#CarrotRanch | But I Smile Anyway...

April 30: Flash Fiction Challenge – Boards

01 May 2020 25 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Boards, Carrot Ranch, Charli Mill, Flash Fiction

Charli’s Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction prompt:

April 30, 2020, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that features long boards. They can be used in any way you imagine, including a name for sporting equipment. How are they used and who is using them? Go where the prompt leads!

The Board

Jonah let himself into his house and popped his keys on the sideboard when a strangled grunt of a noise startled him. It came from the living room.

He dropped the bags and rushed in to find his mother laying on her stomach, or rather, hovering, on her arms and feet.

“Mum! What’s the matter?” He went to help her up.

“Go… away… Jonah… I… am… trying… to… do… a… two… minute… long… board…” She struggled for breath, before the alarm beeped on her phone.

He laughed as she collapsed onto the floor. “Board? Oh, you mean a plank?”

April 30: Flash Fiction Challenge

April 23: Flash Fiction Challenge – I Can’t See You, Love

24 Apr 2020 34 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills, Long Distance Love

Charli’s Carrot Ranch prompt, this week:

April 23, 2020, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about distance dating. It can be any genre, era, or setting. Who is dating, and why the distance? How do the characters overcome, accept, or break up because of the distance? Go where the prompt leads!

I Can’t See You, Love

“But I miss you, Boo Boo. I can’t help it.” Hari could hear Jeena’s pout down the phone.

“I know, baby, but what can we do? This lockdown is hard on everyone.”

“Yes, but they weren’t meant to be getting married in June and had to cancel. It’s not fair. My beautiful outfit, the reception, the cake… all cancelled!”

He was glad she couldn’t see him rolling his eyes. The wedding plans had been off the scale… maybe it was a good thing, this lockdown. He’d definitely had more time to think.

Maybe Jeena wasn’t the one for him…

April 23: Flash Fiction Challenge

April 16: Flash Fiction Challenge – A Stir-Crazy World

17 Apr 2020 24 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: 99-Word Fiction, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills, Stir- Crazy

Charli’s Carrot Ranch Prompt this week:

April 16, 2020, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about something crazy. Laugh like crazy, show the setting of stir-crazy or go off the rails on a crazy train. Have fun with the word and the situation, but go where the prompt leads!

A Stir-Crazy World

I can’t help but laugh.
 
When else have we seen people:
Lunge for loo roll?  
Fisticuffs over flour?
Battle for bread?
Scuffle over sanitiser?
Persist over pasta?
Tiff over tinned tomatoes?
Dual over dried milk powder?
Brawl over bleach?
Challenge over chicken?
 
The world is stir-crazy right now.
All we can do is
Sit it out
Walk it out
Watch it out
Read it out
Write it out
Create it out
Cook it out
Eat it out
 
We’ll come out the other end
Possibly fatter
Maybe thinner
Hopefully more compassionate
Definitely grateful
 
And able to still raise a smile.

Ritu 2020

April 16: Flash Fiction Challenge

April 9: Flash Fiction Challenge – Unveiled

11 Apr 2020 36 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: 99-Word Fiction, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills, Sheild Your Face

Charli’s Carrot Ranch prompt this week:

April 9, 2020, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that declares, shield your face. It can be a knight of old, a doctor, or a senior citizen. What is the circumstance? Who makes the declaration? Go where the prompt leads!

Unveiled

I stepped outside, onto our rooftop veranda.
The sun, still warm, was beginning to set.
I needed to collect the clothes from the line, but first, I just had to make the most of this moment.
As far as the eye could see, roof terraces were visible, but, unlike other days, no one was out on them.
This virus had scared everyone.
Slowly, I unhooked my veil, allowing the warm rays to touch my face.
This was a bliss I was rarely allowed to experience.
“Shield your face!” My father appeared.
I scrambled to reinstate the veil. “Sorry Abba.”

April 9: Flash Fiction Challenge

April 2: Flash Fiction Challenge – Pizza

03 Apr 2020 26 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: 99-Word Fiction, Blog, Blogger, Blogging, Bog Post, Carrot Ranch, pizza

Charli’s Carrot Ranch fiction prompt!

April 2, 2020, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that includes pizza. It can be an original pizza pie (or slice) or something pizza-like. Go where the prompt leads!

Pizza Face

“Stuffed Your Face Pizza. Hmm, that’s an interesting name for the business, Marcus.”
Lorraine was flicking through the pile of newly printed flyers, ready to go out the next morning.
“Let’s just say it has meaning…”
“Well, I hope people stuff their face with your pizza, considering the loan we’ve take, against our home.”
“Oh, it’ll be worth it, all right.” Marcus spread moisturiser on his smooth skin as he thought back to school.
“Oi, Pizza Face! You’re stuffed!” 
Thankfully, the acne that plagued him then, was long gone, and his newest employee was one of the tormentors.
Revenge!