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WEIGHTLESSNESS

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Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ~ Writing challenge.

https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com

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.

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This week’s photo prompt is provided by Pixabay.com

WEIGHTLESSNESS

by John Yeo

 “Ferdinand, I have to go to Weight-Watchers this morning, I have a weigh-in.  Last week I came out two pounds over my recommended body-weight. I keep telling that gruesome coordinator that I am heavy boned, and the more calcium I ingest the heavier I become. I think I will have to consider some elementary changes to decrease my bone-density. I was far heavier when I wore flesh, l needed a lot of food-intake to keep the whole apparatus alive.”

   “Yes Esmeralda my dear.” Thought Ferdinand, breaking into the interminable flow of thoughts.
   “Have you seen my robes? I will need to cover up if I am to leave the crypt, I am sure they are around somewhere. Last time I wore them was on Halloween night when we went out haunting together. I do resent having to go all the way to a public crypt to a Weight Watchers session. The rattle of all those dangling bones would be unbearable if we had any ears to hear with.”
 “Yes Esmeralda my dear.” Ferdinand replied.

(174 WORDS)

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

Daily Prompt on WordPress ~ 23rd December 2015 ~Exhale

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Exhale

Exhale

Tell us about a time when everything seemed to be going wrong — and then, suddenly, you knew it would be alright.

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“Crow Survivor” ~ Image © Copyright John and Margaret

EXHALE

by John Yeo

  It was a tough decision to take, you had been chosen to represent your country in the major hurdles event. You knew you were able to contest this as you have always been a natural athlete and a top class performer in your field. Training always came easy, as you had developed a routine over many years, six hours a day of consistent effort, toning up your body and honing your technique to a perfect fluent finish. You consequently started winning and producing some very consistent results, in fact you hadn’t suffered the ignominy of a defeat for several months.

Yet sadly you were about to decline the honoured invitation, due to the recent cascade of troublesome events that had intruded into your life and wellbeing of late.

    Firstly, your very special friend Maria, had broken off your long term relationship, she hadn’t given you a real concrete reason for this, except to say she thought you were too intense. You had tried to reason with her but she said….

      “Sorry I don’t feel comfortable, I think you are becoming a machine!”

   Then your brother fell ill with a breathing problem, this was a body-blow as you had grown up together. You suspected the writing was on the wall, but when he had sadly passed away a few days before you received your invitation to compete, you began to feel more and more unsure of yourself.

Your Mother was distraught and spent hours on the telephone to you, depriving you of your sleep in the early hours of the morning.

 The fateful morning that put the cap on your sea of troubles, happened yesterday, just yesterday morning, while you were training. You had fallen badly after hitting the top of a hurdle and there was a bad graze along the outside of your left leg.

A friend from the athletics club, Sonya, who was also a nurse, bandaged your leg and reassured you, there wasn’t any permanent damage.

  “Don’t worry, there is no serious damage, just superficial grazes, you will be fine,”

Sonya was a sincere, demure, friendly young woman who always had a smile for you, and treated you like a brother. In fact you often trained together.

    Suddenly you were unloading all your recent problems on her shoulders, the troubles poured out in a flood of emotional exasperation.

  Finishing with the words, “I am not sure I will be able to compete.”

Sonya blushed, exhaled loudly and said,

“Go for it! You will win! I will be with you right through to the finish.”

Copyright ©  Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

 

Daily Prompt on WordPress ~ 17th December 2015 ~ BECAUSE THE NIGHT

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Because the Night
Are you a night owl or are you the early bird? What’s your most productive time of day? When do you do your best work?

Daily Prompt on WordPress ~ 17th December 2015 ~

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Image © Copyright ~,John and Margaret

“BECAUSE THE NIGHT”

by John Yeo

   Lenny was a rising star in his field, he had started at the bottom of the organisation and had been rapidly promoted to area-manager.   Ruthlessly brushing aside his rivals, he had used every trick in the book to get where he was today.
     The confidence levels of the superstar, super sales-manager were at the highest levels. He was a dynamo that never seemed to slow down, or break down. Record figures on his monthly sales graph told the story of his infinitely clever abilities.
  One day he was ordered to attend a very special meeting with his well known, internationally famous boss.
  Ricky Ricardo, was a guitarist who had made a pile from the recording industry and was now diversifying into other areas. Lenny was both intrigued and flattered to attend this meeting, he had always been a fan of his bosses music and he couldn’t contain his curiosity.
   Lenny stepped into a huge outer office and was directed to a seat by a secretary.
       “Please take a seat, Mr Ricardo is expecting you and he is aware you are here.”
    “Thank you,” Lenny replied. Looking around this outer office, Lenny noticed that the walls were covered with photographs and memento’s of Ricky Ricardo’s long established career in the music industry.
The secretary smiled and motioned Lenny towards the main office.
     “You can go in now.”
  Entering the office, Lenny gasped in surprise to be confronted by an aged, wizened wrinkled man, seated behind a huge desk.
         “Hi! Don’t look so shocked son. We all get a little older each day. I know what you are thinking and I am not surprised at your reaction. Take a seat. I am impressed with your performance since you joined the company, and I want to make you an offer that I hope you will find difficult to refuse.”
   “Thank you Sir!” responded Lenny.
            “Call me Ricky, How are you sleeping lately? I fully understand if you are having difficulty with your sleeping patterns. We all do after a while. That last deal you made, must have cost you an awful lot of sleep the way you ruthlessly ripped off those people for the benefit of the company.”
  Taken aback, Lenny just murmured, “I sleep OK!”
              “Do you really? That’s amazing, I always toss and turn after I have screwed a few people for all they have got the world. That’s how I got to look like this, because the night is always the time your conscience should be bothering you. Are you sure?”
    “Well!” intoned Lenny “Now you come to mention it, I do have a few problems and the Doctor has prescribed sleeping tablets.”
               “I knew it son, you have a long way to go yet, I am going to give you early retirement with a month’s pay in lieu of notice.”
    Lenny was stunned. “But why?” was all he could get out.
              “Call it justice son. That last lady you conned out of her life savings was a distant relative of mine. Think about it tonight, because the night is the time things begin to catch up on you.”

