There won’t be another day

This flash fiction is inspired by the following photo prompt. the challenge is hosted by Madison Woods. Head over there for more flash fiction action.

I welcome constructive criticisms. That’s why I am posting these pieces on a blog. 🙂 Thanks in advance for taking the time to comment.

Wordcount: 100

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Let’s take a dip to cool off before food.

My Blackberry vibrated.

Please don’t! You promised today would be just for us.

I apologised to her but answered the call. My secretary said that I was urgently needed back in the office.

I’ll walk back after lunch. Alone. Again.

***

I sit down on the grassy bank. I feel the morning dew seeping through my jeans. I watch the sun rise.

Its orangey rays illuminate the mist covered fields. But they are not strong enough to chase away the chill within me. Last night she told me she wants a divorce.

The Nightmare continues & Movie Date

Here is Julia’s 100 word challenge for this week. Please go here to read more flash fiction.

The prompt this week is ….‘aside. Now what was that rabbit late for,’ wondered Alice…..’ It is the last ten words of the piece written by Shade the Raven last week.

The first story is a continuation of An Invitation To Tea, my contribution to last week’s challenge.

The second story is a piece about young love, which is one of my favourite themes. 🙂

Wordcount for both stories is 100 including the prompt.

Hope you enjoy my interpretations. I welcome your feedback.

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Alice refused the old man’s offer of blood for tea. The rabbit looked disappointed, as it jumped from the table and hopped out of the cottage. Alice pushed her chair aside.

‘Now what was that rabbit late for?’ wondered Alice.

She followed the rabbit down a tiny footpath. The forest grew darker and the grassy undergrowth turned into thorny bushes. Alice sacrificed her arms to protect her eyes from being pierced. Tripping over an unseen root, she stumbled upon another clearing. Her blood froze, witnessing the scene before her.

‘Now would be a good time to wake up,’ thought Alice.

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A gigantic CGI generated rabbit hopped at a tremendous speed. In the last second before a certain head-on collision, the ‘Alice’ actress jumped aside.

‘Now what was that rabbit late for?’ wondered Alice.

The ensuing onscreen dialogues were lost on Justin. From the corner of his eyes he observed multiple colours flicker on Sarah’s face, making the moment more surreal. She reached for popcorn from the bag between them. He stuck his hand in, just as she was about to retract hers. The briefest of touches resulted. As if he were on a rollercoaster, Justin’s stomach made a double flip.
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All’s well that ends well

My first work day started with a virtual trip to Australia. For one, at the train station I was surrounded by people pulling their trolley luggage around. Then I sat next to a couple on the train, who had just returned from a three week holiday to Australia. We exchanged travel stories and I was reminded of the wonderful things we had done on our trip in 2010.

 

Things even got better. Since I was too early, I decided to buy buns for breakfast at a supermarket close to the company. Strangely the single open cashier had a long queue of people with full shopping carts. After seeing that I had only one item, the lady standing in front of me in the queue let me overtake her. The same thing happened again and again and I was in front of the line in no time at all. Everyone has super friendly to me today.

 

I ended yesterday with terrible backaches and a nagging fear I would oversleep. After taking a bath and a pain killer, I went to bed feeling extremely tired. However my nagging fear did not leave me alone and I dreamt that I had overslept. I woke up all nervous and looked at the alarm clock. The time was 4:48 am – way too early for me to wake up. But I couldn’t fall asleep again being all revved up as I was. I took my time getting ready and before I knew it, it was time to leave the apartment and I had to skip my breakfast. 😦 Not a healthy way to start a working day. However given how the day proceeded, I have to admit I couldn’t have had a better first working day.

 

All’s well that ends well. Looking forward to work tomorrow. (Wow! Did I just say that?)

The first day

Do you remember your first day in kindergarten? I do not have memories of my own of this day but my mother has told me hers. I am the eldest child and as a result my mother was apprehensive when the day came for her to leave me for the very first time in foreign care. Kindergarten in Singapore is not a playgroup but rather a pre-school. Children learn how to read and write in Kindergarten. I even attended Mandarin lessons as a second language. Unfortunately I was not allowed to continue it in primary school.

Where was I? Oh yes, kindergarten! My mother put me in my uniform, packed my school bag and walked me to the kindergarten. As we approached the building, she saw children freaking out to varying degrees. Some were hanging onto their family members refusing to enter the classroom. Others were crying their hearts out. Some even ran away and were caught and carried back to the classroom. My mom couldn’t bear the thought of seeing me crying. (Actually she admitted that she felt like crying herself.) However I surprised her by taking my school bag from her hands at the entrance and entered the classroom willingly. She still couldn’t bear leaving me alone and peeked through the window to see how I was coping. She said that when I saw that I waved at her; waved at her to go away that is. 🙂

Tomorrow I have another first day ahead of me. On the one hand, I am really excited and looking forward to starting a new job in a new company. I will pack my back tonight, pick out the clothes to wear tomorrow and check out the train schedule. Things I imagine little Irene might have done the day before she went to kindergarten for the first time too; except for checking for the train schedule. J

But there is a part of me that is feeling apprehensive, and afraid. So many ‘What Ifs’ fleet through my mind. I wonder if little Irene was afraid that day too? Did her joy to learn outweigh her fear being left alone, being with strangers or to fail? Maybe I am thinking too much about it. After all my instinct says that it was the right decision to take on this job and that it is exactly the kind of work I enjoyed.

