Thursday, March 15, 2012

Friday Fictioneers

It's Friday Fictioneer time which means writers are encouraged to post a 100-word flash fiction story based on a photo provided by author Madison Woods at http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/ I encourage you to try this creative exercise and post a link to your blog on Madison's site (and mine) so we can all enjoy them.

Here's this week's photo:


DOGSPEAK
By Beth Carter

"Did you hear that?"
"What?"
Barney talked.
Jack stared at the half-brown, half-gray dog that had wandered up to their house the previous day.
"Don't be ridiculous." He continued to chop wood while Nelia poured water into Barney's bowl.
"Thank you."
"He did it again! Jack, come over here."
Jack peered over his glasses. "Have you taken up drinking?"
Nelia put her hands on her hips. "I'm serious. Watch." She gave Barney some crispy bacon.
Nothing.
She handed him another piece.
Barney crunched loudly but said nothing, his mouth set in a defiant line.
Jack shrugged, walked to the wood pile and started chopping.
"More." Nelia fainted.
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

39 comments:

  1. T.E.SchoenbornMarch 16, 2012 at 11:43 AM

    Wonderful and I'm sure if my dog spoke that's exactly what he'd say.

    Here's mine: http://teschoenborn.com/2012/03/15/friday-fictioneers-2/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 16, 2012 at 12:25 PM

      Wouldn't it be fun if they could talk? Thanks for commenting. I'll read yours soon.

      Delete
  2. Joseph E. LernerMarch 16, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    Good dialogue—very realistic. You have a great ear, Beth!

    Mine's posted here: http://furiousfictions.com (the vow). Hope you also have time to check out D.S. Sulaitis's "The Lovers," which I posted earlier this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 16, 2012 at 12:26 PM

      Thank you, Joseph! I love writing dialogue. I find it much easier than setting or descriptions.

      Can't wait to read yours.

      Delete
  3. Siobhan MuirMarch 16, 2012 at 11:48 AM

    Great story, Beth! I laughed at her amazement and frustration when the dog only spoke to her. :)

    Thanks for commenting on mine, but for anyone else:
    http://siobhanmuir.blogspot.com/2012/03/outside-of-dog-100words-for.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 16, 2012 at 12:28 PM

      Thanks Siobhan/Meg! I tried to capture the wife's frustration and glad I did. At first, I just ended my story with "More" but decided she needed to faint!

      Yours was really good. These are so fun.

      Delete
  4. Palooski65March 16, 2012 at 12:09 PM

    Beth, As usual, a F.I.N.E. piece--I'm still laughing! Humor seems to run in the posts this week.

    mine: www.vlgregory-circa1800.vpweb.com/blog.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 16, 2012 at 12:29 PM

      Thanks, Ginny. I tried to find yours yesterday but couldn't. I'll recheck again soon.

      Delete
    2. BethMarch 17, 2012 at 7:46 AM

      Ginny, when I type in that link, it goes straight to Vista Print's home page??? I'll just try googling you and see if I can find it.

      Delete
  5. Pamela FosterMarch 16, 2012 at 12:11 PM

    So funny, Beth. You crack me up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 16, 2012 at 12:31 PM

      Thanks for stopping by, Pam. I like to occasionally give Russell some competition but he's the king of humor writing. Ha!

      Delete
    2. RussellMarch 16, 2012 at 12:50 PM

      You're making my head swell, Beth. I do what I can :)

      Delete
    3. BethMarch 16, 2012 at 1:19 PM

      You're a natural, Russell.

      Delete
  6. Sandra CrookMarch 16, 2012 at 12:22 PM

    That could be a script for a comedy, really made me grin.
    Well done.

    http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/straight-talking-friday-fictioneers-16-march-2012/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 16, 2012 at 12:32 PM

      Thanks much, Sandra. Glad I made you smile! I'll head over to yours soon.

      Delete
  7. LoraMarch 16, 2012 at 12:50 PM

    Comical. Love the ending where she faints. Thanks for the chuckles. Here's mine:
    www.triplemoonstar.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 16, 2012 at 1:15 PM

      Thanks, Lora. I'm glad I added the fainting part after some consideration.

      Read yours and commented. Nice way to tie up all the loose ends from previous pieces!

