Flash Fiction – 12th Ed.

The big upside to flash fiction sites is that they allow you to practice writing within a deceptively challenging genre.  At first you think, ‘Oh, one-hundred words?  How damn hard can that be?”  Right.

The downside is that sometimes the picture prompts don’t resonate.  I’m all about the challenge of creating where no inspiration lies (which is what we writers often do – it’s called ‘writer block’).  However, after 23 years in the military and being told what to do, sometimes I like to say, ‘Go screw.’

Today, the photo prompt resonated.  If you want to try your hand at flash fiction, I’d recommend Rochelle’s Blog.  She has simple rules and a great publicity link for your work.  Also, she’s got mad networking skills, and thus presents a weekly prompt.

Photo copyright – Stephen Baum

THE LIGHT

Lela didn’t realize at first what she saw.  Intense sunlight poured in through the emergency vents.

“Mama, there’s lights on outside,” Lela said.

Her mother stood with a slack jaw and dropped Lela’s hand.  Lela looked to her Noni.

“Noni?  Lights!”

A smile rearranged Noni’s mass of weathered wrinkles.  She said, “Yes, child.  First time since they brought water to Mars.”

“The astroid?” Lela asked, “The one from the story?”

Noni, a tiny woman from a place called Earth, nodded.

“Yes, an asteroid, child,” Noni’s eyes twinkled like stars, “you’re so very bright.”

(93 words)

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I appreciate all comment and critique, unless you came merely to troll me.  In that case, might I invite you out the airlock?