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THE DREAM

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Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ~ Writing challenge.

Hosted by Priceless Joy.

The goal is to write a story between 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo.

image

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Sonya with the blog, Only 100 Words. Thank you Sonya!

THE DREAM

by John Yeo

Deafening thunderclaps, with forked lightning striking the tower, torrential rain. A rude awakening as the huge storm ripped her from the dream that haunted her every night she could remember of her very short life.
Always the same cold thick stone walls surrounding her, with a very thick heavy door that prevented her from leaving.
Taunted daily by her captor who was out to break her spirit and force her into a marriage that she wanted no part in. The windows were slits in the thick brickwork sited just above the bed where she slept.
One day a single horse galloped up to the castle walls.
“Hail to you!” Came a call.
Excited, she was unable to clearly respond and pushed her pink scarf through a gap in the slits that served as windows.
There was no sound and her captor allowed the young knight into the castle.
Then she heard the sound of a dreadful sword fight with clashing of steel on steel.
The heavy door to her tower prison was suddenly thrown open……

(175 WORDS)

Copyright (c) Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

This is in response to a challenge hosted by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. If you would like to participate in this challenge or need more information, please click the following link:

https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

Picture it and Write ~ THE CREATOR

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This is the latest Picture it and Write prompt from Ermilia’s blog

Picture it & Write

image

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

THE CREATOR

There is always the incredible mystery.
That departed into the dust and debris
That preceded the time before history
Wiped out by the mysterious entity.

~

Was the Creator out of his mind?
Fashioning fantasy from elements
Was he naturally pre-eternally blind?
In his quest to extract a seventh sense.

~

A spiralling galaxy of ideas turned to dust,
Shining rejected entities with nerve
That expired, leaving traces of lust,
For turning, twisting, spiralling ideas.

~

Each pinpoint a shining expired life,
Swirling, sweeping, a galactic funnel
Of exploration with wild frustration
Dancing, gleaming stars burning out.

~

The sheer volume of discarded matter
Shining beautifully at the rim of the inferno
A sucking, hungry, elemental monster,
A richly attired fearsome black hole.

~

A tiny microbe on a tiny blue planet,
One of the millions thickly spreading
Looked in awe at the devastation.
Smiling sadly at the burning question,

~

Is the Creator mad?

~

Copyright (c) Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

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MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (36)

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I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 10/08/2015, which is a challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to your story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words, not including the given opening sentence.

The link below takes you to Part Thirty-Five

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (35)

image
© 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

Finish the story begins with:

“Where did they go?”

Where did they go indeed, the lead- searcher thought sadly, as the wreckage of the crashed copter was painstakingly combed for clues.
The members of the search party were very puzzled at the lack of bodies. The helicopter had obviously crash landed and been abandoned hurriedly.
There was no evidence whatsoever to lead them in a likely direction.
Had they been captured by Dickus’s men?
Dr. Ferdinand, the villainous elder Dickus brother, sent a message to the Brigadier asking for a parley, that was when the second little bird helicopter
swooped into his complex and found nothing .
Meanwhile the squeezing of the infamous Maxwell Dickus continued unabated.

Marg was turning on the charm outrageously, to inveigle herself into his confidence, and for all his bragging he was cleverly revealing nothing.
Where was Dickus’s headquarters?
Where was he directing the operations from?
Then the news arrived, Don Fernando and his team ……….

(150 WORDS)

To be continued…….

The link below takes you to Part Thirty-Five

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (35)

mondays-finish-the-story-2

https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

THE STANDING STONES

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Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ~ Writing challenge.

Hosted by Priceless Joy.

The goal is to write a story between 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo.

image
This week’s photo prompt is provided by Louise with “The Storyteller’s Abode.”

THE STANDING STONES

by John Yeo

Petey and Sarah were very excited, the half term picnic was under way.
“There are some curious stones in a corner of the field,” the farmer said “They are very old and historical. There is a mysterious story attached to these stones, they are reputed to be haunted.”
Everyone then settled down in the field to enjoy a feast and examine the curious stones.
Father awoke a short time later after a sound sleep, to find the rest of the family fast asleep. He rubbed his eyes and woke everybody up, then recounted a very strange dream.
“There were many people in pure white animal skins carrying spears,”
“That’s right!” Sarah interrupted, “I saw them in my dream too, they
were chanting and dancing.”
“I saw them too!” Petey piped up, “they were dragging a little lamb by the ears.”
Mummy said “The next part was too horrible, I had the same dream, the poor little lamb was slaughtered.”
The shocked family then jumped into the car and rushed home. Strangely haunted by standing-stones.

(175 Words)

Copyright (c) Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

This is in response to a challenge hosted by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. If you would like to participate in this challenge or need more information, please click the following link:

https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (35)

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I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 03/08/2015, which is a challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to your story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words, not including the given opening sentence.

