think she left one either. 😉
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