Befuddled by what constitutes a Friday Fictioneer? A FF, as we like to abbreviate it, is someone seriously addicted to writing stories of 100-words (more or less but mostly spot-on one hundred) every single week for as long as she or he shall live. Sounds a bit like a marriage vow, doesn’t it? Although it’s not a legal vow, most of us can’t stop writing each week, so it’s much like a marriage vow or an addiction or both.
You’re welcome to join us if you like. The picture prompt is put out early Wednesday morning (yeah, don’t ask about the “Friday” part) and stories follow over the next week. Stories may or may not seem to be directly linked to the picture but that’s fine. The connection can be as nebulous as the promise you made to lose weight this year. You can find the “rules”, such as they are, at the site of our hostess and chief-picture-choose-er, Rochelle Head-in-the-Clouds Wisoff, http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/. The writers come from all over the world (and take you into all sorts of worlds.)
If you don’t want to write, but enjoy reading, fasten your seat belt and click on the blue link creature at the end of my post. That will get you to the page where all the authors link their stories. You’ll have to check back throughout the week to find them all. Authors love “likes” and comments, so jump right in. But beware! You have no idea what you’re getting into! This is not for the faint-of-heart.
copyright doug macilroy
Cloudy
Glancing in the mirror, she smiled at the disconnect between what her eyes saw and the way she felt inside. The reflection nowadays was merciless, but each of those lines told stories of laughter and tears, smiles and frowns–stories of a full life–and she would have changed very few of them.
Her husband was oblivious to those lines. To him, she was the beautiful, young woman he’d married and she would never grow old or wrinkled. He viewed her through love’s prism, greeting her daily with a kiss and a smile…even though now he couldn’t remember her name.
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Whoops! Losing my mind. I forgot the link critter, so here he (or she) is:
This, that and the other thing 
the clouds will come in but the sweet love will endure
lovely…
You’re up and reading early today. 🙂 Glad you liked it and thanks for stopping. I’m off to work out and just work. Wish I were reading instead!
janet
Beautiful despite the circumstances.
Dear Janet,
I’m still reeling from this one. The first paragraph is closer to home than I care to admit. Between smiles and tears. “Love’s prism” …nice. Poetic and poignant. Love the song. It’s one of my all time favorites. Thanks for a good read.
shalom,
Rochelle
My pleasure, Rochelle. I know what you mean about the first paragraph. 🙂 What I see there brought the first paragraph to mind after the clouds sent me in a brain-clouded direction, so I worked the two together.
janet
Great take on the prompt! ‘the disconnect between what her eyes saw and the way she felt inside’ – a line that feels very familiar!
I know what you mean, Gabriella! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and of course, I’m happy you liked the story. I look forward to reading yours, too. But now, off to clean!
janet
Very sweet, Janet.
love’s prism ! excellent Janet 🙂
Swift change of direction at the end there. Very effective.
Thanks, Sandra. How’s your weather these days? We finally got a break in from the hot and humid weather and today it feels more like spring. I’m loving it as I’m cleaning the house!
janet
No sleep after 2.00am yesterday morning, continuous thunder and lightening. It freshened up a bit, but still humid again today. It was nice to see some rain though! 🙂 Never satisfied.
We had several large storms while I was in Naperville and I got into a very bad one in Cleveland yesterday on my return, so bad that cars on the highway were barely moving. Cloudy, windy and cool today and I’m good with that. 🙂
True love endures. This one hit home in more ways than one.
If it’s the first part that hits home, I can identify; if the second, I’m sorry. I think that loss of memory is one of the most frightening things I can think of. Whether love endures through that, I don’t know, but I hope so.
janet
Hi Janet,
You have a welcoming audience for this, I believe. Don’t know what the average age of the Friday Fictioneers is, but my general impression is that as a group we’re not Justin Bieber’s target audience. What I’m trying to say is that you captured beautifully the attitude that time brings to us. Great lines, both kinds. Ron
Haha, I know exactly what you mean, Ron, and I look in the mirror every day, too. Thanks.
janet
“stories of laughter and tears” It seems like these words would touch anybody. They certainly spoke volumes to me. Thanks for the story.
As always, Lewis, it’s my pleasure and I’m happy it touched you.
janet
Hi Janet,
Thank you for the illumination. I now know. Bravo for the “short-short”. You have written that for every woman and their partners.
