Tag: FOWC with Fandango

50 Word Thursday #79 – Clear Orders.

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And the words: “My orders are clear. Eleven o’clock was the deadline.” – The Moon is Down – John Steinbeck.

 

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday challenge. It isn’t too late to take part, click on the link below. You have until tomorrow evening to enter.

https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2020/07/02/50-word-thursday-79/

 

 

 

It seemed an unlikely venue, a quiet lodge up in hill country.

The instructions were clear. They always were. He never left any room for ambiguity and he wanted the job done quickly.

I glanced at my watch, it was ten to Eleven. Strange, these things were usually done at high-noon in the old westerns but my orders are clear. Eleven o’clock was the deadline. 

An anonymous looking black van pulled up and two men got out.

I walked over, taking my time. I wasn’t going to rush for them.

“Hey, you!” One guy called to me, “Are you gonna take all day?”

I didn’t walk faster, I slowed down.

“OK, have you got the Ruby?” I shouted.

“Yeah, have you got the cash?” the guy called back holding up a small velvet bag.

I waved the briefcase at them.

“Well come on. I can feel myself ageing here!” the man said. He wore a finely tailored suit. Exquisite taste.

I walked the final steps and held out the case.

“At last, I don’t want to age another minute!” the guy said.

“Happy to oblige” I replied and shot them both dead.

Ruby acquired and no cash outlay. Mission accomplished.

 

[200 Words]

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/07/07/aging/

FOWC with Fandango — Taste

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/07/07/your-daily-word-prompt-oblige-ydwordprompt-July-7-2020/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/07/07/rdp-tuesday-ruby/

 

 

 

 

50 Word Thursday #78 – Without due Caution.

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And the words:

“She launched herself at their leader.” – Lorraine Heath’s When A Duke Loves A Woman

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday challenge, hosted this week by Deb Whittam:

https://debbiewhittam.wordpress.com/2020/06/26/50-word-thursday-78/

 

 

The lake was beautiful and tranquil, an oasis of peace in the middle of a busy zoo.

You could hear in the distance the occasional roar of a lion or the chatter of monkeys, but that didn’t detract from the stillness of that place.

Then a gang of youths appeared, shouting at each other, boasting and taunting.

On the edge of the lake swam some baby swans. One of the kids picked one up and then threw it at one of his friends who caught it.

The Mother swan came out of nowhere and she launched herself at their leader, squawking loudly with a frantic beating of her wings.

Now it’s an empirical fact that Mother swans have been known to kill to protect their young.

It’s a shame that those kids hadn’t known that or maybe they would have shown more caution and then they’d still be alive today.

[150 Words]

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/06/30/zoo-3/

FOWC with Fandango — Empirical

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/06/30/your-daily-word-prompt-caution-ydwordprompt-June-30-2020/

50 Word Thursday #77 – The Birthday Wish

 

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And the Words:

“It is a puzzle. How can life go on its stupid course on such a day?” – Tortilla Flat, John Steinbeck. 

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday Challenge:

https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2020/06/18/50-word-thursday-77/

 

As she wandered through the parterre the neatly clipped box barely caught her eye and the lavender with its perfume failed to penetrate the thoughts that kept her occupied. She paused to admire the bronze statue, a paragon of manly virtue. Her eye took in each curve of muscle. She’d led a sheltered life, staring at this statue had been the extent to her experience of the carnal. She had just turned forty and a lonely spinster who had inherited a fortune but had no one to enjoy life with. Despite her birthday, she was in no mood for celebration. Instead, she stared longingly at the familiar statue and made a wish.

Suddenly there was a flash that temporarily blinded her and a loud metallic noise like the sounding of a gong. Her heart raced and she was afraid that something momentous had happened. The statue had come to life its dark bronze patina replaced by tanned flesh.

It is a puzzle, How can life go on its stupid course on such a day?

As the man climbed down from his plinth, she caught sight of something and realised that despite huge muscles other things appeared to be quite diminutive.