The link below takes you to Part Thirty-Four

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (34)

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© 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

Finish the story begins with:

“The team employed the use of Nightshade to get the information they wanted from their captive.”

“Talk man or we will kill you!”

Vodka and tomato juice with fried eggplant was thought to be killing him with kindness.

Marg was very curious and not a little excited. Her favourite variety of Nightshade in a deep fried state, usually came with battered cod and would be torture for her strict diet, however in the form of Belladonna, glycoalkaloids are deadly.

At last Marg was face-to-face with one of the notorious Dickus brothers. Maxwell was captured and in the hands of the Brigadier who was making every effort to extract some critical information from the captive. Marg was needed to provide a feminine touch. It was well known that Maxwell Dickus was amenable to bragging and it was thought an attractive woman would be able to befriend him to loosen his tongue.

News of the crashed Little Bird helicopter arrived, some wreckage was recovered……

(149 Words)

To be continued …..
http://www.diagnosisdiet.com/nightshades/

~~~~

The link below takes you to Part Thirty-Four

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (34)

mondays-finish-the-story-2

https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

Picture it and Write ~ IDENTICAL OPPOSITES

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This is the latest Picture it and Write prompt from Ermilia’s blog

Picture it & Write

image

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

IDENTICAL OPPOSITES

by John Yeo

  They were identical twins, Danny and Danielle. They entered this world within minutes of each other. Danny had a wonderful smile that charmed everyone he looked at, melting the stoniest heart instantly.
Danielle entered the world like a tornado, kicking and screaming as if she didn’t belong, her face would always reflect that early struggle.
 The twins were each other’s closest friends and grew up together sharing everything.
Danny was always the favourite with the outside world, his winsome smile would smooth his way. He strolled through college, a very popular man guaranteed a brilliant future as a research scientist.
 Danielle was a rebel who did not fit in anywhere, always in trouble with the authorities she dropped out of college and lived alone on benefits. She didn’t have a friend in the world apart from her twin brother Danny who stood by her through thick and thin. People actually swore they were the opposite sides of a single mind.
 Danny was on the verge of a huge breakthrough in Molecular Biology, working very long hours, seven days a week.
Danielle was drifting in and out of the harsh reality of a world that never stopped kicking her while she was down.
One day Danny received a shocking call. Danielle was in hospital on the point of death after she was hit by a car, driven by a hit and run driver.
 Danny’s colleagues insisted he go to her bedside although they were puzzled about his indifferent attitude. It was almost as if he knew Danielle was dying and he was in the grip of a terrible form of shock.
As he approached her bedside both their faces lit up with smiles almost as if Death was a laughing matter that was just another hurdle.
Danielle and Danny just sat holding each other’s hands looking into each other’s eyes. Who could begin to understand the silent waves of thought communication that passed between the brother and sister during those precious moments. Then…
  “Are you ready? ” Danny smilingly asked.
   “Yes!” Was the terse answer from Danielle.
Danielle then passed away.
 Danny walked away with drooping shoulders and the knowledge that he was now complete. He carried his sister within and she cast a long silent shadow of past hurt now ended.

image

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

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THE HAIRDRESSER

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Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ~ Writing challenge.
Hosted by Priceless Joy.
The goal is to write a story between 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo.
image
Thank you to Etol Bagam for our photo prompt this week.

THE HAIRDRESSER

by John Yeo

 The treasure map was clearly marked with a cryptic clue. Dan reached the shore of a very strange Island, they began hacking their way to the interior of the jungle covered Island. Eleanor ran a comb through her hair and kept behind Dan as he cleared a path. Eleanor was studying the map closely
  “We must head due South West Dan, until we reach what looks like a waterfall.”
    “OK Eleanor! We should be there within the hour.”
Eleanor patted the loose curls on her head and kept to the path.
Suddenly there was a sound of water crashing to the ground from a great height. The sound got louder and louder as they approached a huge double waterfall.
They both gasped in amazement.
Eleanor shouted to Dan. “The treasure is in a cave behind the exact spot where the two falls merge.”
Eleanor combed her hair flat and donned a wetsuit.
Dan watched as she fearlessly dived into the raging waters and emerged with a haversack of Inca jewels.
Eleanor bought a hairdressing business.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

This is in response to a challenge hosted by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. If you would like to participate in this challenge or need more information, please click the following link:

https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

COMPETITION ENTRY ~ 29th July 2015

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daisies

Image © John and Margaret

DIALOGUE WITH A DAISY

by John Yeo

 The garden was a mess, there had been an incredible North wind overnight that savagely blew everything to bits. I leaned on my spade and surveyed the damage, branches and leaves had been ripped from our trees and were lying everywhere.
  Then out of nowhere a tiny voice whispered ‘Please don’t tread on me!’
