99 Words | But I Smile Anyway...

April 1: Flash Fiction Challenge – Gone

02 Apr 2021 43 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: 99 Words, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Flash Fiction, Gone

Charli’s Carrot Ranch Prompt, dedicated to our wonderful friend, Sue Vincent:

April 1 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a swift passage. You can take inspiration from any source. Who is going where and why. What makes it swift? Go where the prompt leads!

Gone

Gone.

Just like that.

One minute, he was there, the next minute, not.

I’d sat by his side for days and nights, stroking his hand, answering to his quiet murmurs, sponging him down, dripping refreshing liquid onto his parched lips.

I knew it was coming, and I wanted to squeeze memories into every second of life that he had left, with him.

And yet, he still managed to go, without allowing me to say goodbye.

He squeezed my hand, so I turned for the glass, and I returned to a face, smiling, at peace, finally.

Just like that.

Gone.

https://carrotranch.com/2021/04/01/april-1-flash-fiction-challenge-2/

March 4: Flash Fiction Challenge – Diet Spuds

05 Mar 2021 37 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: 99 Words, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Flash Fiction, Sweet Potato

Charli’s Carrot Ranch 99-word Flash Fiction prompt!

March 4, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that includes sweet potatoes. It can be part of a recipe, meal, or used as a nickname. Where do sweet potatoes take you? The grocery store? The garden? Mars? Go where the prompt leads!

Diet Spuds

Sue discovered sweet potatoes on her diet. Her slimming group leader insisted they were better for her than her usual baked spuds.

She gingerly took a knife and sliced open the elongated root vegetable to reveal the flesh’s brilliant orange hue.

Well, this would, at least, bring a little colour to her dull meals.

A sweetness lingered in the air.

She ground a little pepper and added a pinch of salt.

The usual knob of butter called to her from the butter dish, but she ignored it, added a little low-calorie cheese, and took a tentative bite.

Not bad.

March 4: Flash Fiction Challenge

February 4: Flash Fiction Challenge – Finding Your Prince Charming

05 Feb 2021 31 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: 99 Words, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Flash Fiction, Substitution

The Carrot Ranch Prompt, this week:

February 4, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that features a substitution. How might a character or situation be impacted by a stand-in? Bonus points for fairy tale elements. Go where the prompt leads.

Finding Your Prince Charming
 
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful Princess, awaiting her Prince Charming.
 After reading the Find Your Prince self-help book, she tried the Sleeping Beauty, the Snow White, and even the Cinderella. 
 Nothing.
 Eventually, she decided to use her long hair as she attempted the Rapunzel.
 Sitting in her tower, with her golden plait fluttering out of the window, she felt a tug.
 “Yes! Finally, my Prince is coming!”
 More pulling followed by the grunt of her beloved-to-be as he hoisted himself up.
 Alas, no Prince, just the toothless Palace window cleaner!
 No happily ever after, just yet!

February 4: Flash Fiction Challenge

February 6: Flash Fiction Challenge – Goodbye

06 Feb 2020 33 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: 99 Words, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Flash Fiction, Goodbye

Charli’s Carrot Ranch prompt this week:

February 6, 2020, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story to the theme “a dog in the daisies.” It can be any dog, real or imagined. Push into the setting and as always, go where the prompt leads!

Goodbye

Buster bounded through the field, trampling daisies as he ran.

“Come on, boy. Let’s go.” Max called out to his canine pal. “I’ve got your favourite steak at home. Come on!”

Petra gently put a hand on Max’s shoulder. “Come on Maxy, we need to go.” She squeezed. Max turned, his eyes moist with unshed tears.

“He’s not coming back, is he?”

Petra swallowed a sob. She always knew this would be the hardest part, scattering the ashes of the family’s beloved pet dog in his favourite field.

Shaking her head, she took Max’s hand as her tears fell.

August 15: Flash Fiction Challenge

16 Aug 2019 28 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: 99 Words, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Fiction, Jam

Charli’s Carrot Ranch prompt today:

August 15, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes a sweet jam. It can take you to the kitchen or the smokey room of a back-alley bar. What makes it sweet? Go where the prompt leads you!

Since I’m neck-deep in editing my novel, I thought it would be a good time to introduce you to some of the characters, adapted from the novel, in a situation they find themselves, on a train in India. Meet Aashi, my main character and Arjun, someone who may become quite important to her!

Train Jam

Arjun peeled back the cover of the tray and peered at the contents.

Two cooling pieces of toast lay there, with a pat of white butter and a container containing something that was jelly-like with a luminous pink glow.

“What’s that?” he grimaced.

“I think you’ll find it’s jam.” Aashi couldn’t help but smirk at his expression.

“That’s not like any jam I’ve ever seen before.”

“Well you’re not in England anymore, either. It’s Indian jam, made to cater for the Western travellers. Probably filled with sugar, colouring, sugar, flavouring and a bit more sugar. Just don’t expect strawberries!”

August 15: Flash Fiction Challenge