Friday Fictioneers is a weekly blog link-up. The Challenge – write a one hundred word (plus or minus) story with a beginning, middle, and end inspired by the picture. The Key – make every word count. Up to the challenge? Join in!
While the tour boat was docked, the children—nine of them, identical but for height—would board and crate the scraps. The improved industry meant two cruises a day, and two meals a day. They tossed most of the trash overboard, making quick work of it, saving that which could be re-purposed into something useful for the home. Home. It was nothing more than strung-up tarps and towels, discarded for a stain or a rip, and beds of years of flattened boxes. It was an unspoken contract: the children cleaned, the family ate, the captain didn’t report the illegal encampment.
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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!
*Image Copyright — Sandra Crook
**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 
This has such much running BETWEEN the lines. A lot told in 100 words. Kudos.
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Thank you Alicia. 🙂
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Love the direction you took this. When I first saw the image on another blogger’s site, I thought, “Hmm, that’s a tricky one.” You both did it justice!
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Thank you Carrie. This was a tricky one. I asked a lot of questions before “what if someone lived in a tent beyond the frame?” shared an answer.
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If there were a contest for the most unique interpretation of the picture, you would have to win.
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I was worried I wasn’t going to have anything. I’m glad this idea worked!
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Young trash pickers, the saddest recycling program… Nicely told.
KT
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Quite sad indeed. Thank you KT!
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Dear Melanie,
Your story brought back memories of my youth. Thank you for sharing it.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thank you Doug. If you feel like sharing, I’m curious about what part of it triggered your memories.
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Dear Melanie,
Sad but workable situation…for the captain. Unique take on the prompt.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The captain gets free labor. It’s exploitation, but the family survives, so…
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A really different take on the prompt. It worked for me. Well done.
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Thank you Sandra. And thanks for the picture!
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It does seem sad, the plight of these children But I suppose we all have our crosses to bear.
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Very true. They have a tough life, but they work together and that counts for something.
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Unique take and such a well told, complete story. Well done, Melanie!
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Thank you Amy! 🙂
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What a tricky situation. So much is wrong with the arrangement, and yet it works out to everyone’s benefit, as your story so aptly shows. Marvellous ideas, cleverly put together. I love the depiction of the ‘identical’ children. Lovely.
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I think that’s probably about as much help as that family will ever receive. It’s not “right”, but it works.
Thank you Margaret.
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