Friday Fictioneers is a weekly blog link-up based on a photo prompt. The Challenge – write a one hundred word story that has a beginning, middle, and end. (No one will be ostracized for going a few words over the count.) The Key – make every word count. Up to the challenge? Join in!
It was said they only took the oldest for pieces and the youngest to maintain the squares of the board. But they took anyone. Perched on seats made of mountains — sipping steaming cups of lakes, plucking wildlife like popcorn, snapping trees for toothpicks — the Big Ones played game after game of chess. Commands thundered, pieces moved, games and bets were won and lost until there were no Small Ones left to play the Pawns, Rooks had crumbled under crushing fists, and the Big Ones were forced to demote and all the fun was gone. It was only then they diminished.
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100 words. Fiction. Feedback is always appreciated. Comments of any kind really — so long as they are related to the post.
What story comes to mind when you see that picture? Join in!
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*Featured and Post Image Copyright – Dawn Q. Landau
**The ads (which may appear) below are not mine, but they keep this free for me. Do with them as you choose.
This Is My Corn 
great story. great perspective. great tone.
randy
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Thank you Randy. 🙂 Much appreciated.
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Love it Mel!
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Thank you!
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Very original take, Melanie. Well done!
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Thank you Amy.
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So, we’re all just toys of the gods?! I always suspected that. You’ve revealed it well. 🙂
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Indeed. 🙂 Thank you!
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I love the flow of this. Not easy in 100 words. #FridayFictioneers
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Thank you Carol. 100 words isn’t easy, but that’s part of the fun.
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What kind of corn? Indian? Hybrid? Shoepeg?
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All kinds! There are lots of fields here. 🙂
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Love your blog title!
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Thank you Lorraine. 🙂
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Hi Melanie, it can be a sad game! Nice story!
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Indeed it can. Thanks Elizabeth!
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sipping steaming cups of lakes, plucking wildlife like popcorn, snapping trees for toothpicks So beautifully visual. I also like the name The Big Ones. Well done, Melanie.
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Thank you Alicia! Originally I had given them a “species” name, but when I decided on the Small Ones for the people, I went with the Big Ones for the chess players. I’m glad you liked it.
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It’s amazing how deftly you get the imagery going with so few words.
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Thank you Ginjuh! I have fun writing these super short pieces.
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So many wonderful similies and metaphors. I wonder if you are talking about humans wasteful ways. Great story and beautifully written.
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Thank you! I tried to make it so there were several possibilities for interpretation. I’m glad you found one!
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Now that was a different take. But so well done!
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Thank you Jackie. Once I got the idea, I had to go with it. Glad it worked. 🙂
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Your Big Ones are very scary. I’m glad their fun finally stopped, but at what cost?
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They are scary. Those who abuse power for their own gain usually are, and the price is always high.
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Dear Melanie, Such a great story and wonderful take to the prompt. I really enjoyed this because my husband and all 4 boys and most of the grandkids play chess. Really awesome! Thanks, Nan 🙂
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Thank you Nan. I’ve never actually played myself. That’s so great all your guys have it to play together. I’m sure there’s more than one story on that board.
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Melanie, Really original and creative story. Good thing the Big Ones diminished. They were a cruel lot. Well written. 🙂 —Susan
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I so enjoyed your take on this prompt. Well done!
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Thank you. It was fun to write. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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So often the Big Ones don’t appreciate the Small Ones until it is too late. Well told 🙂
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Thanks! Too often appreciation does come too late, doesn’t it.
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