What are your experiences on your first day at a new job?

Forget him not

This flash fiction is inspired by the following photo prompt. the challenge is hosted by Madison Woods.

I welcome constructive criticism that’s why I am posting these pieces on a blog. 🙂 Thanks in advance.

Wordcount: 100

A barbwire fence separates me from the spot, where he took his last breath. I see the emergency crew laying him on a stretcher. They try in vain to get his heart pumping again. But his body had slammed into the steering wheel with a tremendous impact. The damage was too much for his young body to bear. Why didn’t he buckle his seatbelt? Why did he drive drunk? Why didn’t his friends stop him?

Now I stand beside the road and brave the elements to serve as a warning against the senseless loss of life. Don’t drink and drive!

Writing Challenge: Plots

This is a writing exercise initiated by Chris. Here is the link to the original post. The task is to come up with many plot ideas for a given topic.

Pat always knew this day would come.

1. Patricia is a tennis player. She comes from a family of professional tennis players. She and her elder sister have been training together since they were children. Due to their age difference, they have always competed in different divisions. Pat is finally old enough to compete in the adult league and has to play against her sister in the final round. She knows her sister is a bad loser. Would the outcome of the game change the relationship between the sisters forever?
2. Pat is a teenager and has a huge crush on the boy living next door. She has been spying on him when he was in his room, which was opposite hers. One day he catches her watching him. A few days later he waits next to her locker at school. Was he going to make a scene and embarrass her in front of the whole school?
3. Pat, short for Patrick, was expecting his parents to arrive at his apartment. They knew he was sharing the 3 room apartment with a male friend. What they did not know, was that the relationship was not platonic. They would notice that there is only one bedroom and the other is a home office. He wonders how best to break the news to them. Before or after a tour of the apartment?
4. Pat knew that one day one of them would die, leaving the other alone for the first time in 50 years. She always hoped that she would die first. It was an egoistic wish but she couldn’t imagine a life without her husband; they have been together since they were teenagers. However her husband was diagnosed with cancer. He passes away and after the funeral, she wonders what she is to do with the rest of her life.
5. Pat’s husband has been missing for 20 years. They were on holidays in Italy and one day he simply disappeared. Pat moved to Italy in order to look for him, hoping that she would find him one day. After 10 years, she had filed a legal case, requesting her husband to be legally declared dead. Another 10 years have passed and her husband has been legally declared dead. However it doesn’t bring her the closure she had hoped it would. She returns to the place her husband was last seen for one last time.

An invitation to tea

Here is Julia’s 100 word challenge for this week.

The prompt this week is ….‘What was the rabbit late for,’ wondered Alice…..

Wordcount 108 including the prompt.

Hope you enjoy my interpretation. I welcome your feedback.

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Alice focused on reading the rabbit’s thoughts.

I am late.

“What was the rabbit late for,” wondered Alice.

She followed the rabbit into the forest. The dense tree crowns hid the sun, causing Alice to shiver in the cool summer day. Soon she saw a cottage with the front door open and followed the rabbit in.

“Ah! Just in time for tea,” said an old man. He was alone but the table was set for two.

The rabbit laid itself on the table. The man poised a knife over its neck and asked, “Rabbit blood fine with you?”

Alice sat up in bed. It was only a dream!

John F. Kennedy

And is not peace, in the last analysis, basically a matter of human rights—the right to live out our lives without fear of devastation—the right to breathe air as nature provided it—the right of future generations to a healthy existence?

John F. Kennedy – American University speech (1963)

(Source: Wikiquote)

Looking for spam translators

Many thanks approving towards the great data. Basically unprejudiced wen upward! That i continually perform not really mushrooming/groving/escalating upon these yet desponding everyone managed the briskly buddy-buddy depredate as well as I’m indubitable many people suavity any much less anyhow.

 

Anyone know what they are trying to spam me with? 🙂

Love conquers all

This started out as a flash fiction for the Flash Fiction Faction prompt by Quil Shiv. But it ended up being longer than anticipated. I present to you, a love short story instead. As usual I welcome all feedback to help me improve my writing.

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Alan stroked the silky strand of hair; bundled together in a pink ribbon. It was a beautiful black, as dark as a cloudy and [added after edit] starless night in the outback. As he looked out of the aeroplane he imagined running his fingers through masses of soft, black tresses. Only this time they were still attached to their owner – Inthira. From the photographs she had sent him and their countless video chats via Skype, he knew that she had long straight hair. A quick glance at his watch told him that he would be seeing his love for the first time in less than an hour. After months of communicating over the internet, he was impatient to hold her in his arms; to touch her, to smell her, to taste her. If it had been up to him, he would have visited her earlier. However his only financial resource was his pay, plus tips, as a waiter at The Steakhouse. Nowadays, people were extremely stingy with their tips, which is why it has taken him months to save money for this trip.

