Friday Fictioneers — A Matter Of Perspective

Genre: General Fiction
Word count: 100

~~A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE~~

Whenever Seamus espied his ex-wife with that swanky billionaire, his legs gave out at the knees and he suffered an attack of vertigo.

In another life Seamus had been a violinist who played a Stradivarius, but now he dwelt under a railway arch, his home a cardboard box. Daily, he busked on a distressed fiddle. A few people tossed coins in his cap, but most passed him by, treating him as less than a bug.

Today, it dawned on him that bugs had been around a lot longer than humans had, and would probably outlive them all, including his ex-wife.

<><><>

Photo Prompt: copyright © Shaktiki Sharma
Friday Fictioneers: 100 word stories

March’s Guest Storyteller, Björn Rudberg

portrait

Björn Rudberg is a blogger and a poet hailing from Stockholm Sweden. He has a PhD in physics but works with businesses in the tech-industry. He writes flash fiction and is a regular contributor to Friday Fictioneers. He manages an online community for poetry, dVerse (http://dversepoets.com), and is also one of the contributing toads at Real Toads (http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com). He is a member of a writing community in Stockholm that has produced one collaborative collection of short stories, Keyhole Stories, and is in the process of producing its second collection.


keyhole-stories

<><><>

Sarah says: I’m delighted to welcome Björn as my guest storyteller this month. I first met him through Friday Fictioneers, where his almost weekly contributions have always impressed me. He’s an adventurous writer, who is happy to experiment with various techniques of storytelling, sometimes combining poetry and prose. Whatever he produces, he always manages to surprise and intrigue me, whether it’s dark, satirical, or on a subject he feels passionate about. Do visit his blog, Björn Rudbergs Writings  after you’ve finished here, and I’m sure you’ll agree with what I’m saying.    

But enough from me. I’ll hand you over to Björn now, who will tell you what his story is about, and he has provided us with a soundcloud recording of his story too!

<><><>

Björn says: Writing flash-fiction is very much like writing poetry to me, I try to keep a rhythm in my language (actually it’s often close to iambic meter). I have chosen a story from last year that represents the writing I like best. The story is actually a parable about human trafficking where I have chosen Charon the ferryman as the trafficker.

<><><>

<><><>

PAYING THE FERRYMAN

My boat is ready when they come in groups. Orphans, elderly, unshaven men and teenage girls.

The mica in their eyes reflect the river; fear; and in their hands they clutch my fee. But there are those I leave behind. They sleep in tents, and call for help.

They try in vain to trade their goods for coins.

I have a small collection, bribes and trinkets, and my bed is always warmed by girls believing they can melt my granite soul.

I am Charon and my fee is fixed; and worse than Hades is the nothingness of being left behind.

<><><>

You can find the links to previous guest storyteller posts at 

       

Friday Fictioneers — Ascended

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Genre: Metaphysical Fiction
Word count: 100

ASCENDED

Up above those clouds, way beyond the sun, live a choir of angels. That’s what my brother says anyway.

“Sis, can you hear that heavenly music?” he asks, whenever we’re outdoors, away from unbelievers.

I’ll close my eyes and strain my ears but hear nothing other than cars, planes, and people (plus birds, if I’m lucky).

He’ll say, “Don’t try to shut out the sound. Concentrate on it. Let it wash over you. Then you will hear the angels in the silence beyond the noise.”

I’m so jealous of my brother’s ability. If only I could hear Mum singing, too.

<><><>

Photo Prompt: copyright © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Friday Fictioneers: 100 word stories