It’s time for Madison Woods’ Friday Fictioneers to submit this week’s entry. If you’ve never participated, check out the link for the rules. Basically, each Wednesday we get a photo prompt that is intended to inspire us to write 100 words. On Friday Madison posts her own creative input, and we are invited to post links to our creative efforts in the Comments section. You can find this week’s offerings HERE.
This week’s photo:
My entry: Green – 100 words
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Karen swept the bone fragments off to the side, making room for a fire near the entrance of the cave. It would be chilly tonight. Mark was collecting wood. There was plenty of that around, dead trees with brittle branches, dry and fast to flame.
Their daughter Mira sat looking through a book. There had been a library at the last town they’d passed through. They had stayed a week, searching the town, hoping to find survivors…
“Mama, what’s green?” Mira asked.
Karen looked out at the grey and brown desolation. “Maybe someday we’ll be able to show you, honey.”
**********************
write tuit 
Posted by The Lime on February 26, 2012 at 19:39
I really like the way you focused on the lack of color in the photo. I think it struck a lot of us, but you really managed to home in on that and make use of it in an interesting way. Fabulous work.
Mine’s here this week: http://thecolorlime.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/to-starve-98/
Posted by Sunday Scatterings « in tuit on February 26, 2012 at 18:50
[…] a big decision. Madison Woods’ Friday Fiction picture prompt inspired an unusual scene in Flash Friday: Green. And Jenny Matlock’s Saturday Centus was all about – a […]
Posted by buddhafulkat on February 25, 2012 at 17:56
Powerful way to end with the last two lines.
Posted by Judee on February 26, 2012 at 12:00
Thank you, nice of you to stop by and comment.
Posted by Madison Woods on February 25, 2012 at 16:41
You know, until I read your story I hadn’t thought of the lack of color in that photo. I was so focused on the bones. Loved that you picked up on the absence of green and capitalized on the hope of seeing it again.
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 17:35
Yes, well, when I first saw the picture, I had no idea what to write, wasn’t even sure I would participate this week, all I could thing was grey, grey grey – and then the word green popped into my mind and this is what hwppwned. Thanks for visiting, Madison, always nice to have your input.
Posted by Robin Hawke on February 25, 2012 at 16:03
My favorite part was the scene you painted with plenty of dried wood, Robin
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 17:33
Hi Robin, thank you for your comment.
Posted by Wakefield Mahon on February 25, 2012 at 13:42
Hi Judee,
I just remembered I have a post apocolyptic story that I was working on back in December with just such a theme. I really love the way you apply the description through emotional dialogue.
Posted by Judee on February 26, 2012 at 18:09
Thank you so much! Sorry I didn’t see this sooner, found it in spam, but fixed that. Thanks for the visit and comment.
Posted by dmmacilroy on February 25, 2012 at 12:01
Dear Judee,
Perfect question in a perfect story. Well told, my dear.
Aloha,
Doug
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 13:05
Thank you Doug, I appreciate your comment.
Posted by Charles Oyeleke Williams on February 25, 2012 at 11:11
Where they victims of a nuclear wreckage? This story brings to mind the aftermath of Hiroshima…I hope we’d keep the world safe enough to have green around to show posterity!
Great piece!
Posted by Charles Oyeleke Williams on February 25, 2012 at 11:12
Here’s a link to mine:
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 13:07
Thank you Charles, and as for the origin of this apocalypse, that is left up to the imagination at this point. I too hope we keep things safe!
Posted by Quill Shiv on February 25, 2012 at 01:22
The idea that the child had never seen “green” was very sad to me. Not even a crayon. Not a picture book. Just the word. Very sad.
This is a wonderful piece that may be all too true someday. Great job!
My link is here: http://quillshiv.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/let-flow-what-is-left/
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 09:59
Wow, I certainly hope it won’t be true someday. Thanks for the visit and the comment, Quill.
Posted by Siobhan Muir on February 25, 2012 at 01:01
Wow, powerful and full of hope, Judee. I liked the whole set up of the apocalyptic world and the richness of the library. Nicely done.
