Stories

Beautiful : Sunday Photo Fiction

/ Graham Lawrence / 13 Comments

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Beautiful

It’s a weekday morning.

I knock our wedding photo to the carpet in my rush to silence the alarm.

We struggle for a place in the bathroom and race to be first to use the toilet.

Then, downstairs, a gulp of tepid coffee.

Occasional glances, quick smiles, no time for toast or conversation.

Then we’re off!

Different bus stops to different offices.

She texts.

“I’ve a surprise for u this evening”

The day is sluggish.

The more I think about my surprise, the longer the minute hand takes to reach quitting time.

My colleagues seem hell bent on detaining me but I manage to escape to the bus.

She texts again.

“I hope ur not late. I’m waiting”

I jump off the moving bus and scamper home.

When I open the door a grunting alien greets me.

I protest.

“Not what I’ve been fantasising about all day hun.”

Slimy dangly tentacles quiver as it nods its head.

It’s a cheap costume but I follow it upstairs to the bedroom.

Muffled giggles from within as we fall towards the bed.

I reach out to pull off the mask.

My heart sinks as I realise it’s not a mask.

Sunday Photo Fiction is back on my blog again. Time to regain my writing habits.

Friday Fictioneers – Bernhard

/ Graham Lawrence / 12 Comments

Bernhard

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PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

Bernhard received his first commission shortly after participating in a regional TV reality sculpture show.

His winning sculpture was lauded by the Jury amongst the usual tears and scripted interviews of his proud family.

After some photos in the newspapers and a brief mention on prime time TV, Bernhard settled back into to his daytime job at the supermarket.

Depicting a massive timepiece, the commissioned sculpture, which stands proudly in the park, has undergone changes.

The wind broke the hands, rain has accelerated the oxidation and clambering visitors have buckled its form.

Bernhard is satisfied.

He named his sculpture Impermanence.


It’s nice to participate once again in this wonderful weekly Flash Fiction Challenge that is Friday Fictioneers.

Sunday Photo Fiction – Spaceman

/ Graham Lawrence / 8 Comments
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© A Mixed Bag 2012

It was Halloween.

The doorbell rang.

Andy wasn’t expecting anyone.

He turned up the volume on the TV.

The doorbell rang again.

‘Fuck me it’s not the moment!’ he shouted, but paused the TV and went to the door.

He’d give whoever it was a piece of his mind.

He yanked the door open, almost unhinging it.

There was a Spaceman on his doorstep.

‘What the …’ he started to protest, but the spaceman brought a heavy glove to Andy’s chin, knocking him back into the hallway.

The Spaceman then took one of the many tubes hanging from his spacesuit, coiled it around Andy’s neck and deftly strangled the life out of him before unzipping his spacesuit.

A wooshing sound filled the hallway and a lithe dark haired woman stepped out dressed in a white blouse and denim jeggings.

She bundled Andy into the spacesuit, then hoisted him onto the couch before resuming the programme on the TV.

She waited until the coast was clear before letting herself out.

The Spaceman Murderer had struck again.

Sunday Photo Fiction is a wonderful weekly Flash Fiction challenge.

FFfAW – The Paddock

/ Graham Lawrence / 18 Comments

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The Paddock

He was small, but knew that if he got onto the tips of his toes he could probably lift the latch, open the rusty gate and walk away, but here in the enclosure, he felt safe and protected from the outside world.

He couldn’t remember how long he’d been here, but he’d counted 1034 steps to go all the way around. He’d eaten the candy bars as slowly as he could and only taken small sips from the bottle, but the crumpled wrappers and empty bottle beside the drinking trough were a reminder that he needed to make a decision soon.

Perhaps just one more round to check that the fence was secure.

Then, with the setting sun, he spied the man in the long black coat coming back.

He knew what to expect.

After, he would get more candy and if he was lucky, some coke.

He took the blindfold out of his pocket and held it out, arms stretched and trembling, for the man to snatch from him. (170)

Today marks my return to writing after a pause, due initially to my trip to Myanmar but then prolonged after the passing away of my Mum a few weeks ago. She is constantly in my thoughts and I’ve been busy preparing her funeral which will be held next week.

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is an excellent weekly challenge.

Sunday Photo Fiction – Secret Code

/ Graham Lawrence / 22 Comments

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Secret Code

Johnny’s a Hotel Manager, and every day I pass in front of his hotel.

We have our own secret code.

We take the week of the year as a base and add a letter of the alphabet.

As he knows what time I pass, he arranges to flash on and off some lights in the rooms facing the street.

The guests just think it’s a test.

Last week he spelt out ‘adore’ with 26+1, 26+4 etc from Monday to Friday.

I’m excited to discover this morning’s letter, but as I pass, I see three sets of lights, 26+19, 26+15, 26+19.

My heart skips a beat.

I call him, as I double back at the next roundabout.

It goes to voicemail.

As I get nearer, I see armed policemen falling out of unmarked vans, and the entrance cordoned off.

I abandon my car in the middle of the road and run to the nearest policeman.

“What’s happening?”

“They’ve taken hostages Madam.”

I bend in two and eject my breakfast.


The idea of Sunday Photo Fiction is to write a story with the photo as a prompt in around 200 words. The photo doesn’t have to be centre stage.

Milestones

/ Graham Lawrence / 2 Comments

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I hit a milestone this morning. My little blog hit 500 Followers. That’s incredible, and a bit mind blowing to be honest.

I am so grateful to all you lovely people for reading my flash fiction and looking at my photos.

I read every comment and appreciate every like and both your comments and your critiques are always motivating.

A special shout out to all my weekly flash fiction challenges. Friday Fictioneers, Sunday Photo Fiction, What Pegman Saw, Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers, Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner. I really enjoyed The Literary Lion which weighed in at 500 words but alas it is no longer on the agenda.

I really enjoyed The Literary Lion which weighed in at 500 words but alas it is no longer on the agenda.

My thanks also to the two Photo Challenges I regularly participate in, The Daily Post Photo Challenge and of course the  One Word Photo Challenge.

I must also mention the wonderful 500 word for 30 days challenge where I wrote a lot more than 500 words a day and over 15K words that month. It was a blast and made me realise what I was really capable of.

I have two short stories in preparation and a book in the making. I’m transitioning from being a writer to becoming an author which is an exciting prospect indeed.

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This is also a double milestone because this post is also my 500th post on the blog. One post then for each follower.

Thanks again guys!