Guest Tested

September 18, 2024Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Funnies, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Reflections, Writing Tags: 100WordChallenge, Flash Fiction, Friday Fictioneers, Micro Fiction, Newcomers, Nothing is Impossible, Radiant, Testing, Visitor 34 Comments

“They only glow when Marm’s here,” Eloise pointed.

I tried to not show my confusion. Being a first-time visitor to Castle Trent was a steep learning curve, but I was not going to risk being thrown out as an impostor.

“Best not upset her, though,” Eloise added, reaching for the pitcher and pouring what appeared like air into an empty iridescent glass.

She offered it to me and I tipped the vacant vessel toward my mouth.

Tasted cordial.

“A natural,” a voice boomed and a woman manifested, transparent as gauze.

“Apparently!” Eloise smiled, “I admit I wondered. Tammy, meet Marm.”

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo prompt © Lisa Fox

The Thing To Make All Things

September 15, 2024Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Poetry, Reflections, Things Kids Say, Trauma and Development Tags: Creativity, imagination, Micro-fiction, parenting, Poetry, Through children's eyes, Weekend Writing Prompt, What Not To Do 11 Comments

(Photo: Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash)

It was going to be the thing

To make all things

Everything that they were meant

To be.

A remedy

For all the wants

And dreams.

“Ah, but you will surely bungle it,”

His mother said.

And crushed his dream

Instead.

For Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt of: Bungle in 41 words

Dismissed

September 11, 2024Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Writing Tags: 100WordChallenge, Flash Fiction, Friday Fictioneers, Leaving, Left behind, Micro Fiction, Moving on, Now what, Photo Fiction 29 Comments

“All done?” Miriam poked her head into the room.

Jeremiah nodded, thumbs digging into the small of his back.

“And right on time, too!” Miriam’s pointed at the window. “Dad’s here with the van.”

“I’m off, then,” Jeremiah stated. He did his part. It was bad enough seeing his whole life folded into boxes. He didn’t need to see it all taken away.

He brushed the hair off his sweaty forehead and turned to leave.

“Forgot your phone!” Miriam exclaimed.

Jeremiah shook his head. “It’s part of this. And …” he breathed, “I won’t need it where I’m going.”

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictoneers

Photo prompt: David Stewart

Field Trip

September 10, 2024Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Speech Language Pathology, Things Kids Say, Writing Tags: 100WordChallenge, Day trip, Flash Fiction, Friday Fictioneers, Keeping children safe, MicroFiction, Safety, School days, Special Education, teachers 15 Comments

signs DaleR

“There it is!” Gary pointed.

Mrs. Thomas’s arm moved on its own accord to grab him. Experience. Habit. Instinct. Who knows. But by the time her hand touched fabric, the upper part of the boy’s body was protruding out of the window.

“Careful, Gary!” Her voice was soft but her pulling arm meant business.

Gary, now flat onto his seat and the window shut, could only pout.

“We will be stopping,” Mrs. Thomas soothed, “and everyone will be able to see Sign Cabin up close.”

and safely… she exhaled, firm hand on wriggly wrist. Not on my watch!

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo credit: Dale Rogerson

Auctioned Off

September 9, 2024Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Current events, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Reflections, Trauma and Development, Writing Tags: Auction, Current events, Distortion, Division, humanity, Righteousness, Truth, War, Weekend Writing Prompt 13 Comments

Photo: Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash

It has become

A flag

To wave.

An identity to wrap oneself with

As permission to denounce

The Other.

Casting off compassion for some

As if it would occupy the space needed for

Zero sum care.

History versions, auctioned

To the highest bidder.

Adulterated variations for a fee

In ratings, rage, and righteousness.

The molested Truth

Auctioned off.

Her hands bound

Her essence starved

Of air

And light

Or hope.

Her very humanity

Splayed

Vulnerable,

On the block.

For Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt: Auction in 78 words

Points of Light

June 13, 2024Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Reflections, Writing Tags: 100WordChallenge, Adversity, Difficult times, Flash Fiction, Friday Fictioneers, hope, Labor, Micro Fiction, Rescue, Waiting 21 Comments

“They will not come.”

Mara stilled her neck from shaking. Gabrielle did not need confirmation as much as she needed hope. “Oh, but they will,” she soothed.

Gabrielle shifted and sighed in half voice, half moan.

“Are they coming more frequently now?” Mara inquired then laughed at the teen’s raised eyebrow. “The contractions, I mean. Not the others.”

“They can all come once and done,” Gabrielle sputtered between clenched teeth.

Mara chuckled but her eyes searched the darkness. Gabrielle’s stamina would not last long.

A light wavered in the distance. Became three points. Mara exhaled. Finally, the sign of hope.

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo prompt © Lisa Fox

Topsy

May 29, 2024Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Trauma and Development, Writing Tags: 100WordChallenge, Adversity, Amusement Park, Everything's relative, Flash Fiction, Friday Fictioneers, Making do, Micro-fiction, Not Recommended 35 Comments

She never understood the urge to willingly turn one’s world upside down and put one’s fate in the hands of minimally-maintained machines in the hands of minimally-trained college students who were likely more intent on ogling potential mates than on guaranteeing an in-one-piece return to gravity for riders.

Life was plenty adventurous enough without deliberate topsy-turvy.

And yet, there they were. Lining up to shell small fortunes for misery.

She stood at her window, nursing the weak tea that would have to do till the end of the month, and watched the roller-coasters hurl a screaming world around.

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Outcircled

May 22, 2024Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Reflections, Writing Tags: 100WordChallenge, Bullying, Culinary school, Defiance, Flash Fiction, Friday Fictioneers, Getting through, Micro Fiction, Outside the box 35 Comments

“This will not do!”

Rosie dipped her chin in acquiescence, but her hands twitched atop the rolling pin. Master Chef, as they were told to call him, was no ‘Master’ of hers, not to mention a mediocre chef and worse instructor.

You need to pass this course, she breathed compliance into her arms. “P&D” (“Pastries & Desserts” in the syllabus, “Posh & Dumb” among students) was mandatory. As was the instructor, whose Pops padded the Culinary College’s coffers.

“You will keep to the circles,” he decreed before moving to the next student.

Not to any circles you’re in, Rosie vowed.

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers