Flash Fiction Friday: A Day Late and a Dollar Short Version.

So, a flash fiction prompt didn’t go up yesterday because I’m a spaz and, while I completely knew it was Friday (Friday being my only day off this week), I completely forgot about the Triple F. I don’t see any reason why we can’t have Flash Fiction Friday on Saturday, though, especially since it’s just so cool how some of you have really picked up on it and it makes me bounce happily in my chair and want to pull out alllll the pretty pictures from Five Minute Get-Away, but I’m going to stick to my guns and always use the first one I see and today’s beauty can be viewed below:

(Image courtesy of Five Minute Get-Away and Conde Nast Traveler)

The “rules” are simple. Just write a short blurb, about five minutes or so, to accompany the picture above. Then, from there, do with it as you will. Who knows? Maybe it’ll inspire a great new novel or be perfect for some flash fiction contests and magazines. What follows is my own entry:

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Frowning, Zaria thumped her walking stick on the wooden platforms, once, twice, a third time, and then she let out a long sigh. “I just don’t understand it,” she complained to her companion. “It seems to pointless. It’s their leaving their mark on our landscape and our lives until one day we forget what it was like before they came in and gave us these ridiculous paths.”

“But you must admit, Zaria,” Melana, quiet as always, gave her friend a shy smile, stepping down from one set of wooden blocks to the next, “it does make it much easier to get to market or the washing pond.”

“And also makes us better targets for bandits and thieves, no doubt,” Zaria murmured, mostly to herself, since Melana continued forward all the same, her baskets balanced, one on her hip, the other on her round, colorfully wrapped head, and she didn’t want to lag behind too much. The last thing she needed was another scolding from Mama Tataba about being late and lazy and good-for-nothing.

“Besides,” Melana’s voice was almost melodious as it swept up with the wind that rustled the familiar branches and leaves surrounding the ugly slash of wooden modernity through their wild green foliage. “Everyone knows that, out here, nature is stronger than progress. Give it time, and I believe our benefactors will realize that this place has a way of keeping itself the way it wants to. In the meantime, though, we’d best appreciate and enjoy it while we can.”

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Good luck, everyone! I look forward to reading what everyone else comes up with; they’re always so creative and cool! And, of course, I have to take a moment to thank my latest subscriber, Francesca! Thanks so much, Francesca! Welcome aboard!