[200 Words]

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/06/24/celebration/comment-page-1/#comment-33090

FOWC with Fandango — Diminutive

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/06/24/your-daily-word-prompt-afraid-ydwordprompt-June-24-2020/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/06/24/rdp-wednesday-paragon/

 

50 Word Thursday – Strange Allegiances

 

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And the Words: “Nobody can be held responsible for the pranks of destiny.”
― Joan Lindsay, Picnic at Hanging Rock

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday challenge. If you want to take part, you have until Wednesday evening (GMT) click on the link below:

https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2020/06/04/50-word-thursday-75/

 

There were a few of us in the wedding party and we decided to make the most of our time together before we all went our separate ways.

It seemed apt to take them to the quiet spot where Alice and I had met, on a walking tour. This was where it had started.

The gorge, normally dry had been transformed by the recent rains into a watering hole.

Alice enjoyed swimming and I knew she could not resist the sight of that cool water on that gloriously hot day.

It was two days after our wedding and already I had begun to think it wasn’t worth it. Sure, she was an heiress and was simply rolling in money, but she was one of those clingy types.

My cousin, his wife, my friends John and Laura and Alice’s Uncle George made up the rest of the gathering. We all looked on as Alice waded into the inviting waters.

There is no honour amongst thieves, so the old adage goes, and I have the distinction of being one of the best. Up to that point, I’d only indulged in the odd bit of bribery and blackmail, but if this paid off, I’d get my hands on a goldmine. My Allegiance was to myself alone.

I remember we were tucking into some cooked chicken when Alice started screaming, needless to say, we were too late.

Nobody can be held responsible for the pranks of destiny, at least that’s what the Judge said.

[250 Words]

 

I have also incorporated the following word prompts:

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/rdp-tuesday-distinction/#like-9054

FOWC with Fandango — Apt

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/your-daily-word-prompt-allegiance-ydwordprompt-June-9-2020/

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/honor/

 

 

 

Multiple Word Prompt Story – Striving for Peace

This story was written a while ago but I thought it should get another airing.

It was inspired by the following word prompts:

Word of the Day: Striving; Duck

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/05/29/duck/

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2018/07/21/striving/

FOWC with Fandango — Compound

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2018/07/21/rdp-51-duck/#like-537

Striving for Peace

“you’re trying to duck the issue, what can that stuff actually do?”

“Look It’s just a simple compound. It can’t do anything.”

She held up a sealed phial of liquid between her blue latex gloved fingers. The look on her lovely face was calm and composed but there was a light of something in her eyes. A certain fervour, determination and a detachment from reality. It was a scary combination.

The committee for the regulation of dangerous substances was in full session. The committee consisted of some of the brightest minds in science and a few politicians who were the ones who sounded like they knew the most.

The Minister for public health asked his question again.

“We know you have been working on this for some time. What is your purpose? What do you hope to achieve?”

“I hope to achieve peace” she replied in her soft, light voice.

Continue reading Multiple Word Prompt Story – Striving for Peace

Sweeter than a Rose? – A thoughtful poem.

 

 

 

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I sit in quiet contemplation and I suppose,

That nothing can surpass the beauty of the Rose.

But can it’s showy beauty really match, however

those random acts of kindness in some sweet endeavour,

It’s a simple loving message that gives us thoughtful pause

An offer of support, some unexpected shopping left at doors

Those friends who send us texts and we talk to on the phone

Dispels the notion that no-one cares, we are not alone.

So now I’ve thought of it so carefully, I can now assume

that there are more beautiful things than a flower in full bloom

and ‘though it’s true a Rose would smell as sweet with another name,

Consider too, when all this trouble’s over, will we ever be the same?

 

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/surpass/#like-2432

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/05/27/rose/

 

FOWC with Fandango — Notion

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/rdp-tuesday-bloom/

 

 

50 Word Thursday #73 – The Lady’s Revenge

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And the Words: ‘So which one am I supposed to be?’ I said. ‘The shooter, the maniac or the idiot who hid the body?’ – The Killing Floor by Lee Child. 

