Category Archives: Writing

Max the Magnificent

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It was the night of grand premiere at the Odyssey Theatre.  Max told her there was nothing to worry about. He had perfected the illusion. She was perfectly safe. Lilou wanted to trust him. Him with the beautiful dark eyes. She had fallen for him the instant she met him at the bistro. It was time for Max’s most famous illusion, The Shrinking Woman. Lilou took her position. The orchestra played the dramatic fanfare. Max proclaimed his intention of making Lilou disappear and to have her reappear in a small cupboard on the table. He waved his wand and recited the spell, ” d’ici a la bas! ” Lilou vanished in a pale blue cloud. Max opened the cupboard, “Voila!” Lilou daintily stepped out and curtsied to the crowd. She was only six inches tall. The audience erupted into loud cheers and applause. The curtain closed. When are you changing me back? Lilou wondered out loud. Regrettablement, I have not mastered the reverse spell,  Max frowned as he placed her in the chest with the others.

This is my contribution for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers hosted by the lovely Priceless Joy. Image courtesy of Etol Bagam.


The Hidden Castle

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© 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“Few knew about the castle hidden inside the island.”  

Few knew about the castle hidden inside the island. Robert said he would build it for me and I would be his queen. He was so different from me. An adventurous spirit who had come to the Gold Country to find his fortune. I was always so timid and was happy to let him take center stage in our lives.

Shortly after we were married I noticed a change in my husband, the black moods and rages. He had locked me in the bedroom again. Moonlight flowed in through the window. The full moon over the lake reminded me of happier days as I whispered his name, Robert.  A noise brought my gaze to the clearing at the back of the castle. A wolf like creature that was walking on it’s hind legs. It turned toward me and I recognized his eyes.

Mondays Finish the StoryThis is my contribution to Mondays Finish the Story graciously hosted by Barbara Beacham who also provided the photo for this challenge.

The Electric Blue Glow in the Dark Universal Remote Device

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PHOTO PROMPT - © Marie Gail Stratford

I saw it on a table at the Sunday Swap Meet. The wizened old woman answered the question in my mind, ” It’s a universal remote device. Eliminates the need for your TV remote controls, garage door opener and computer mouse. And the bright, glow in the dark colors and pattern ensure that you will never lose it.” She answered my next thought,  “All that for the special low price of $5.95 and a money back guarantee.”

The insect like creatures overlooked the latest arrivals to their work camp. Pretty good return on our investment of 5 krons each for those remote transporters.

My contribution to: The Friday Fictioneers

PHOTO PROMPT thanks to– © Marie Gail Stratford

The House On The Lake

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She had dreamed of that big house on the lake. The only problem was what she had to give in exchange for her dream. She had to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather.

Bunnie noticed a change in her husband since they moved to the lake. His sexual appetite and endurance has increased. She was pleasantly surprised by this but it seemed as his energy increased hers did the opposite.

She had barely started her morning jog when a sharp pain in her knee  made it almost impossible to walk let alone run. The doctor told her she would have to stop doing any high impact exercise. This might delay the surgery for awhile.  Bunnie responded  sarcastically,  “What do you mean a total knee replacement. I am only 25 years old, not 52!

The nurse whispered to the doctor,  “Who does she think she’s kidding. Did you see how young her husband looked? He could be her son. ”

“I think it is early onset dementia,” the doctor replied.

FFfAW

Skagway Story

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© 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

 “The A&B Building was made entirely from driftwood.” The Artic Brotherhood was established so that prospectors would have a safe place to socialize and someone to look after them and their families. I joined up when first coming to Skagway looking for my fortune. I had heard of others striking it rich overnight and hoped to do the same. My young wife and two little daughters waited for me back in San Francisco. Halfway up White Pass Trail the blizzard hit. The Brotherhood buried me outside of town and sent my meager belongings and the few dollars I had on me to my family. Some say they’ve seen my ghost on White Pass Trail climbing toward the summit.

Monday Finish the Story

Mondays Finish the Story

Princess Zenarra

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I am writing a sequel because I thought the story about Zenarra ended too soon.

“You will fulfill your duty and marry Tomar with the next moon rising,” Jolar’s words echoed in her brain. She must not allow herself to be defeated so easily.

” Yes I am of royal blood and an ancient line, much older than Tomar’s. You expect me to mate with that diseased pervert who spends his nights in brothels defiling children?” Zenarra’s eyes flashed in defiance as she held Jolar’s cold gaze. Her hand reached to her pendant as she gently depressed the center stone.

Minat heard the shrill sound coming from the monitor. She searched the screen display to locate her mistress.

Later that night the flashing lights of the police cars lit up the scene on the bridge. The patrolman remarked to his partner, ” That was some lightning strike. All that’s left of the poor bugger is those melted boots.”

“You said this sensor device was implanted at birth?” the surgeon asked.

SoCS badge 2015

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

The Arranged Marriage

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PHOTO PROMPT © The Reclining Gentleman

PHOTO PROMPT © The Reclining Gentleman

Genre: Speculative Fiction

Zenarra thought the commute was worth it to have the beautiful natural landscape that surrounded her when she got home. She smiled to herself and sighed. She never thought she could be so happy.

She sensed his presence before she saw the headlights.  ” How did you find me, Jolar?” she said dejectedly,  ” Minat swore she would never betray me.”

” Those of royal blood have a sensor implanted at birth so that they can never be taken for ransom. You will fulfill your duty and marry Tomar with the next moon rising.”

Friday Fictioneers

Plein Air

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She had a lot of time on her hands nowadays. Much more time than she had planned for. She had always told herself that if she had the time she would like to take up her art again. She hadn’t painted since High School when she was discouraged by one of her teachers from pursuing a career in art. It felt good to be doing it again. Once she got started painting she was in “the flow” like Mihály Csíkszentmihályi described it. She lost all sense of time and felt almost in a meditative state. She was barely aware of her surrounding except for the flower she was focused on capturing on her canvas. That was until she heard the sound from a TV news broadcast coming from the neighbor’s patio. Ashley Madison hack  predicted to have impact on many marriages. It already had an effect on hers. She had endured his emotional abuse for years thinking it was wrong to get a divorce. When she saw his name on the website she knew it was time to start her new life. She moved out last week after she withdrew all the money from their savings account.

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

Hosted by Priceless Joy and Thanks to Graham Lawrence for the image above.

The Tree House

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© 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“She lived in a Mango Tree,” she heard the kids shout as they ran past the house. Her husband had built the tree house when their kids were little. This was where their kids spent many hours playing and even slept there on hot summer nights. She had been spending more and more time up in the tree house lately.

As she climbed the stairs she thought she heard their laughter. They shouldn’t be up here now, she thought, it’s time to get ready for school. The caregiver came to the house later that morning. When she couldn’t find Miss Grace in the house she knew where to look. She found her asleep on the old bunk bed. She woke the old woman saying,  “Miss Grace you know you shouldn’t be up here. You’re liable to fall and break your neck.”

The neighborhood kids would often sing out when running past her house, “There was an old lady. She lived in a Mango Tree….”

Mondays Finish the Story

Mondays Finish the Story