Fictioneer: n. 1. A person who participates in a weekly challenge to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt.
2. A person who tells stories that may or may not be based in reality.
3. A person addicted to writing once-a-week, 100-word stories. No cure is known.
If you are not a Fictioneer, you’re welcome to read offerings other than mine by clicking on the blue link monster that follows my story.
If you read, feel free to “like” and comment.
Fictioneers love responses!
How many musical references can you find? Don’t be afraid to be Frank. Or…maybe not.
Word count: 100
Genre: If you can’t tell, I’ve failed.
A Noteworthy End
(Overheard at the wake)
“The key to it all (according to Frank) was to be natural and a sharp dresser.”
“Yeah, he always pulled out all the stops!”
“He liked to say ‘Oppor-knockity tunes but once.’”
“He also liked ‘Just duet.’ Drove me nuts.”
“Have you seen Dal Segno here?”
“Sorry, could you repeat that?”
“Never mind. It’s fine.”
“Frank liked to fly by the seat of his pants. And he was really getting into the piano.
“True, although he didn’t always conduct himself very well.”
“But what a finale!
“He’d love it! He always went for Baroque and besides, it’s all over YouTuba!”
Dear Janet,
A well orchestrated story. I’ll be trumpeting my like for it all morning with forte. You Tuba? That gets a double-groan. I’m leaving now before I get into treble and contract a staff infection.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Oh, very good, Fearless Conductor! There were so many choice here, it made me treble. Can’to do any more right now but glad you stopped by.
janet
Haha. I think I got 16 😀
I haven’t even counted all of them myself, Alastair, but thanks for playing. 🙂
janet
You’re welcome. I may have seen a couple that weren’t there 🙂
This was a great take on the prompt, and so cleverly conducted. (Well it’s not as bad as You Tuba) 😦 Nicely done Janet, as ever.
Sandra, you’ve cut me to the quick. “YouTuba” is my favorite of all. I thought of it some weeks ago and have been waiting for an oppurknockity to use it. 🙂
janet
🙂 Apogollies.
🙂 I’m alto-gether not bothered by it.
I get 22, Janet, with a couple of possibles in the wings. Fun quiz.
Good morning, vb. Struggling just to get to comments, let alone stories right now. At some point I’ll sit down and count them and see what I come up with. Thanks for stopping in.
janet
That’s some good punny fun. 🙂
I’m glad it hit the right note, David.
janet
Funny composition – I got 13 :o)
I have to count them myself at some point but too busy working on house and yard right now. The house should go on the market today or tomorrow!!
janet
A funny one – obviously you have a number of musical people
Im not Frank but I got 22 ( that was stretching) Am sure you could infer a few more
but I’ll wait for the final bell…
The music muse began composing when it saw this prompt and I couldn’t come to a full stop, so I just played on.
janet
I lost track of the number, but enjoyed the piece from beginning to end.
That’s the aim, Joe, so I’m glad.
janet
Reblogged this on Bastet and Sekhmet and commented:
Nice prompt!
So many groans here, darling. Gone Chopin, be Bach in a minuet.
Oh, a perfect stanza of your own. Thanks for stopping by before your Chopin.
janet
Hilariously rich with all the musical terms. You know, I almost did a story similar to this, but I NEVER would have done it as well. BRAVO!!! We know we can COUNT on you. 😉
🙂
A very apt title for your story. Some people know how to make their exit, don’t they?
Some people just know how to live. 🙂
Just too funny Janet! Love every one of ’em! 🙂
Thanks a lot, Penny!
janet
Lots of clever wordplay. Well done.
Glad you liked it. I was hit by the pun-ny stick and couldn’t help it.
janet
“Just duet”..I like that, lol
My favorite is YouTuba. “Just duet” popped onto the score just before I posted.
janet
I love that he liked to fly by the seat of his pants!
If not, how would he have gotten in the position he is? 😉
Thanks for stopping by.
janet
Haha! Frank’s fitting end! Wonderful Janet! 😀
Thanks, Linda. Glad you enjoyed it.
janet
Oops! So sorry Janet! For some reason I thought I clicked on Sandra’s piece! Well I have the same comment. I just loved your wordplay. Wonderful JANET! 😀
That’s OK, I just went in and edited it. 🙂 Still glad you liked it.
janet
Excellent – really clever!! Love opper-knockety tunes 🙂
That’s the punchline for a joke but I’ve always loved it and couldn’t resist the opper-knockety to include it. Glad you liked it and thanks for stopping by.
janet
Pure brilliance!
I’m impressed. I’m obviously not as tuned in as some of your commentators since I can only count 15 musical references. But I learned a new word – “opperknockity”. Thanks 🙂
John, I’m glad you enjoyed it. That was a crazy picture so I’m glad if I did justice to it.
janet
[…] have used this intriguing photo as the prompt of the week! I came across it thanks to “This, That and The Other Thing” whom I reblogged yesterday, read her story it’s great! Then I saw Shainbird had […]
Good fun and very clever.
I wouldn’t want to horn it, and I couldn’t count all the references anyway. Very fun post!
Ah, Perry, always good to hear your fluting voice in the comment section. I’m happy you enjoyed it. It was fun writing it but not as easy trying to have it all make sense and paring down the idea.
janet
Lots of fun! And I love YouTuba!
Hilarious – I love puns! Just when I thought I was running out of musical references – there is your mountain of ’em singing out!
