She Plays So Well – Friday Fictioneers

January 20, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 31 Comments

A new week brings a new “flash fiction” writers challenge from Friday Fictioneers. Thank you to the always gracious and talented, Rochelle. To be a part of this wonderful writers weekly challenge or read some of the awesome other entries click HERE!

My entry (for those who follow my blog) is unlike those I generally write which tends to be positive, loving and upbeat. Still I hope all you creative types out there enjoy this very temporary change of pace from me:

PHOTO PROMPT © Jan W. Fields

She Plays So Well

“She plays so well,” he thought with undying admiration.

A virtuoso, her long slender fingers drifting delicately over keys with expertise rarely seen. He was only one of many applauding her amazing performance, but he was the lucky one asked to attend her in her dressing room after.

Happily sharing his love fully and completely, too late realizing he was also the one selected to replace depleted creative energy, he felt her demonic fingers drifting delicately over his body draining him of life.

“Ah, but she plays so well,” he thought even as his beating heart stopped in dying admiration.

Thanks for your visit, I hope you enjoyed this playful rendition of life not going the way you thought it should. A good idea to remember sometimes things aren’t what they seem.

Have a great rest of the week and weekend to come. May your days be filled with only good and positive things!

With much affection,

~ Penny

Mondays Finish the Story – They say Life is a Game of Chess!

December 19, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

The Photo and Sentence Prompt: “They say that life is a game of chess…”

They say that life is a game of chess. Okay, I’m good with that, after spending (in my previous post – the story for Sunday Photo Fiction) a cold, drafty hungry weekend at a castle, I’m really into the whole game of chess thing. Just one question – who made the queen so powerful?

Could we have a little more sharing of powers going on here. I mean the king can barely take a step in any direction without getting stomped on, and he’s the king. You know, head honcho, main dude, Number Ono, and the big prize on the board, still he’s pretty much powerless. But perhaps there’s a truth in this.

Maybe it’s true for everyone. Perhaps the meaning of life is that the king’s not much different than the lowly pawn. Well, except the king has people wait on him and wears groovy clothes and things, but other than that, oh and he probably eats really well and has people (probably the pawn) help him find his way around drafty castles”… no wait this isn’t working out the way I thought …

I guess life is like a game of chess because they both confuse the heck out of a person.

For more information about Mondays Finish The Story (flash fiction) Writers Challenge, where the writer uses both a photo and an opening sentence for the prompt: click HERE. Barb will guide you through the process, be sure and read some of the other well written entries while you’re there.

Thanks for stopping by and reading,

~ Penny

Sunday Photo Fiction – Maze of corridors or it’s all about directions!

December 19, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 15 Comments

photograph © Alastair Forbes

View of one of the outbuildings from the roof of Dover Castle

It’s not that I don’t read directions when I receive them (okay I don’t, at least not very well) but who knew a castle could have so many corridors. Well actually I did, still, I have a map and directions too, but I figured I could just follow the map. Looked simply enough. Right turn here, left turn there and so on until I should have ended up in the dining room.

It was nice to be invited for the festive holiday weekend, but between the cold drafty bedroom, poorly lit hallways, well let’s just say I’d be glad when it was time to go.

Now it appeared, instead of freezing, I’d starve to death before finding my way to the dining room.

Finally I looked at the directions again squinting in the poor light to make out the clearly printed words at the bottom of the sheet of paper.

What I found there, that I should have read in the beginning said, “When you think you’ve gotten enough exercise, use your cell phone and call this number. We’ll come and get you for dinner.”

Proving the point you should read ALL the directions first!

For more information about Sunday Photo Fiction and how you can enter click here for the details. your very talented host, Alastair, will guide you through the steps. And, while there, be sure to click on the little blue guy for more short stories by some great writers!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed,

~ Penny

Mondays Finish the Story – This is as Deep as it Gets!

December 11, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 12 Comments

The Photo and Sentence Prompt: “Donning her fins and snorkel, she headed out into the deep water.”

My Entry:

Donning her fins and snorkel, she headed out into the deep water. She knew deep water well. At the moment in her personal life she was over her head in deep waters. Deep troubles, deep problems, deep,deep deep!

Here, in the ocean she could let it all go, for at least a short period of time. Forget about her cheating husband, her loss of her job this week, all the ever increasing bills, and the amazing fact that she really didn’t care all that much about any of it.

The deepness felt because of great weariness, an exhaustion from trying to do so much for so many.

However with each stroke, as she swam through the waters, she felt an increasing sense of freedom for the first time in a very long time. Yes she thought, it’s my turn now. Her strokes became fuller and stronger as she swam. I believe the only deep thing I’m going to let myself get into going forward is this big, beautiful ocean. With a quick kick off and a few more strokes she headed for shore.

Yes, she thought, finally time for me to live my life – for me.

*****

Thanks for stopping by, have an excellent weekend, and if you live here on the West Coast of America, be careful, a lot of rain and wind going on … take care of you!

With affection,

~ Penny

Sunday Photo Fiction – There’s A Dragon on my Bedpost!