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

WORD PRESS ~ DAILY PROMPT ~8th DECEMBER 2015 ~ POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME

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Pour Some Sugar on Me

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Image © Copyright John and Margaret

POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME

By John Yeo

The man in the black mask and cloak raced across the roof tops and silently jumped between two close buildings. Far below, there was a distant sound of screeching sirens as the emergency services arrived at the building he had just left. The man smiled, and continued moving randomly between several more buildings, then he opened a rucksack and donned a white coat. Placing the mask and cloak with a pair of black gloves inside the bag, he calmly walked down a metal fire-escape into the hospital below.

“Good evening, Dr Airy,” said a harassed looking Sister. “Sorry I can’t stop. We have an emergency on the ward.”

“Good evening! Please go ahead, I am on my way to my office, if I am required, I am carrying the bleep tonight.”

“Yes Doctor!”

There had been a serious incident earlier in the evening, the Doctor was informed by his colleague, Dr Jenny Fergusson.
“An intruder wearing black, has entered the canteen and mysteriously stolen a massive quantity of sugar.”

“Sugar!” Dr Airy echoed. As his ears suddenly started growing and facial hair began sprouting rapidly on his cheeks.

Startled, Dr Jenny exclaimed, “Doctor! Your appearance is physically changing! What is happening to you?”

“I’m afraid I am unsure, Dr. Fergusson, Please pick up that sugar bowl there, and pour it over my face. I am undergoing a phsyical change, since I started treating a patient with a radioactive disease. My protective clothing was pulled off by the aggressive patient. I have discovered that the only antidote is the application of sugar.”

“Certainly Doctor, or whoever you are now.” said the mischievous Dr. Ferguson. Pressing the alarm button.
Two orderlies dashed in and removed the now unrecognisable Doctor to the Psychiatric unit, where he remains to this day.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

WORD PRESS ~ DAILY PROMPT ~7th DECEMBER 2015 ~ SORRY, I’M BUSY

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Sorry, I’m Busy

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Image © Copyright John and Margaret

SORRY, I’M BUSY

by John Yeo

They were locked in the kitchen of a remote farmhouse in the hills. A farm in the deepest valley, where the crystal clear water ran down the hills into a lake.
The food supplies were finished and the pains were gnawing at his stomach. Jodie, his little sister, kept passing out in a dead faint, she would come round with tears in her soulful eyes and look appealingly at him. There was nothing he could do, since their Mum and Dad had been killed, no-one had been to the house. The bodies were still lying on the floor where the robbers had left them. He had tried to get a line out on the phone only to find the robbers had ripped the wires away and disconnected the telephone. Then, he discovered a mobile phone next to his parents bed, he hadn’t noticed it lying there before and he pressed a button that dialled his Uncles number. The ringing tone was answered by a recorded voice that kept repeating, “Sorry, I’m busy, right now. Please leave your message and I will get back to you later!” “Sorry, I’m busy, right now…………

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

A prompt response for “INSPIRATION MONDAY:” ~ ELEMENTALLY MY DEAR

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Image © Copyright John and Margaret

ELEMENTALLY MY DEAR

by John Yeo

“Why? Darling what is the problem?”

“You know how much I dislike the man, especially after the way he behaved towards his wife and child. The idiot just up and abandoned them, leaving home with the first woman who happened along. Bringing the subject down to the simplest element of disgust I feel for him, hatred is not a pleasant word. However hatred and distaste together, go for a potent reason to analyse the basics. Why would a man just destroy everything he has built up over a number of years? I tell you my opinion is starkly simple, primitive, and basic, full of hate, disgust, and other elemental emotions.”

“Wow Darling! That is very strong reaction.”

“Simply Elementally my Dear.”

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

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http://bekindrewrite.com

PICTURE IT AND WRITE ~ FUMIGATION

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This is a latest Picture it and Write prompt from Emilia’s blog ~ 22ndNovember 2015

Picture it & Write

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As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia.

FUMIGATION

by John Yeo

Many candles were burning at the funerals.