Shaken, as I knew I was totally alone, I wheeled around in surprise.
  ‘I’m down here! Next to your incredibly large foot.’
I looked down to find there was nothing there except Dandelions, Daisies and Grass.
   ‘I can’t see you! If you are real and not a figment of my imagination make yourself visible!’ I declared.
At this point I seriously doubted my sanity.
  ‘Look again! I am the good looking one with the purest white petals and a yellow heart of gold’
Stunned, I was now certain madness loomed and I was headed for hospital, I made to get away from there fast.
   ‘No! Don’t go please, I would love to talk to you about many things. I have been watching you very closely. Why do you work so hard, and worry so much?’
I thought, Why should I be worried about one small insignificant voice claiming to be a natural being.
  ‘What do you mean by petals and a yellow heart? Do you mean to say you are a common Daisy? If so, I can’t tell one of you from another, you all look the same to me!’
The tiny Daisies voice reflected a note of annoyance as it politely stated.
  ‘Less of the common, Big-Feet. We have a unique way of survival that excludes individuality and we are rooted here as one. Funny though, I can never differentiate the different clodhoppers that stomp around and squash our leaves and petals!’
   ‘Listen Daisy, if you actually are a talking flower how did you acquire the language I use, and how do you manage to express yourself? You ask me why I work so hard, I have to say the garden would quickly go to rack and ruin if I stood rooted to the spot like a daisy!’
  ‘My language skills are a result of much study of your people’s thought patterns and I am the result of much floral cross-breeding. We have very friendly relations with your newborn babies and we mingle our minds with them and learn your language as they learn language.’
  ‘That’s amazing!’ I shouted to the array of daisies around my feet,
I was desperately trying to identify which of the numerous daisies was actually responsible for the conversation. I wanted to dig it up and put it in a pot to take indoors and perhaps have many deep inter-species conversations.
 Then I heard a sound that was suspiciously like a giggle coming from the vicinity of my neighbours fence. Then a chuckle was clearly evident leading to an embarrassing roar of laughter, that led to enormous fits of laughter. My face became bright red as I realised the implication of these odious sounds.
 Realisation dawned as I remembered my neighbour was a ventriloquist and very skilled at throwing his voice.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo  ~ All rights reserved

~~

This piece of writing was written as a competition entry to demonstrate aspects of learning on a creative writing course’
I chose to demonstrate Dialogue.

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (34)

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I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 27/07/2015, which is a challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to your story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words, not including the given opening sentence.
The link below takes you to Part Thirty-Three

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (33)

image
© 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

Finish the story begins with:

“He thought he found the perfect hiding spot.”

Marg laughed out loud when this cryptic message was delivered to her iPhone, from Hillary, her PA and partner in the UK. Her favourite feline was creating havoc in the house as usual.

The smile quickly died when she realised this message had a dual interpretation. The fake Professor was back in England and revealing much, he was making a deal with the Brigadier’s office and warning against the operation at Miners Hill.
“It’s a very sophisticated trap, financed by drug money”

Meanwhile as the team approached the target from several different directions with a fusillade of fire power, including hand-held rocket launchers, they moved in on the attack. The fighting was fierce as the ground teams moved in. Marg and her team with Delphine at the controls of the little bird helicopter, were shocked to hear the news that Paul Strang’s helicopter was shot down and missing.

(149 Words)

To be continued …..

The link below takes you to Part Thirty-Three

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (33)

mondays-finish-the-story-2

https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

DEATH ON THE ROCKS

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Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ~ Writing challenge.

Hosted by Priceless Joy.

The goal is to write a story between 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo.

image

This week’s photo prompt is provided by TJ Paris.

DEATH ON THE ROCKS

by John Yeo

“How is the signal today?” Asked George, “I have ordered several items on-line.”
“The monthly post boat has been, but there was no sign of anything,” replied his wife the Professor.
Lorraine was very learned, she was responsible for many on-line seminars
“We will take the launch into town and check up with the post office,” said George. “Darling is it safe to leave the house unguarded? I know we are isolated here, but you never know.”
“Don’t be so silly George, there are only rocks and fish on all four sides of the house.”
” I have heard some nasty stories of pirates invading these isolated islands!”
On their return after visiting the mainland there was a serious incident.
Next day the headlines on the mainland newspapers screamed…….

FOUR DEAD IN AN ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY ON AN ISOLATED ISLAND.
CRAZED HISTORY PROFESSOR GUNS DOWN FOUR.
The Professor and her husband are helping police with their enquiries having had medical treatment for shock.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

This is in response to a challenge hosted by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. If you would like to participate in this challenge or need more information, please click the following link:

https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers