Flash Fiction - Inheritance

Inheritance

The ice clinks. Jocelyne Farrow-Montague swallows her gin and looks at us frostily. My mother-in-law will announce her death and our freedom. Finally! We have prepared looks of shock and sadness.

“Another, Richard,” she orders. Oh, she plays the dying old lady well. Richard runs off; I smile sympathetically.

“So, your test Mother?”

“I have the results.” She takes a sip, eyes closed.

But wait. The lines around her mouth are twitching. Her colour has returned! How could we not notice? There’s always a sting in the tail with this woman, she was supposed to –

“I’m in remission, Darlings.”

We sit, shocked and despondent, trying to smile. 

100 words + prompt

You can find the prompt we had to include and other 100-word stories at Julia's Place. Click here.

You don't know what you've got...

... until it's gone. Ah, the power of hindsight. Does it always lead to regret? I hope not.

My husband and I are not living where we would like to be right now. We're waiting - for that chance, a move, a decision that works in our favour, an opportunity to grab and run away with, a new place, a new start. We've been waiting for a while. It's hard. We are impatient to live our own lives, do our own things, make our own choices, and our own mistakes.

We are living in Norfolk, in the town I grew up. It was an idyllic childhood, full of playing on the beach and in fields; long bike rides, lots of sport, camping. I would sit on the cliff top with friends, eating chocolate and gossipping until it was time to go home. No one worried about us. We would always be home.

You only notice these things when you live away, in big, bad cities around the world. But then those bustling places have also shown you theatre, music, food, the buzz and spontaneity of the city. You've learnt to be free and anonymous and go where the night takes you; you've also learnt to keep an eye out.

But wherever I've lived, I've learnt to appreciate what it gives me: The warm people of Liverpool; the sea outside my flat in Hunstanton; the natural beauty of Iguazu Falls in Brazil, the endless incredible sunsets and sunrises on the road; the ' buena onda'* in Buenos Aires; the choice in London. That's not to say that Liverpool, Hunstanton, Brazil, the road, Buenos Aires and London don't all have their disadvantages - they do - but you have to see the positive; see the adventure.

That's why over the last couple of weeks, Martín and I have been capturing moments that we know we wouldn't be able to have were it not for the fact we are currently living here. Knowing that, it's going to make hindsight all the more sweeter. Here are a few I wanted to share:

Having time to play with my camera

Taking a walk on North Norfolk's most stunning beach

Birthday parties with the dog

Late spring walks in the woods 

Old friends, same place

Bike rides along the routes of my youth

Cooking competitions

Making my parents do random things like Eater Egg Hunts

* 'Buena Onda' is a phrase in Argentina that embodies positive energy, good vibes and fun.  

Everest

Reading the prompt at Julia's Place this week, I was taken back to a longer piece of writing I'd done years ago for a weekend writing competition. Then, the prompt was a photo and the word count 1000. But today, I've tried to keep to the same essential story within the much shorter word limit. The words we had to include are ...the points were sharp... I changed 'the' to 'their' for my story to read better. To read other entries, please visit http://jfb57.wordpress.com/

Everest

My last step was my first on a new journey; my body could rest, my eyes took over. The plateau stretched into night’s past and day’s birth. I stepped along my undiscovered throne on the world. The wind whipped up; I tightened my hood, a king surveying his greatest achievement.

            In years at the summits, I’d never seen such heaven. Our mountain’s cousins bathed in the same rosy morning glow. Their points were sharp and jagged all around us, jutting into the blueing sky, their glaciers sparkling like newly-discovered gems.

            They simply reminded us where we were: higher, taller, on top of the world. 

Check out www.project-himalaya.com for more amazing photos. 

Flash Fiction - Summer Heat

This week, the prompt is the photo below.

Summer Heat

I never returned. That’s why the dream is so special. I wake up smiling because we’re together and happy again; if only for moments of my dream.

   The picnic was for Mummy’s birthday and the heavy summer heat followed us to the lake. We were desperate to get in. 

   “After lunch, girls, after lunch,” Mummy said.

   We wolfed down our sandwiches and crisps and stepped in.

   The cool water slipped over our lobster-like skin and made us giggly. We kicked and splashed. We dived and laughed. We paddled too far, too far.

   In my dream, Katie can swim. 

99 words, excluding title. 

Please go to Julia's Place for more 100-word stories on the same photo. 

Working Late

I've gone for a little poem this week, on the prompt from Julia's Place and the 100-word Challenge for Grown-Ups. Click on the image below for more information and to read others' take on the prompt. This week we had to include ...parting is such sweet sorrow...

Working Late

Lights dimmed, hoovers on

It’s now time to go,

But he’s still here and boss has gone

So it’s not for work I know.

I move things around my desk,

The cleaner watches me.

He hears me tidying my mess,

Tries to pack up slowly.

He’s timed it wrong so stays

By the lift tying his shoe.

I grab my bag, sway his way

Finally: it’s us two.

“Out tonight?” he dares.

I smile, shake my head.

“Are you going anywhere?”