 

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday Challenge. If you want to take part you still have until Wednesday evening, click on the link below to take part:

https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/50-word-thursday-73/

 

It was a typical day in the medieval re-enactment village. We were standing in line waiting to be dressed up and assume one of various characters. The man in front of me was given a chain mail shirt, a sword and a shield emblazoned with a lion rampant.

When It was my turn, I stood before a buxom lady dressed as a tavern wench, I couldn’t help but make a comment about her heaving bosom that brought a bloom of colour to her cheeks. I made reference to a nice pear, which is my favourite kind of innuendo. Apart from her blush, she didn’t react to my joke but treated it like plain blather. I suppose she’d heard it many times before.

‘So which one am I supposed to be?’ I said. ‘The shooter, the maniac or the idiot who hid the body?’ Asking about what character I was to be assigned.

The lady looked me up and down and tapped her lip with an impatient finger.

“Well, the role of the village idiot is still available, I think you’re more than qualified,” she said and handed me a cap with bells on and an inflated bladder on a stick.

[200 Words]

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/bosom/

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/your-daily-word-prompt-blather-ydwordprompt-may-26-2020/

FOWC with Fandango — Innuendo

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/rdp-tuesday-bloom/

 

 

What do you see # 31 – A Beacon in the Night

This story was written for Sadje’s What do you see challenge, click on the link to see the post:

What do you see # 31 -25 May 2020

 

He’d been wandering through the woods for hours now and was beginning to feel the full heft of the backpack on his shoulders. His stomach grumbled and called out for sustenance, the acid churning as he recalled the meagre breakfast he’d had such a long time ago. The campsite should have been around here somewhere but he’d passed up the opportunity to ask the few people that he’d encountered. Now he had to admit that he was lost.

The fog had descended before nightfall, initially, gossamer threads illuminate by the light of the setting sun had become a dense mist that had made the isolation of being lost in the woods feel even more foreboding.

Why did he decide to take that shortcut through the woods? If he’d kept to the road he would have probably been there by now, warm and cosy in his tent.

Just then, he saw a light in the distance, a beacon of hope. He scrambled through the trees and found a path heading straight to this golden beam.

Stumbling over the last few steps, he saw the wooden house nestled in a clearing, it looked derelict and empty but the light from the upper window shone brightly like the morning sun.

Desperation took hold and he didn’t even stop to think what type of person would choose to live in such a secluded location.

As he opened the door, the sight of row upon row of empty backpacks lining the hallway made him realise he’d made the biggest mistake of his life.

The door behind him swung shut and he heard a click of the lock.

The shining light from upstairs suddenly extinguished and he was alone, the sound of his quickening breaths echoed through the silent blackness.

 

Copyright: Kristian Fogarty 25th May 2020

 

I have also included the following Word Prompts:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/acid/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/rdp-monday-gossamer/#like-9279

FOWC with Fandango — Shortcut

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/your-daily-word-prompt-heft-ydwordprompt-may-25-2020/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Song Lyric Saturday – Love Letters in the Sand

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Photo by Aleksandr Neplokhov on Pexels.com

So the Word of the Day is Sand and I couldn’t help but think of this golden oldie song – Love letters in the Sand.

On a day like today
We passed the time away
Writing love letters in the sand
How you laughed when I cried
Each time I saw the tide
Take our love letters from the sand
You made a vow that you would ever be true
But somehow that vow meant nothing to you
Now my broken heart aches
With every wave that breaks
Over love letters in the sand
Now my broken heart aches
With every wave that breaks
Over love letters in the sand
I would love to write some lyrics as lovely as this. The song was written by Nick Kenny, J. Fred Coots and Charles Kenny, and made famous by Pat Boone.
Call, me a total Maniac but I decided to try to sing it myself: