Journaling: Friday Fiction...Pepper

Today is Friday Fiction at The One-Minute Writer.  The prompt is Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Pepper."  From C. Beth...Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.


Pepper ducked into the alley and pressed her back against the brick wall.  Peering around the corner, she saw the dark figure still approaching.  Whoever it was, he had been following her for blocks.  "He's probably one of my previous customers," she thought, but she didn't feel very confident about that.  She began searching the alley for something she could use as a weapon.  Finding a liquor bottle with its end broke off, she picked it up and went back to the wall to await her stalker.  She heard the footsteps begin to slow as he approached the alley.  She was ready.  As the figure cleared the wall, she jumped out and jabbed up at him with all her strength.  The man made a choking sound and fell to the ground.  Pepper gasped in astonishment.  Lying there, the broken bottle sticking out of his throat, was her pimp, Johnny.

Journaling: Friday Fiction...Ink

Today is Friday Fiction at The One-Minute Writer.  The prompt is Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Ink."  From C. Beth...Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.


The ink well tipped over on the desk and black ink spilled out across the pages, dripping onto the floor.  The cat who had jumped on the desk, thus knocking over the well, sat there licking his fur--unconcerned at the mess he had made.  The writer, who was so hopelessly blocked, sat with her head in her hands, despairing over the loss of her hard work.

Journaling: Friday Fiction...Torch

Today is Friday Fiction at The One-Minute Writer.  The prompt is Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Torch."  From C. Beth...Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.


He grabbed a torch from the castle wall and ran down the stone steps.  He had to get to the watchtower to sound the alarm.  Up on the ramparts, he had seen the huge row of riders and armed men marching toward the castle.  He ascended the steps of the watchtower.  As he neared the top, he stopped suddenly.  A look of horror crossed his face.  He turned slowly and began to tumble down the steps.  There was an arrow sticking out of his back.  When he landed at the bottom of the tower, it was driven further home.  As he lay dying, all he could think of was the terrible fate of the castle.  Without the warning of impending invasion, the castle and its people were doomed.

Also, I won another One-Minute Writing of the Day for my Friday Fiction piece using the word "Straw."  Yay! Here is what I wrote, in case you missed it last week:

The straw in the abandoned barn smelled musty and damp. He didn't care though. Any place was good enough for him as long as he could hide safely. He looked down at the iron shackle still hooked on his ankle. The master had kept him chained because he knew he was a runner. Somehow the chain had been weak and he was able to break it with a hatchet easily. He had been on the run for days before finding the barn. He climbed into the loft and settled down behind some bales of hay. He could hear the baying of the dogs in the distance. He could only pray they would not search the barn. As it turned out, a futile prayer.

Thank you to C. Beth for awarding it to me once again.  I'm honored!

Journaling...Friday Fiction: Straw

Today is Friday Fiction at The One-Minute Writer.  The prompt is Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Straw."  From C. Beth...Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.


The straw in the abandoned barn smelled musty and damp.  He didn't care though.  Any place was good enough for him as long as he could hide safely.  He looked down at the iron shackle still hooked on his ankle.  The master had kept him chained because he knew he was a runner.  Somehow the chain had been weak and he was able to break it with a hatchet easily.  He had been on the run for days before finding the barn.  He climbed into the loft and settled down behind some bales of hay.  He could hear the baying of the dogs in the distance.  He could only pray they would not search the barn.  As it turned out, a futile prayer.


Inspired by my current read, Roots by Alex Haley.

Journaling...Friday (Saturday) Fiction: Stock

Today is Friday Fiction at The One-Minute Writer.  Friday Fiction was rescheduled for Saturday this week.  The prompt is Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Stock".  From C. Beth...Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.


It was her first starring role in a summer stock production.  Her dream role--Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.  She was incredibly nervous.  Her stomach was flipping and churning.  She heard the hush as the audience quieted.  The house lights went down.  She stepped forward.  The curtain went up.  This was her moment...

Journaling...Friday Fiction: Watch

Today is Friday Fiction at The One-Minute Writer.  The prompt is Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Watch."  From C. Beth...Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.


Richard had worked on the night watch in the Tower for years.  He patrolled the required areas silently.  He didn't like working in the Tower.  Too many souls had passed through its doors to the scaffold.  It was a dismal place.  As he was passing the quarters which housed the prisoners of high status, he heard a woman's voice.  He looked through the small window in the door and saw a slight, pretty woman on her knees, praying fervently.  She had a courageous air about her and there was a strange heavenly light surrounding her head.  He was astounded by the apparent strength emanating from her...she who was destined for the executioner's sword on the morrow.  He hung his head, his spirit much afflicted, and continued down the corridor.

Journaling...Friday Fiction: Theatre

Today is Friday Fiction at The One-Minute Writer.  The prompt is Theatre--Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "theatre."  From C. Beth...Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.


Anastasia wanted to act in the theatre, but women were not allowed to act on stage.  It was decreed by law.  When she came across the Theatre de Sinistera, she thought this could be her chance.  The director seemed open to having a female performer.  Only when she began rehearsals and saw the pale, otherworldly faces of her fellow actors, did she begin to wonder if she had made a terrible mistake.

Journaling...Friday Fiction: 472

Today is Friday Fiction at The One-Minute Writer.  The prompt is 472--Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "472."  From C. Beth...Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.

Room number 472.  That was all the slip of paper said.  She sat on the bed trying to decide what to do.  The fourth floor was one floor up.  Should she go up and look for the room?  She kept thinking about the noises that were coming from the room above her last night.  What if 472 was directly above her and who in their right mind would actually go check it out?  She grabbed her room key and went out into the hall.  The hotel was deathly quiet.  At the elevator, she punched the up button and thought, "I can't believe I'm doing this."  The door opened and she steps onto the elevator.