“Nah, home and early bed.”

Lift opens, it’s over;

The game waits until tomorrow.

He goes – my not-yet lover;

Parting is such sweet sorrow. 

100 words + prompt

Secret Addresses (not from someone stylish)

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love Stella magazine, which comes every Sunday with the Sunday Telegraph. It bats slightly above my economic bracket, but I read everything in it anyway; dreaming of one day owning a beautiful scarf from page 7; one day enjoying the facial featured on page 12; one day having my own house and decorating using fabulous ideas on show on page 53. It will happen. And the rest of the features are just brilliant.

So, I'm stealing one of their regular slots again. Last year I wrote my own Soul Food column and today I share with you my Little Black Book. In Stella this means "secret addresses from stylish people". Just a disclaimer before you read on: the word stylish would not feature in the first 1000 words to describe me and I doubt very much that any of my friends or family would ever use that word and my name in the same sentence. You have been warned.

The idea is to share haunts: restaurants, cafes, hotels, parks, shops, galleries, museums. You know, the ones the rest of the world don't know about already. You should be thinking by now you will not get any incredible clothes shops in my collection. Last warning. Here we go.

Cocktails on the terrace

Hotel Endorfina Kiyikoy, Turkey
Friendly Mehmet owns and runs this perfectly located hotel in this tiny fishing village on the Black Sea. Perched on top of the hill overlooking the beach, rivers and back across green hills where the sun sets, he'll share stories and gin and tonics with you while his chef cooks up wonderful fish and salads. Heaven. 

www.hotelendorfina.com 


Yin Yang Pie Arenales 2819, Buenos Aires
The best massage in Argentina. Their hot stone massage will  make you forget the hustle and bustle of city life and delight body and mind, as well as a wallet used to UK prices. But even better is the feeling afterwards and the sleep that night. You'll book again next time in town. 
http://www.yinyangpie.com/

Post massage

Mango juice all the way for me

Confeitaria Marias e Maria  Avenida Brasil 1285, Foz do Iguazu, Brazil
When I lived and worked in Foz do Iguazu I went here nearly every day for lunch. Juices full of fruit and nothing else; big, fresh sandwiches; coffees and teas galore (which doesn't always happen in South America) A lunch time chill-out delight. 



Zeera Ealing, London
Zeera is a gem of a local restaurant and worth a tube ride (it's right by north Ealing station). At Zeera you get simple and comfortable decor, friendly and personable service and wonderful Bangladesh and Indian cooking. Have the Goan lamb shank, the achari chicken or nilgiri dish. Tasty, honest and very well-priced. 
http://www.zeeraealing.co.uk/

El Cerro de Siete Colores

Hotel Manatial del Silencio Purmamarca, Argentina
This cute village plays host to one of Argentina's most beautiful natural wonders, The Hill of Seven Colours. Waking up in this neo-colonial style hotel is a joy; it has light and airy rooms with amazingly comfortable beds. Its lounges are decorated with objects from historical local families and the view of the colourful mountain as you take your shower/breakfast/afternoon tea is spectacular.
http://www.hotelmanantialdelsilencio.com/ehome.html


Njaya Lodge Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi
Perched on the edge of the tranquil Lake Malawi, this place dishes up great food, great service and great times. I celebrated my 21st birthday there in the middle of a diving course and I'll never forget it: the wonderful people and the effort they made with my birthday cake, their fabulous food, beautiful views; never wanting to leave and always wanting to go back. One day... 
http://www.njayalodge.com/index.htm

No menus, just blackboards

Las Pizarras Thames 2296, Buenos Aires
You never know what you're going to get here as chef Rodrigo goes out, sees what he can buy at the market and writes the day's specials on blackboards (pizarras) for you to choose. When you're sick of asado in Argentina, go here for a twist. Excellent food and atmosphere, you'll make friends with the waiter, chef and the next table. Be prepared to stay for more wine. 
http://www.laspizarrasbistro.com/

Groove the night away in Amsterdam

Bourbon Street Leidsekruisstraat 8, Amsterdam
This little jazz, soul, rock and blues bar probably has a bigger spot in Amsterdam guides these days, but it's well worth checking out for quality live music, no-nonsense service and drinking into the early hours. It's the type of bar where anything is possible; a guaranteed memorable night out. 
http://www.bourbonstreet.nl/

100-word story: Oblivion

Ryan kept fidgeting. There was still an hour to go. The queue was so long James didn’t see how it could be worth it. They got glimpses of it; heard the immortal words, “Don’t. Look. Down.” James wondered if it was the man on Jackson’s Thriller.

“Dad, wouldn’t it be amazing to be on the front? We should try! Let others pass to get the front.”

“OK.”

Later: “Dad, we have to leave our shoes! Brilliant!”

“Totally, Ryan.”

After their ride of 9 seconds, a free-falling into the dark, Ryan looked at his dad.

“Dad, wow, that was amazing! Want to go again?”

“Hell yeah!”

This story was brought to you from the prompt at Julia's Place. We had to include ...the queue was so long... 

100 words + prompt