So far, reading comes more easily to me than writing. 🙂
Reading is just fine. 🙂 No pressure but I like to let people know they’re welcome to try and that we’re not a closed group.
janet
Thank you! You never know when inspiration may strike. 🙂
That was touching. I love the way you wrote your piece on what the photo inspired rather than on the picture specifically. Wonderful short! I am so glad I connected with you FF writers. Talented bunch, you are. ; )
~Christopher
We’re glad you found us, too, Christopher. It never ceases to amaze me how many interesting takes there are each week. It’s such a great learning opportunity.
janet
Wow! Sweet and poetic. And it REALLY is great with the prompt, too!
Nice work this week, Janet!
Thanks, Kent.
janet
Beautiful and heart-felt… love is an emotion that prevails above all. 🙂
True love can endure much and prevail over much, although this is a situation that would be very, very difficult. Thanks for reading and for your comment.
janet
Heartbreaking and beautiful!
Many thanks, Sandra. 🙂
janet
[…] Friday Fictioneers–Cloudy […]
the kind of love one dreams of… beautiful. 🙂
Good morning and thank you, kz. Hope your Thursday is wonderful.
janet
You captured so much here, with the reflection and husband bringing bittersweet tones to me. Each covering sadness and loveliness. Great writing to convey all of this.
Dave, it sounds like you caught all the nuances and contrasts. As always, I appreciate you (and everyone else) stopping by and I’m always glad when someone likes my writing.
janet
Sweet love story, Janet!
I feel the same way about the mirror. But I don’t blame the mirror; I blame gravity. If Isaac Newton was such a genius, he should have been able to discover a method to counteract it 🙂
What a great idea, Jan! Might be a FF story in there somewhere. 🙂
janet
don’t tell old what’s-her-name, but I rather enjoy that prune-face look in a woman. I believe they refer to them as character lines. Seems like there was something else I was going to ad . . . .
But you can’t remember because your mind is going. 🙂
Good luck with that line, Ray. And speaking of characters…
janet
Very poignant. There is a solution to age lines. Don’t wear your glasses when you look in the mirror. 🙂
Many wonderful subtle twists and edges in this short tale of love, self-evaluation, Alzheimer’s and living in the past in the present. Love conquers all, though in some small and great way. Randy
I thought I’d heard every Simon & Garfunkel song, but this one was new to me.
I’m still trying to find the right words to describe your story. Poignant, definitely.
So sad, I loved reading this flash. I wasn’t expecting the ending. Liked the description of love’s prism.
He viewed her through love’s prism,
A lovely, warm tiny tale of love and enduring affection – and then you brought me tears in the last line! Beautiful yet poignant. I particularly liked the “love’s prism” and the “merciless” reflection. 🙂
How sweet and sad, and very well done. Captures many emotions.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/free-flight/
This was beautiful Janet, and a perfect take on the prompt. Thanks for this.
I was struck this week by how many times the topic of clouds crossed my path. This challenge, a TED talk by a photographer who started the Cloud Appreciation Society, and an episode about a cloud nebula on a science fiction program I watch with my dear husband. This morning it is overcast here and I can’t remember where I put my umbrella. Your story and that Simon & Garfunkel tune tied it all together. Nicely done.
now, that is true love.
Love takes a variety of forms, may of which can be difficult, such as this situation would be. Thanks for the visit (as always) and have a great weekend.
janet
I love her attitude. And I love his too. A real love story with a sad ending as eventually they all are! 😀
I guess if you consider that eventually we all die, the stories have sad endings in the earthly sense. But otherwise, I think lots of love stories have happy endings.
Enjoy the weekend, Linda.
janet
Ah to have a love like that, one is truly blessed, even if they forget sometimes. The heart never does.
I hope not, Jackie. It seems as though even Alzheimer’s patients sometimes surface to reality and recognition, at least for a time. I hope that somewhere inside they still remember, but perhaps that would be more cruel.
janet
A really lovely story. Heartfelt and poignant, an all too true tale.
Thanks, Erin. The thought of losing one’s memories is a frightening one to me. And dealing with someone losing their memories must be very difficult and take much love to handle.
janet
Packed a punch. Enjoyed reading. Poignant.
Thanks very much. 🙂
janet
Janet, I didn’t get a chance to comment earlier this morning. This is really beautiful with some many layers. I’m so impressed.
Thanks a lot. And thanks for coming back and commenting. I appreciate the extra effort!
janet
Powerful and touching piece, beautifully written.
Thanks a lot and thanks for still reading on Monday. 🙂 I appreciate hearing from you.
janet
Beautiful take on this prompt. So sad.
Thanks, Shirley, and thanks for still reading on a Tuesday! It’s much appreciated.
janet