      Delete
  8. RussellMarch 16, 2012 at 12:53 PM

    Dear Beth,
    Truly a great piece. I'm not sure I'd want our dog to talk. He'd likely tell on, or blackmail me. I love to use dialogue too, but I think you do it better than I.

    mine's at http://russellgayer.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 16, 2012 at 1:18 PM

      Thank you, Russell. It would be interesting if animals could talk! You're great with dialogue. I write heavily with it--probably because I'm not great with flowery prose. :)

      Read and loved your hilarious piece! I commented.

      Delete
  9. Susan WenzelMarch 16, 2012 at 1:33 PM

    I love talking dogs. My two are effective communicators and sometimes I swear they can talk...either that or I can understand "dog"...

    ~Susan (here's mine: http://www.susanwenzel.com/)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 17, 2012 at 7:50 AM

      LOL. This is my first attempt with a talking dog but one of our Labs is so stubborn I could see her messing with us like this.

      I think I read yours and loved it but I'll check back and make sure.

      Delete
  10. CCMarch 16, 2012 at 4:33 PM

    Lol! He was really messing with her. Love it!

    My attempt: http://unduecreativity.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/a-little-longer/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 17, 2012 at 7:54 AM

      Yes, he was, CC. Thanks for stopping by. I had fun with this one and will check yours soon.

      Delete
  11. AnonymousMarch 16, 2012 at 5:50 PM

    Hi Beth,
    This is great. I suggest Nelia use Barney to spy on Jack, although this could be dangerous for the relationship. You really brought home the bacon on this one. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
    Here's mine: http://bridgesareforburning.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 17, 2012 at 7:57 AM

      Ha! Brought home the bacon...good. :)

      She could use Barney for unsavory things like that, but I think Barney has a mind of his own and isn't going to do anything Nelia asks!

      I'll check yours soon. Thanks.

      Delete
  12. ShirleyMarch 16, 2012 at 8:21 PM

    Beth, this seems to come so easy to you. Great job. Here's mine.
    http://shirleymccann.blogspot.com/2012/03/neighborhood-watch-friday-fictioneers.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 17, 2012 at 7:45 AM

      Thanks, Shirley. As you know, I LOVE writing short, short-short and six-word memoirs. I guess brevity does come easy for me. It isn't so daunting so I jump right in and write it quickly. Maybe I'm more creative when I do that!

      Yours have been great. Can't wait to hop over there.

      Delete
  13. Jan MorrillMarch 16, 2012 at 9:16 PM

    Hilarious, Beth! Sometimes it looks like my dogs are going to talk any minute. Wonder what they'd say? :) Very creative!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 17, 2012 at 8:00 AM

      Thanks, Jan. Yes, it would be fun if they could talk. I often watch our two Labs communicate with one another and wonder what they're saying.

      Loved your poem/story!!! Beautiful, as always.

      Delete
  14. Madison WoodsMarch 17, 2012 at 9:14 AM

    Hahah! That's probably exactly what would happen to me if my dog really talked. No one would believe me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 17, 2012 at 12:11 PM

      Same here, Madison! Thanks for commenting.

      Delete
  15. tedstrutzMarch 17, 2012 at 10:35 AM

    That was cute take on the prompt, and clever. I enjoyed the dialog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 17, 2012 at 12:13 PM

      Thanks, Ted! I appreciate your comments and the fact that you stopped by.

      Delete
  16. carlosMarch 17, 2012 at 12:37 PM

    A talking dog! Great! There was an old comic strip from the 40s, Barnaby and Mr O'Malley by Crockett Johnson, and Barnaby had a talking dog who talked a blue streak. When Barnaby tried to get him to speak for people, he'd talk, but all he'd say was "Arf"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 17, 2012 at 12:55 PM

      Glad you enjoyed it, Carlos. Funny about the comic strip. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  17. RuthMarch 18, 2012 at 8:05 PM

    You mean dogs don't talk?
    Mine do.

    ReplyDelete
  18. LupusAnthroposMarch 18, 2012 at 10:34 PM

    Gotta love canine mind games. LOL!

    Here's my story: http://wp.me/p24aJS-3m

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BethMarch 19, 2012 at 6:19 PM

      Yes, we do! I'll check yours now. Thanks.

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)