December 8, 2014December 11, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 24 Comments

Photo Prompt for This weeks Writer’s Challenge:

photograph © Alastair Forbes

My Entry:

Dragon On My Bed Post

Briefly opening my eyes, I rolled over on my side and considered staying in bed longer. After all it was Sunday. Dozing off, I heard a loud cough and a caustic voice which had me reopening my eyes and sitting up in bed with pounding heart.

“Would you mind, terribly, waking up, I’m getting bored sitting here.” The creature attached to the voice said.

There at the foot of my bed, sitting atop one of the bedposts was a miniature dragon, a surly look on his face.

I stared, rubbed my eyes and stared again.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m real.” He responded to my obvious expression of disbelief.

“Um, you’re a dragon.” I said incredulously.

“He speaks and has some intelligence,” was the dragons reply.

“Wh … what are you doing here … are you real?” I asked.

“Hmm, I spoke too soon,” the dragon added. “Yes I-am-real, you’re talking to me aren’t you? And I’m here doing penance for something I shouldn’t have done, so I have to stay with a human for twenty four hours. My punishment.”

“Staying with me is a punishment?” I asked.

“You have no idea,” he said. A great deal of derision in his voice.

“Why me?” I asked.

“Why not?” He answered with a smirk.

“Why Earth, then?” I said, continuing to ask what I thought were fair questions upon finding a dragon in your bedroom.

“Because this is the worst place the Committee for Criminal Offenses could come up with on short notice.”

“Earth the worst place, ah, come on now,” I said, preparing to defend my home planet.

“Gee let me see …” He held up one of his claws and ticked off each point he made. “Well, you not only kill each other out of hatred and greed, but you consume far more than you should and are systematically killing off other life forms on your planet and…”

“Okay, okay,” I sighed. “You’ve made you’re point.” Changing the subject I said, “So you have to stay here for 24 hours?”

“Yeah, 24 lousy hours. Say you don’t happen to have a cigarette on you … well not on you but… do you smoke?” He asked, looking hopefully around the room.

“No, you can get lung cancer from smoking,” I answered.

“Dragons can’t.”

“Oh okay, and no I don’t have any cigarettes. So why are you in trouble?”

“For smoking.” He replied.

“That’s a criminal offense?” I said.

“Yeah, just one cig. and my fire breathing capabilities go out the window. I become useless in the defense of my lair, not enough flame left to even light a cigarette.”

“Well I can see where that would be bad. So do you have a name?” I asked.

“Yes, yes I have a name. You have a name don’t you? Of course I have a name!” He was back to being rude and surly again.

“I’m called Puff, I’m Puff the magic dragon and don’t say a word about that stupid song. I’m still living that one down … frolicking? FROLICKING? Dragons don’t friggin’ frolick.”

He let out an irritated sound with a blast of steam and said, “The next time I sneak a smoke …” He paused but I could see he was really worked up so I kept my silence as he finished with …“I’ll make gosh darn sure no one can see me. Oh, just go back to sleep.”

“Earthlings!” He muttered, sticking his head under his wing, steam seeping out.

For more information about Sunday Photo Fiction and how you can enter click here for the details. Alastair, the host with the most will take you through the steps. And, while there, be sure to click on the little blue guy for more short stories by some great writers!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed,

~ Penny

Sunday Photo Fiction: Troubled Waters Bridge!

November 30, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 25 Comments

photograph © Alastair Forbes

Photo prompt of a bridge going over a small river:

Not my usual gig.

I’m a detective. Wat (pronounced watt, short for ‘Waters’) Allen Bridge, my name. ‘Wat’ a nickname I got as a kid who loved being in the water more than anything else.

Anyway, I would have turned this gig or job down, except the money was too good, I was down to my last sawbuck and then there were the usual enticements; gorgeous sexy broad in fear for her life, hidden stash of cash, mob involvement … yada yada yada.

Like I said, all the usual we P.I.’s get our kicks out of … with one exception. The fish bowl.

Lily, that’s the broad’s name, came in carrying a fish bowl with obligatory goldfish, mermaid, fake sea grass and a closed miniature treasure chest sitting on some gravel inside. The water swishing along with the dame as she walked over and set the bowl on my desk.

‘What’s with the fish bowl, doll?” I asked.

She explained. According to his will, inside the closed treasure chest were a portion of the remains of her deceased husband. Not missing a trick I said, “Yeah if his remains are in there, he’s definitely deceased!” She wasn’t amused. She told me that inside the remains, inside the treasure chest was a key. A key to the location of a million dollars.

The problem was she couldn’t bring herself to open the miniature chest and dig through her husband’s remains to get the key. Which I could understand being a sensitive guy, but a million smackers is still a million smackers and for what I was being paid, no prob. I could get my fingers wet and open the sucker… or so I thought.

But the more I thought about it, well it kinda’ started to bother me too. Putting my fingers inside his remains just seemed, well, weird.

So here we sit staring at the fishbowl. I am troubled.

Hope I made you smile, at least a little bit!

For more information about Sunday Photo Fiction click here for the details. Alastair will be your capable and caring guide. And, while there, be sure to click on the little blue guy for more short stories by some great writers!

