Golden arches and a drive-through replaced the baroque beacon on the hill. The French restaurant where we often rendezvoused is gone.
At our special table we shared crème brulée, class notes and anecdotes.
Our careers left no room for marriage. He went his way and I went mine.
Two years later the embossed invitation came. Birth announcements and commencement notices followed me around the world.
When I read his wife’s obituary I wept.
Thirty summers passed. I reminisce in McDonald’s parking lot. Someone taps my windshield.
Ink-black hair turned bone-white, Bordeaux in hand, he grins. “You saved our table.”
I like this. I have a good image of the couple, separated by circumstances, choices made, and reunited by another circumstance in death. I have mine ready too to post (my third and exactly 100 words again.) So, is a fun exercise to do and good practice, I agree. I posted a special tribute (Leaving Behind a Legacy) to my twin grandchildren yesterday on my blog and wanted them to see it on the first page before posting my Friday Fictioneers story. I have posted up five chapters of my novel and plan to do more this next week, but have been so busy around here getting ready for our grandchildren's graduation, babysitting my littlest granddaughter and attending other graduation parties. Busy time of the year.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written; a life time's story of love told in 100 words. Congratulations! I am over here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/fridayfictioneers-preying-mantis/
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I love how sweet it is. Great job! http://kaitlinandmichaelbranch.com/2012/05/25/angel-in-a-polyester-uniform/
ReplyDeletePretty in depth story for such a prompt. You have an entire novel encapsulated in these 100 words. The happy ending was a charmer.
ReplyDeleteLindaura as usual,
Mine is here:
http://fictionvictimtoo.blogspot.com
Here I go again – first comment never appeared. A wistful story of life interfering with life, love and longing. Reads like a poem; "we shared crème brulée, class notes and anecdotes" reads like the line of a song. Very nicely written, as usual.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of Mr and Mrs Smith, Alfred Hitchcock's only comedy, starring Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard, where they try to recapture their romantic first date in the same place.
Re: Moth invasions. They do happen. When I lived in Northern California, all the windows of our cabin would be solidly covered by moths at night, trying to get to the light inside.
Oops, my two stories, Invasion and Delusion, are at http://repuestodelatabla.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting twice, Carlos. Must be some kind of a blogspot glitch.
DeleteOh my gosh! I adored this story! Just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy attempt: http://unduecreativity.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/chasing-the-divine/
Beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteFor any of your readers interest in mine here's the link
http://tollykitsjourney.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/moths-fridayfictioneers-flashfiction/
Seeping with bitter-sweetness.
ReplyDeleteHere's mine: http://thebradleychronicles.wordpress.com/
That was a nice one. Well done.
ReplyDeletehttp://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/and-then-there-was-silence/
How sweet, going down memory lane rarely ever brings results this good. Well done. Here is my share: http://remakingme-atiyatownes.blogspot.com/2012/05/friday-flash-fiction-best-hubby-ever.html
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteHere's mine: http://logo-ligi.com/2012/05/25/mothballs/
Very sweet. Hope they can rekindle their love. Here's mine: http://postcardfiction.com/2012/05/25/despite-your-intentions/
ReplyDeleteWell done, Rochelle. Wonder how many carry the same dream or desire...to renew and rekindle a lost love? And how many succeed. If mine suddenly walked up to me, I think I would drop dead on the spot. Btw, you didn't comment on mine last week. Here's my take this week...
ReplyDeletewww.triplemoonstar.blogspot.com
Thanks, Lora. And I did go back to your last week's story. Don't know how I missed it, yours is usually one of the first ones I read.
DeleteOh that gave me goosebumps from head to toe. Loved it Rochelle.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Madison. And thank you for Friday Fictioneers. This exercise in writing...or rather adventure...has given a real jump start to my other writing.
DeleteWhat a poignant, touching story. This storie could be a terrific movie, or a novel. My attempt is here: http://stonesoupnovelist.com/2012/05/24/a-scene-from-the-novel-the-alchemists-tower/
ReplyDeleteHi Rochelle, you covered the arc of a whole life in the space of a few well-chosen words. Great response to the photo. Did they come back for "french" fries? Thanks for reading and commenting on my story.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful little story, Rochelle. I love the ink-black hair turned bone-white (at least he still had hair). It makes me wonder what happens next? Thanks for reading & commenting on mine.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful little story, Rochelle. I love the ink-black hair turned bone-white (at least he still had hair). It makes me wonder what happens next? Thanks for reading & commenting on mine.
ReplyDeleteSo very lovely and graceful. I think you nailed it perfectly!
ReplyDelete