Someone said that puns are the lowest form of humor so perhaps that says something about me (or us), but I’m OK with that, as long as they’re not malicious or very off-color. When I read your story, I was pretty sure you’d enjoy mine. Now let’s each pat the other on the back so we don’t either of us break our arms patting ourselves. 🙂
janet
Puns like this are underrated, methinks.
I agree, but then I would, wouldn’t I? Thanks for coming by.
janet
I see what you did there. Nice word play.
Glad you enjoyed it, Atiya. Music to my ears. 🙂
janet
Another punster, yea! This was fantastic and funny. How you wove the plot in concert with the puns is beyond me. That’s definitely something to trumpet about.
Great! I’m glad it made beautiful music for you. Thanks.
janet
very clever. You always hear the best things at a wake, don’t you 😉
Carrie, I hope I hear clever things at mine. 🙂
janet
amazing, clever , creative story 🙂
Thanks very much, Shreyank. So pleased you liked it. I’m still working my way through stories and I know there will be more posted today. 🙂
Enjoy your Friday.
janet
It left me smiling from ear to ear. I hope I go out with such style and grace. Enjoyed the Fictioneers definition too.
If your smile is that wide, my story succeeded. I do hope you don’t go out stuck head-first in a piano, though.
janet
“always went for Baroque???” Oh no, she did-nt! I loved this one Janet, very fun =)
Glad I could serenade you with this silly song, Troy. I hope you waltz into the weekend with joy.
janet
Yes, you hit all the right notes, Janet. A masterful piece, Janet! It’s so clever and fun.
🙂 Thanks! I’d pun back at you, but I’m all punned out for right now. Enjoy the weekend and I’m glad you enjoyed this.
janet
Fantastically entertaining – love YouTuba! You better get that trademarked! Brilliant and fun! Refreshing flash fiction.
I’m happy you liked it so much, Neens, especially YouTuba. Someone’s probably thought of it before but if so, I haven’t heard of it. 🙂
janet
Puntastic 😀
Tack! (Good thing I checked as I thought it was “tak.” Shows you how good my Swedish is!)
jante
Tusen Tack 🙂
Thousand?
Often said together 🙂
that one made me smile, groan, count and try to come up with another. I couldn’t. Well done. I love word play.
I do, too, Jackie, and I’m happy you liked it. Have you ever read any of Richard Lederer’s books? You’d love “Anguished English” and he also has “Get Thee to a Punnery” and other gems. I laughed until I cried, literally, reading “AE.” Highly recommended!
janet
I will look into them for sure! Thanks Janet. 🙂
So many puns, so little time! 😉 Very well done!
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/simon-sez/
Thanks, Maggie. I’m working my way through the stories but still have at least two rows to go and who know what will happen by morning!
janet
You’ve been practicing, Janet. What a fine performance. I’m looking forward to an encore next week 🙂
It must take you so long to orchestrate these pieces. Well done. I think I’m glad you only had 100 words on this one. 🙂
What? You didn’t crave more puns? I’m crushed. 😦
Glad you enjoyed the story, Sarah Ann, and I hope you’re having a great weekend. I’m still working my way towards your story and should arrive sometime today (I hope.)
janet
Judging by your picture (of yourself not prompt) you must be feeling a little ‘horse’ from singing this story. Great fun, the story! I don’t have the time to fine tooth comb it for musical references, but I get 14 at first count, which includes ‘panting’ – something I am regularly reduced to as a singer (okay, so YOU try singing ‘Queen of the Night’ when you get to 62). Seriously, this sort of approach could be fantastic for children’s stories of the educational ‘quiz’ variety. Ann
Ann, thanks ever so much for the praise. I haven’t actually counted the references yet and as for singing at 62, I’ll let you know how it goes in three years. 🙂
janet
Your horse looks older than you, liar. 🙂
Wow. I’m impressed. I love the puns. You know your music.
Tony, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I know a bit about music but also have friends who are professional musicians, which helps a bit. Thanks for coming by.
janet
You are most welcome. I loved your piece.
This one really sings! But going for Baroque? You Tuba? Oh, Janet, that’s punny!
Seriously, it’s a very funny story. 😉
Great to hear, Sharon. I’ve been wanting to use YouTuba somewhere for a long time. How can you NOT go for Baroque? 🙂
janet
tee hee…a Janet classic. ♥ i love it!
Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.
janet
♥
Comments as funny as the story. Excellent fun!
Good! Glad you liked it.
janet
Very fun to read…genre: horror? right?
You’re in a spritely mood today, Scott. 🙂 I knew you’d recognize it as horror immediately. Good call.
Have a great Monday!
janet
Great fun, Janet, maybe we should start a new group: Monday Punday perhaps???
That could be fun, EL, although maybe having to come up with puns in a publishable format every week might be too much (or make one weak). Randy would probably love it, though. 🙂
janet
‘Conducted’ yourself with cleverness here. As other too, I’ve enjoyed your ‘Key’ words.
Thanks for stopping by the Sycamores and Oakwoods. 🙂 Hope Alastair ‘roots’ up his piece soon, as my new piece for the current week has already ’em’bark’ed.
Cheers.
Glad the story sang to you, Jules. I have to do some reading today. The whole day so far has been working on the house as we have our first open house Sunday and I want the place to look great. See you soon.
janet
Oh, I’ve moved too many times. I dislike open houses, but they are needed. Good luck. Wishing a quick and easy ‘sale’.
Thanks! That’s certainly what we’d like, too.