Thanks for stopping by, have a great Sunday and week ahead,

~ Penny

Mondays Finish the Story – Dancing for the life of it!

November 24, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 14 Comments

Dancing For the Life of It

“Dance as if no one is watching!” Now where have I heard that before? Oh yes, it’s part of a Mark Twain quote. But I digress. I am only a dancing statue but if I were flesh and blood …

… you’d find me running barefoot through open fields and meadows. I’d be scaling the tallest majestic mountains, breathing in the beauty of never-ending surrounding vistas.

If I were alive I’d swim to the bottom of the ocean, meet mysterious creatures residing in the murky, dark and sometimes luminous “other worlds” of the ocean’s depths.

Being on earth as a human, I’d explore, without hesitation, the wonder and uniqueness of every single living entity … and glory in its creation. I’d meet as many forms of life in the wild and learn of their ways in nature. I’d embrace the natural behavior and order of things. And after I had done all those things … I’d dance … because I have the gift of life!

Thanks for stopping by and reading, I hope your enjoyed.

Happy beginning of the week, I hope your week is a great one for you,

~ Penny

Monday’s Finish the Story: The Porta Potty Portal

November 17, 2014November 17, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 19 Comments

The Outhouse aka an old fashioned Porta Potty

“When I rented the room, I did not think it would be this one! But its worked out pretty good after all.”

“Why is that?”

“Because this is the Portal.”

“What do you mean this is the portal?”

“What do you mean … what do I mean? This is the Portal. You know the gateway to another dimension?”

“You’re kidding? I’m not going in there!”

“Why not? It’s just a place where people do … well .. their thing. No big deal.”

“Yes, it is a big deal. And I’m not going in there.”

“Well then I guess you won’t be following me into an alternative universe then, will you?”

“Ah, come on. If anyone see’s both of us going in there at the same time, what are they going to think?”

“We’re in the middle of nowhere, what anybody are you talking about?”

“Okay, so we step inside and then what happens?”

“Well there’s a flusher installed in this one … so we flush.”

“We flush?”

“Yes, that’s what I just said, we flush.”

“Are you telling me we’ll be flushing ourselves into another universe? Seriously?”

“Look, I know it sounds a bit unusual …”

“… a bit unusual … a bit UNUSUAL?”

“Yes, but I think you’ll find it all works out in the end!”

Thanks for reading, I hope I got a few laughs out of you with this one! Have an excellent rest of your week, stay warm and safe.

Mondays Finish The Story – Life’s Perspective

November 10, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 20 Comments

Would anyone know if there truly was an alien invasion? She thought. She pondered this question for a second longer and then laughed to herself. In a heartbeat we would! They are so noisy.

However, this was just one of the many thoughts passing through her mind while cleaning her mandibles. She paused to consider her forearms. They are beautiful, aren’t they? She reflected, her thoughts continuing on.

She’d debated whether or not to stay where she was. The alien beings had a habit of showing up and invading her space at all the wrong times, and she really didn’t wan’t anything to interfere with her mating. He’d be here soon. She’d been looking forward to this moment. It was sad that it seemed to last so very briefly, but then again this was just the way of things.

There was a crashing sound from nearby shrubs.

Aliens, she thought, disgustedly. Well, grass sticks, too late to move. The aliens made their way noisily through the underbrush. Even louder screechy sounds emanated from the heads of their bodies. She sighed in resignation, holding still, preparing for the onslaught of another interaction with alien humankind.

“Hey George, look. Isn’t that a preying mantis? Get your camera out, we should be able to get a good shot of this one.”

***

For more information about Mondays Finish The Story (flash fiction) Writers Challenge, using both a photo and an opening sentence as your prompt: click HERE. Barb will be happy to assist, should you wish to write and enter a story of your own, or just read some of the other entries.

Thank you for stopping by and reading, have an excellent rest of your day and better tomorrow!

~ Penny

Sunday Photo Fiction – Leave the Light Off.

November 9, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 22 Comments

In folklore, telling someone you’d leave the light on for them was a friendly way of saying you looked forward to their visit. But that was in another time, another place and as far as John was concerned a completely other existence from his current one.

Hiding out in the decrepit old mansion he was pleased there was no electricity. He looked forward to the safety of darkness soon to envelop the estate with the coming night. He felt safer in the dark.

Which was rather amusing in light of things, he thought, giving out a harsh bark of laughter. And then repeating to himself, “In light of things. Too funny, I made a pun.” No pleasure in his laughter, though.

It was a truthful pun. As a child he’d been deathly afraid of the dark and always had a night light on to feel okay before he’d sleep.

Now, a light on meant someone would know he was here. He glanced up at the silently mocking chandelier. Life did work in mysterious ways. He sighed a weary sigh, and settled in to wait for the safety of the lightless night.

***

To take part in this writer’s challenge, just check in here at Sunday Photo Fiction Your host, Alastair, will guide you through the process. To read other entries (fun and well written), click on the little blue link box, while there.

Hope your enjoyed, thanks for stopping by,

With a little bit of whimsy relating to light, does anyone remember where the following humorous phrase originated from: “Put the candle BACK!” (I just love this movie by the way, tons and tons!)

~ Penny