Hello Readers – It is time for an entry with Friday Fictioneers.
Rochelle (here) uses photo prompts that bloggers submit and this week she is using one of the ones I sent her. I took this photo specifically for Rochelle because when I looked down at this coffee table, I saw some “personality” here.
It has been a lot of fun to see the different author takes on the prompt so far. There has been hypocrisy, lung cancer, Raleigh coupons, Goldilocks/three-bears, etc. ( Later, I will add a few more links just for those who want to explore from here…)
Check these out:
Alice Audrey (here) included this: “…but the powder was already all blown when he got there.
Andrea (here) noted the magazine tag: “Lose 636% more abdominal fat” (636%????)
And my sweet friend, K-cubed – or K to the two – (Kelvin Knight HERE) gave a shout out to me in his title (and then eerily wrote an energized piece)
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And by the way –
Sugar on the Bee’s post, Jar full of lighters, was riveting and partly inspired my 100 words in this post. I also wondered if anyone would address the lighters and she sure did!
So did Kelly …
I have not even read half of the entries for this photo prompt yet, and I almost could not even write my own… that is how much fun it was reading the different takes. Seriously, even if you are not a “reader” – I invite you to read some of the Friday Fiction entries – you won’t be disappointed. Or feel free to join…. stretch yourself a little and write some fiction this week (or not…).
Go here for info
And click the blue bar to see all the entries
Sit With you for a While (word count: 100)
Sometimes in life we speak up.
Take a stand, confront, and risk amity to try to help.
Speaking up feels like running into broken glass, but sometimes it’s needed, like dropping seeds that will help someone grow later.
Other times we don’t speak up.
Timing might be off or wounds are so layered that conversating is not even on the queue.
I love you.
And tonight,
I want to just
sit
with you
for a while.
I’ll skip the shots of Crown, but smoke as much as you want.
In quiet togetherness, as equals, maybe I could just hold you.
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Author’s Notes:
Today’s post was inspired by the many other authors who wrote pieces for this coffee-table photo that whispers so much. I was also inspired by this Jami Smith song I have been jamming to this summer. It is a cover of Jernigan’s, “If could Just Sit with You for a While” – and the song starts with, “When I cannot feel, and my wounds won’t heal…”
I do not like Jernigan’s version, but Jami’s version is tasty. Her voice, the arrangement, the quiet parts, etc.
I guess Jernigan wrote this song about someone having cancer- feeling bleak desperation. And last year, my son’s friend’s step mother was diagnosed with cancer. She is now in hospice. It happened in a snap. I ache for her – for their family – and sometimes all we can do is just enjoy this day for what it has. Not second guess what we coulda, shoulda, or would’ve done…
Sometimes we need Grace, people. Grace for our lot in life, grace for what we did or did not do, and grace to be “who we be.” Grace to maybe just sit with others for a while….
PS
This coffee-table photo also reminds me of “Bartender” song by Lady Antebellum. Sometimes a shot (or a double-shot of Crown) is just what the doctor ordered (just saying…):
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The story sounds like a goodbye, with some sadness involved. Nice one.
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Hi – thanks – it was not really meant to be an ending – I was more just trying to be in the present and rather than judge – just show love and share humanity – fir a while…
thanks for the nice comment
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There seems to be some quiet sadness behind this. Nice piece.
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Well I hope not too sad – but yes, somber and heavy – and I guess sometimes life just has downpours for some folks – sometimes some folks have more downpours than others – ya know
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Aww this feels bitter sweet. I love the way we do not know why the narrator has kept silent for so long or how they came about this self-realisation but there is strength here. It’s a beautiful piece, Y, full of quiet strength, not overpowering, but just enough. I am swaying, my eyes closing.
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Hi – my first reply disappeared !!!
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This story is full of tenderness. The not judging and just listening to someone. The kind of friend everyone needs! Very good!
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Thanks very much – and tenderness is what I was going for (good word)
😉
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You nailed it. 🙂
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This was beautiful, Yvette. Doesn’t matter how long it’s been, the important thing is she has realised it now… Love this.
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Loved your comment!
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Despite the strong imagery of running into glass – all too accurate for many conversation – this has such a kind, sweet feel to it.
Thanks so much for the shout out. :*
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Thanks Alice
For the comment
And for your post – as noted above – enjoyed it
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This was so beautiful to read. 💙
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💜✌️😊
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So many great lines in this – ‘Speaking up feels like running into broken glass,’ really stood out. Brilliantly done.
Speaking up feels like running into broken glass,
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Thanks a lot
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Thank you for sharing the songs, the story about someone having cancer. My heart sinks every time I hear it happens to someone…
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Fascintating take on the prompt. Well, it was your own picture, so I was curious what you saw in it. I liked it very much. As you say, the picture is an anatomy of a persoanlity
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thanks neil, and even though I submitted this for Rochelle to maybe use – I was surprised (in a great way) when it showed up and so I had nothing planned – and it actually flowed from reading other posts on the picture – and then a “walking into glass” current event – nothing major – but it all fit even with that summer song
– thanks for the comment
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This is a really comforting tale – sometimes it’s necessary just to sit and be together.
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Sarah Ann – your comment reminds me of a quick summary –
What did Prior write about?
Oh – 100 word fiction about how ” – sometimes it’s necessary just to sit and be together.”
Right on
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Dear Yvette,
This puts me in mind of the term, “Companionable Silence” that a friend coined a few years back. Thought provoking photograph. Thank you for the loan.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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thanks for the comment, Rochelle, and that my friend, is a fantastic two words: “Companionable Silence”
and thanks for using one of my submitted photos – I know you have a lot come in and so I am glad a Priorhouse image made the list.
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What a melancholy feel to your post. I loved the last line. “Maybe I could just hold you.”
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do you know jami Smith’s music? you should check it out cos you might like it Granonine
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No, I’m not familiar. I’ll have to check it out 🙂
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A moving and lovely piece of writing. Terrific closing line. And I am delighted that you kindly included a link to my Goldilocks tale, thank you, but I must pass the credit for incorporating the lighters to Jan Morrill. Much as I would love to keep Jan’s crown and wear it myself it wasn’t me who acknowledged lighters. A messy forest strumpet, but no lighters 🙂 Very best wishes, Jilly.
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Sweet story, made more so by your choice of music. Thanks for sharing.
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thanks for the nice comment Dawn
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I loved the melancholic feel of your story, Yvette. Even the title said so much. Thank you for your photo prompt. I’ve enjoyed reading the variety of stories it inspired. Thank you, too, for sharing “A Jar Full of Lighters.” ❤
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thanks for the visit – comment – and fiction last week – because I really did enjoy it so much
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lovely!
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many thx
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Really tender, sad piece with a lot of emotion. A great job.
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