Eyes scanning the crowd gathered in the waiting area after he cleared immigration, Alan felt a lump forming in his stomach. What if she did not come? What if it was all a lie? Before he could think another destructive thought, he caught sight of her waving enthusiastically at him. He was overjoyed to see her. She looked the same as she did in the photographs. There was no mistaking it. He walked over to her. Standing in front of her, he was unsure what to do next. He knew he was in a conservative country but a handshake felt inadequate to express his joy and love. Inthira smiled at him and stood on her toes to give him a big hug. It felt good. He would have loved to kiss her but a hug was definitely better than a handshake.

“Is that backpack all the luggage you have?”

“Yes.”

“Then follow me. I will drive you to the hostel.”

The ride to the hostel was pleasant. They talked about her plans to show him her country. They spoke about the weather, about the food in Thailand. She smiled at him a lot but he couldn’t help feeling disappointed. He had felt closer to her in their hour-long phone calls compared to the present; within the confines of a car, where a slight stretch of his arm could result in physical contact. He wondered if his expectations for the first meeting had been too high. Remarks made by his friends echoed in his mind.

You are practically strangers!

She only wants you for your money. To them all white people are rich.

You’ll see that long distance relationships cannot succeed.

It is not a relationship, as long as you don’t do what normal couples do.

“We’re there! This is your home for the next 2 weeks. Are you tired? If yes, we can call it a night and I’ll meet you for breakfast tomorrow.”

Alan snapped out of his brooding.

“I’m not tired.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

Alan checked into a single bedroom with shared bathroom. He couldn’t afford anything better but he hadn’t wanted to stay in a dorm either; not when he was there to visit his girlfriend. Maybe it had been a bad idea to come here. Maybe his friends were right. So stupid of him to be such a hopeless romantic.

Inthira walked him to his room, entered it after him and closed the door behind her. She let out an audible sigh, which caused him to turn to her.

“Finally! No more prying eyes. Now for a proper ‘Hello’.”

With that she embraced him in a hug and planted her inviting lips on his. Alan required no further encouragement to return the greeting in kind.

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The following days passed by in a blur, as if he was caught in a sensory whirlwind. One moment he was in a temple, where hundreds of tiny golden bells hung from every accessible corner. Even in his dreams he could hear their chiming sounds as they swung in the wind. The sound was comparable to the clinking of champagne glasses; the sound set to repeat mode as long as there was enough wind to provide the necessary push.

The next moment he was walking through a market selling multi-coloured produce. The mere thought of the salty, sour taste of a preserve caused the saliva to collect in his mouth and cringe his eyes. He did not believe Inthira that a plum could taste like that and it was one experience he was sure never to repeat.

Today they were watching the farmers harvest the rice fields. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the wonderful earthy smell of freshly cut grass. Inthira was standing next to him, holding his hand. He realised all of these experiences did not cause his senses to short circuit. But Inthira did. Being with Inthira in reality was better than in his dreams. He loved watching her mimic while she talked; the soft tones caressing him softly. He loved the jasmine smell of her hair and the way it slipped through his fingers. He loved the strawberry taste of her lips; enticing him to bite them. He loved her mind as much as he did her body. Inthira was clever, witty and humourous. She was kind and cared for others; especially those less fortunate. She had gotten under his skin and he wanted her to stay there. They needed to find a way to overcome the physical distance separating them and they needed to do it soon. He could not imagine a life deprived of these senses.

Alan felt Inthira stiffen slightly before withdrawing her hand from his. He opened his eyes and saw the worried look on her face. He turned around to identify the cause for her sudden change of behaviour. A man was approaching them with angry strides.

“So this is where your lecture is? I don’t believe you had the nerve to lie to me and meet him after I told you not to!” He looked at Alan wagging a finger at him.

“Stay away from my daughter. She is not a whore for you to play around with. If you see her again, I’d…”

Unfortunately Alan was not one for keeping a cool head.

“Did you just threaten me?”

“Yes, what are you going to do? Beat me up? You have a great taste in men, Inthira. I knew he was not good for you.”

Alan did not like where this conversation was heading. He looked at Inthira’s teary face and realised this was not the time for pride.

“I am sorry sir. I didn’t mean to be rude. I love your daughter a lot and I would never do anything to hurt her. My intentions are honest, I promise.”

“Inthira, you drive back home now.”

“But Pa, I love him!

By then a crowd of farmers had formed around them, curious to find out what was going on. Inthira’s dad cleared his throat.

“This is not the place to talk about family matters. Everyone is watching. Take him to our place. We will talk there. If you both are serious, then it is time he is introduced to the family.”

Alan swallowed in relieve. He would move mountains, just to be with Inthira. Meeting the family should be a much easier endeavour.