Today’s challenger  to ‘Write a story in less than one hundred words’ is a writer friend of mine, Corinne Lawrence. Her response to the challenge comes in the form of Night Life which you can read below.

Her hair was shot through with a strand of emerald green, her painted nails of the same vivid hue. She smiled coquettishly at him from beneath her lashes, hoping she would pass for sixteen.

He rubbed his fingers along the roughened edges of his carefully cultivated designer stubble, congratulating himself on discovering this hidden gem of a cellar bar, well off the beaten track of the paparazzi. His expectations rose.

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Thank you, Felicity Cousins for your response to the challenge of ‘Write a story in less than one hundred words’ with Guilt Trip. 

‘I’m taking you on a ballooning holiday,’ said Geoff standing in the doorway.

Barbara rolled her eyes behind the newspaper. She had hoped he would just book the golf trip with his friends and leave her in peace, but he obviously felt guilty about his recent fling.

‘Lovely,” she said, “where is it?’

‘We start in Cairo and fly over the Nile to see the Pyramids.’

Barbara put down her newspaper. Quite impressive. ‘Amazing.’

‘I hope I haven’t gone over the top,’ Geoff said nervously.

‘No. No.’ She smiled. But you will do, she thought.

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Another one with a lovely twist. You can find out more about Felicity and her writing by going to her website here.

 

Thank you Andrea Smith who has taken up the challenge to write a story in less than one hundred words. Andrea’s response comes in the form of, Crumbs, which you can read below.

George returned home from work late, trudged into the living room and slumped into the sofa.

‘Sorry I’m late Mavis,’ he said, opening a packet of biscuits.

‘Did you want one?’

A glare was the reply.

‘No… ok…You don’t need to sulk.’ George spluttered showering his chest in crumbs. He switched

on the TV and munched his way through the packet. More crumbs avalanched down his chest.

Mavis moved next to George and began hoovering up the crumbs.

‘Thank you, Mavis, I’ll get your dinner in a minute.’ George stroked his cat who gave an appreciative meow.

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Thank you Daniel Crowley for taking part in the challenge to write a story in less than one hundred words. Daniel’s response comes in the form of The Doctor which you can read below.

The door closed with a soft click and Dr Anderson smiled to himself.

This was Rachel’s first visit back after chemo. He had noticed the signs of remission in her X-rays and was now able to shed the first rays of light into her cold fragmented world.

Peter Anderson felt particularly pleased to be the bearer of good news because Rachel Hudson was his niece.

There were times when he had worried whether the blood tie would prevent him being dispassionate in dealing with her case. Obviously, this was not true.

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Thank you to author, Elizabeth Ducie, who has taken up the challenge to write a story in less than one hundred words. Her response can be seen in the form of  The Feast which you can read below.

We sit under cerulean skies, gazing at the picnic.

‘For what we are about to receive—’ I mutter

‘— we’re bleedin’ grateful,’ Billy interrupts.

We gorge on fresh-baked bread; salty butter, buttercup yellow; and strawberry jam, fruit whole and succulent. Milkless tea burns our tongues; extra sugar removes the bitterness.

Few sounds disturb the peace, save Billy’s smacking lips and contented sighs; the shriek of a curlew. We run our fingers through cool strands, bruised by careless boots.

We silently thank those who gave their lives—and rations. We stand, collect rifles, and re-enter the trench.

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Well that was a bit of a surprise. Hope you enjoyed it. To find out more about Elizabeth’s writing you can visit her here

Margaret Burton has taken up the challenge to ‘Write a story in less than one hundred words.’ Her response comes in the form of Old Ground which you can read below.   

Tom clinked glasses with Mick. Few quid behind the bar, the pub was heaving, in full voice. ‘…he’s a jolly good fellow…’

‘Think Belle’s coming back?’

Tom sighed. ‘Nah, after the lottery win we finally agreed. Better to end it’.

‘She’s a free spirit.’

‘Yeah.’

‘No more police digging up your garden then? Bit red-faced when she returned nine months later. Disappeared once too often eh?’

‘Built my dream observatory there.’ Tom beamed.

Later, scanning the night sky, on cloud nine, Tom thought aloud. ‘Both got our own way then Belle. What did you say? …over my dead body.’

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Love the twist in this one. What does everyone else think?

Thank you to author, J L Dean, for taking part in the ‘write a story in one hundred words,’ challenge. J L Dean’s response is Just Another Conquest which you may read below.

‘Would you have an affair with a married man?’

When he asked me that, I took it for one of those moral debates between friends after a good lunch.

‘Of course not!’ I was sure of my goodness then.

He waited as my answer changed.  After years alone, he was all I could think of.  Perhaps one chance of happiness?

Loneliness strikes a poor bargain; the moment I had everything I had longed for, I realised I had nothing at all.

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Thank you to Joanie Scott for taking part in the ‘Write a story in less than 100 words,’ challenge. Joanie’s response, The Clock is Ticking, may  be read below.

Everyone keeps asking if we are, because It’s always been a huge joke to them. The clock is ticking, they say, so don’t hang around. You’re no spring chickens, either of you. But nobody knows what it’s like, hoping and praying every month that we’ll be lucky. Not this time. I’m beginning to think that the fault lies with him, not me. I’ve done it before, you see. Long before any of this. He can never know about that part of me. Nor can they. I’ll just try to keep smiling and hope that it happens soon.

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Thank you to writer, Francesca Hunt, for responding to the ‘Write a story in less than one hundred words’ challenge. You can read Francesca’s submission, Knocking, below.

Death knocked.

I told him, ‘Please, not yet.’

That night, the moon came to my open window, I climbed aboard. Softness caressed the gaps between my toes, wrapping me close against the sharp winter air. I waved at stars as we galloped Orion’s-Belt, to my childhood. Father spoke wisdom unheard by my adolescent ears. I saw the miracle of birth, my children, virgin lights shining love. I saw my nagged husband shower me with unfailing support. Happiness replaced my heavy anger. Slumber came.

I awoke with clarity. I would take no further medication.

Death knocked.

I smiled.

 

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Thank you to writer, Jennie Campbell, for taking part in the challenge to write a story in less than one hundred words. You can read Jennie’s response, Plenty More Fish, below.

She’d texted Lisa the location of the date and a joke about axe-murderers, but that was an hour ago.

The girls at work had her back. Lisa worried. Susan said there were plenty more fish, and she should know, she’d been kissing trout for years. Carly made a joke about ‘six foot, six figures, six pack’ but she was twenty-one and could afford to be fussy.

She checked her phone. No text. The door opened again. It still wasn’t him. She’d started to leave when the message from the dating site came through.

‘Nudge, nudge! Meet your new admirer.’

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