Time again for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. Thanks to{{ PJ }}for hosting this weekly challenge. please follow little froggy for more stories.
Here is the photo and my story…what a fantastic photo!
Fossils
Once a week, Polly and I met for lunch at Syd’s Deli & Market. We both loved sardine sandwiches.
We were legal secretaries for opposing firms. That didn’t matter, though. We’d dated each others’ boyfriends, watched each others’ kids and, eventually, married each others’ husbands. And, when our husbands died, we just kept meeting for lunch once a week, at Syd’s Deli & Market.
That’s why it’s so hard to know where to begin this story. Does one start with the boyfriends or the kids or the divorces and remarriages, or the losses for which there are no words?
Ellespeth
This week’s photo prompt is provided by Louise with The Storyteller’s Abode. Thank you Louise!
Views From A Poet 
You painted so many stories in these few sentences. Their friendship surely stood test of time.
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It’s amazing that they managed to remain friends despite everything they’ve been through over the years. Great story, Ellespeth. 🙂
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A very complicated story, but a true heart at it. With everything going against them, it’s intriguing that they stayed friends. Must be the sardine sandwiches…hard to find others that would like them.
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What a fascinating relationship these two share. Intriguing in its complications. Where does one start indeed?
Great story!
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Beautifully written story. It does sound like a confusing situation.
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Thanks! It does sound a bit confusing doesn’t it 😛 But…perhaps possible.
Ellespeth
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This sounds like the opening of a novel, yet it also worked well as a flash story.
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I was thinking that after I posted it…look at all those possible chapters. Or a theme of short stories along those lines. Something to think on.
Ellespeth
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Very well written, Ellespeth. As Graham says, it flows really well as you work through all the ups and downs and complications of relationships and work. I love the last line. How does one tell a story of losses for which there are no words? Intriguing. Take a breath and ‘start at the very beginning…’ just as Julie Andrews suggests..
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That’s where I was last week – wondering how to write about losses and other aspects of life. I’m trying to decide on a book theme. Some thought to get it all going.
I have Louise’s book to read.
Ellespeth
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It’s good to hear you’re about to write your own book. I hope it goes really well for you, whatever theme you choose.
Lou will be delighted to know you plan to read her book when it’s published. She has two ‘on the go’ at the moment, so I don’t know which she’ll get onto Amazon first.
Have a lovely weekend and I’m sure the theme for your book will come to you – probably when you’re not thinking about it. 🙂
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Oh no! Didn’t Louise write ‘The Sister’? I have that ready to read this month.
Stay tuned to my blog. I’m currently exhausted from working with my fiction and poetry = trying to organize the papers.
Ellespeth
Ellespeth
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I know the feeling. Getting started on a book can be frustrating and exhausting. I’ll be interested to see what you write. 🙂
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Oh that is so well told. Flows naturally!
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Thank you, Graham. I’m really trying to say more with less and still have it feel natural. These challenges are so great for that…saying more with less. Now…to get it beyond 100 words 😦
Ellespeth
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Two women that remained friends through all the ups and downs of life. Wonderful story, Ellespeth!
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The best kind of friend to have 🙂 I’m glad you liked it!
Ellespeth
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It’s quite sweet that they managed to stay friends through all that 🙂
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Doesn’t seem too far off, does it?
Ellespeth
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Liked the time metaphor from the prompt. How to sum up a whole life in 100 words? Good job.
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Thanks, Iain. I enjoyed writing this one.
Ellespeth
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Interesting, I love the complication…
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The more I wrote, the more complicated it became!
Ellespeth
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