Here’s mine:
http://siobhanmuir.blogspot.com/2012/02/cave-100words-for-fridayfictioneers-and.html
Siobhan
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 09:58
Thank you Siobhan, nice of you to visit.
Posted by bridgesareforburning on February 25, 2012 at 00:06
Hi Judee,
Wow, a really good, grim apocalyptic tale. Yes, I would miss the color green intensely. Reminded me of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Do you know it? That’s high praise as he’s one of my favorite writers.
Thanks for all your nice words on my work.
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 09:21
Thank you Ron, what a nice complement. No I am not familiar with Cormac McCarthy, but you have me curious now and I’ll go check it out at Amazon. Nice to see you, and thanks for the visit.
Posted by Lindaura Glamoura on February 24, 2012 at 22:13
Yes, that was a terrific way to lead us along as if we were on a camping trip with our honey – and whoops, the apocalypse!
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 09:16
Ha, yes, came on kinda sudden didn’t it? That’s what I love about short fiction, it gets to the point rather rapidly. Thank you, Lindaura, for the visit and comment.
Posted by V. L. Gregory-Pohlenz on February 24, 2012 at 20:23
Great story! The wonder of green could also be translated to the wonder of sight in another situation. Well done.
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 09:11
Thank you Gregory, I’m glad you dropped by.
Posted by teschoenborn on February 24, 2012 at 20:12
Love the child’s line. It really cements the scene.
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 09:10
Thank you, I’m glad you liked it.
Posted by Craig Towsley on February 24, 2012 at 18:44
Really neat idea. So, I wonder how old the child was when this apocalypse-thing happened. And then, even though the parents have entered survival mode, they taught their daughter to read, I like that part – They haven’t given up.
Favourite line: “dry and fast to flame”
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 09:03
Thanks for commenting Craig. I would imagine that when it happened the child was young enough to not remember green, maybe 2 or 3? I think they’ve been traveling for awhile. Or at least, that was my impression. They haven’t told me all the details. 😉
Posted by niiko47 on February 24, 2012 at 17:53
I do enjoy a good “post-apocalyptic” piece and this one leaves no other image in my mind than one of optimism in the face of such crushing isolation and desolation.
Wonderful writing.
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 09:01
Thank you niiko, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Posted by Janet on February 24, 2012 at 17:47
You’re right – we both went for the grey theme. Great minds think alike!
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 09:00
Ha, yes, gmta. Thanks for dropping by, Janet.
Posted by andyfloodwritersblog on February 24, 2012 at 17:43
What a great story! For me it started out as a simple camping trip until you work in the reveal which clues us in as to the post apocalyptic nature of your story. A library in an empty town, a child who has never seen green, a family sticking together… superb and quite touching. I’d like to think we all would have some of this spirit and optimism were such a thing to befall us. Well done 🙂
Posted by Judee on February 25, 2012 at 08:58
What a nice comment, thank you andy. I’d like to think that, too. If nothing else, the human spirit is tenacious about holding on to hope.
Posted by elmowrites on February 24, 2012 at 17:17
Wow, you depict the post-apocalyptic word so subtly and clearly, but I think there’s a bit of hope at the end.
Posted by Judee on February 24, 2012 at 17:23
Thank you for the lovely comment elmo, and yes I believe there may be hope.
Posted by miq on February 24, 2012 at 16:52
Mira’s question is so heartbreaking. Well done.
Mine’s here:
http://threedescriptors.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/flash-fiction-10-bones/
Posted by Judee on February 24, 2012 at 17:23
Thank you miq, glad you dropped by.
Posted by kbnelson on February 24, 2012 at 16:47
Ooooh! That was good! I like how when I reread it, “Karen swept the bone fragments off to the side” suddenly became much more ominous. Thanks for sharing!
http://kbnelson.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/friday-flash-pilgrimage/
Posted by Judee on February 24, 2012 at 17:22
Thank you for commenting – I hadn’t even thought about that, but you’re right, it does sound rather ominous, and I didn’t even try, lol!