An assassin was gunned down by police after a shocking murder. In an act of suicidal determination, he had pulled the trigger on a well loved respected man.
Masses of tearful people were stunned. Five hundred people were gathered together, to express their sadness at the death of a heroic saviour of the town. A scientist who had perfected an antidote for poison in the water, that had been killing the children.

Many candles were burning at the funerals.

For days the local population had been suffering from severe symptoms of poisoning, many children were affected first, and several died. It was thought to be a severe form of food poisoning, that affected the nervous system and had a fatal effect on the children.

Many candles were burning at the funerals.

Dr Qwerty was a young scientific investigator, called in by the town council to investigate. After extensive tests he had pinned the problem down to the water supply and developed a revolutionary antidote that restored the water to its original pristine freshness.
When the final report came to light, it was revealed, Dr Qwerty had discovered high levels of lead in the drinking water, and he came to the conclusion that the water had been deliberately contaminated.

Many candles were burning at the funerals.

The unknown assassin was a member of a feared team of mercenary killers hired to cast doubt on the deceased, in an amazing double bluff.
Some pessimistic folk blamed the unstable political situation, and maintained that lead was deliberately introduced into the water supply by persons unknown, in a cold hearted attempt to create unrest and sow seeds of doubt.

Many candles were burning at the funerals.

 

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

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MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (11)

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I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 16/02/2015, 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.

The link below takes you to Part Ten

Mysterious Island (10)

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Image supplied and credited by Monday’s Finish the Story

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (11)

by John Yeo

Little did they know when the photographer took their picture they would find themselves trapped in a painting. 

They say life is an ongoing ever-changing picture, when Diamond Jack arrived to say goodbye on his very powerful motorcycle, he presented Marg with a painting as a present. Jack is an artist, he had many sketches and photographs of Marg and the team with the wolves, to turn into paintings. Marg said goodbye before catching her plane to London.
The Brigadier was upset, Dr Dickus was still on the loose, last reported on the way to Dubai, with Angelo on his trail.
The Brigadier was very interested in the painting that Diamond Jack had passed on to Marg, he never revealed how he knew about it, there were two well known international scientists among the musicians. When the painting was examined, there appeared to be writing beneath, that turned out to be a very valuable formula. Marg was rewarded with a huge bonus.
Several months later death struck swiftly……….

(150 words)
To be continued…………..

The link below takes you to Part Ten

Mysterious Island (10)

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https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

Picture it and Write ~ Girish

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

https://ermiliablog.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/__picture-it-write-100/

Girish Ermilia

Man in the suit by apaxngh on deviantart

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

THE MESSENGER

by John Yeo

My Mother was very sick with an incurable cancer, our faith has always been very strong, indeed we had her to thank for our strong belief in God. They say miracles are possible and we continually prayed for her in church. Mother had already outlived all the estimates of her life expectancy by months.

Mother was devoted to her granddaughter, Anne, six years old and very bright. The teachers at Anne’s school swore she knew the answers to the questions before they were asked.

We were woken by the sound of Anne’s musical laughter and her voice talking to someone in the middle of the night. We rushed into her room to find her awake sitting up in bed, “Mummy, Daddy, this is Girish, an angel!” We could see nothing and she was completely alone. “Over there by the window!” We could see nothing there.

“Believe me Mummy, there is an angel standing, just there, smiling and watching us. Can’t you see?”

My wife in a moment of inspiration said, “Describe the angel, does she have golden wings? What is she wearing? Does she have robes of pure shining white material?”

“No Mummy, Girish has no wings and he is wearing a suit, like Daddy does and he is a young man.”

“What did he say that made you laugh?”

“He said, to tell you not to worry because Grandma will be alright, she has gone to heaven and the pains have all gone.”

I immediately telephoned my Mother’s house and a very surprised medic said, “I was just about to call you! Sadly your Mother died peacefully half an hour ago.”

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Copyright © Written by John Yeo All rights reserved

THE BEWITCHED BOWL

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Pen n tonic Creative Expressions

Each week on Tuesday (as time permits), I’ll post a word, a phrase, a picture, or an idea that will constitute a prompt from which to submit a poem, a flash fiction piece (not longer than 250 words), an original photograph, an original artwork, or a combination of these things that you think applies to the week’s theme.

And now for this week’s challenge. Use the following photograph to write a story of 100 to 150 words that ends with

…as the dust settled around the crystal bowl.

https://penntonic.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/crystal-bowl/

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Image provided and credited by pen’n’Tonic

THE CRYSTAL BOWL

by John Yeo

It was the wedding of the year. Dinner served on a golden crystal dinner service with solid gold utensils was served in the main hall. The nephews and nieces who acted as pages and bridesmaids were playing with an empty crystal bowl under the long dining table.

There was an uproar among the servants as the guests were leaving, the missing crystal bowl had been noticed by the staff. Morwenna and Esmerelda were with the children and stole the bowl after the children had left. The bowl was to become a golden chalice for the celebration of the order of white witches.

The police were called with no result.

His lordship smiled and said. “The whole service is forged, the originals are safely in store”

Her ladyship however had swapped the fakes for the originals to honour their daughter.

The witches smiled as the dust settled around the crystal bowl.

(150 words)

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved