Thursday, July 12, 2012

ARSON

It's my favorite time of the week! Not only do I get to meet the challenge of writing a 100 word story to go with the photo prompt from Madison Woods, I'm privileged to enjoy stories written by other Friday Fictioneers as well.


Somewhere in the vicinity of the girl’s restroom a fire fighter found a melted disposable lighter but couldn’t say for sure it was the cause. By the time he found it flames had already licked, hissed and reduced the school to a charred heap.

Stunned faces, like gray balloons, floated single file through choking billows. Only one teacher perished. A hero.

“Tell that to his wife and baby son.” Angela’s cheeks blazed.

The next morning she watched a buzzard spread his wings on an incinerated branch. Nothing left to scavenge; he soared into the grief-stricken sky.

Angela never smoked again.
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34 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 12, 2012 at 3:41 PM

    Sounds like a true story.
    I'm not sure if I got this right, but did Angela start the fire (by mistake or on purpose)?

    http://logo-ligi.com/2012/07/12/soliloquy-of-a-disgruntled-raven/

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    Replies
    1. Rochelle Wisoff-FieldsJuly 12, 2012 at 3:51 PM

      Thanks for commenting, Kwadwo,
      I kind of leave it open ended. Angela could very well have started the fire but there's no way to know for sure.

      Delete
    2. UnknownJuly 12, 2012 at 5:41 PM

      Hello Rochelle,

      You commented on Madison's blog about having some difficulty in deleting your first entry on the InLinkz list.

      You should see a red x on the right side of your name at both 23 and 25.
      Click on the x by 23. It'll delete that entry.

      Cheers!

      Delete
    3. Rochelle Wisoff-FieldsJuly 12, 2012 at 7:50 PM

      Thanks, Kwadwo! My that was easy.

      Delete
    4. UnknownJuly 13, 2012 at 12:50 AM

      You're most welcome.

      Delete
  2. billgncsJuly 12, 2012 at 3:43 PM

    gut wrenching... every pang of nicotine want, a painful reminder... forever

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  3. AnonymousJuly 12, 2012 at 5:49 PM

    well done

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  4. AnonymousJuly 12, 2012 at 5:57 PM

    Good story, Rochelle. Arson, or even just an accidental incident causing a fire like that would be devastating enough. All the wildfires here in Co. have been so thoroughly investigated for those possibilities, and some in the past have been found to be either an arson case or incident involving carelessness, such as a careless camper.

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  5. janetJuly 12, 2012 at 6:24 PM

    I like it...not as in a pleasant, feel-good like, but as a thought-provoking, true-story like. Good job.

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  6. UnknownJuly 12, 2012 at 7:46 PM

    Sounds like Angela is in for a life plagued by guilt if she's the one who caused the blaze. I do not envy her.

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  7. AnonymousJuly 12, 2012 at 7:49 PM

    oh wow. great story Rochelle.

    http://writersclubkl.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/friday-fictioneers-the-river/

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  8. loraJuly 12, 2012 at 7:55 PM

    You hit a nerve Rochelle. Considering the current events and devastating wildfires lately, this touches too close to the truth. Good work. Thanks for visiting and commenting on mine.

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  9. AnonymousJuly 12, 2012 at 10:24 PM

    Great story! ...Strikes a mean cord. I've been trying to give up cigs for years! But, as a walking phlegm ball once said, "Either do or do not. There is no try." :) Anyway, check out mine, if you wish.

    http://crookseyeview.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/this-aint-deal-a-meal/

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  10. Sandra CrookJuly 12, 2012 at 11:50 PM

    Powerful theme, nicely told. Liked it.

    http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/every-cloud-friday-fictioneers-july-2012/

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  11. C.C. July 13, 2012 at 12:36 AM

    I'm disinclined to believe Angela was the one who did it. But maybe her comment about his family was a diversion tactic in the face of guilt. I liked how the buzzard was a symbol and not the focus.

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  12. Ilyan Kei LavanwayJuly 13, 2012 at 12:39 AM

    Makes an impact! Hope it helps people stop smoking, or better yet, deters them from starting in the first place. Great story and great message.

    http://ebooksscifi.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/malignant-narcissist-by-ilyan-kei-lavanway-for-madison-woods-friday-fictioneers-100-word-flash-fiction/

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  13. AnonymousJuly 13, 2012 at 2:01 AM

    A powerfully-written tale, and I feel a deep sadness etched into the community. "Grief-stricken sky" is a great line.

    Thanks for your comment on mine.
    http://www.lazuli-portals.com/flash-fiction/tideline-transition

    ReplyDelete
  14. Douglas MacIlroyJuly 13, 2012 at 3:13 AM

    Dear Rochelle,

    You're going to have to change you blog/bio intro now! Ha! Congratulations again.

    The last line of your story so excellently tied things up that I read the whole story again just to experience the ride. Grim, sad, poignant and so, so true to your characters. Great job.

    Thank you for visiting Roadkill and commenting so nicely. My link below is for others still smoking.

    Aloha,

    Doug

    http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/roadkill/

    ReplyDelete
  15. Reading PleasureJuly 13, 2012 at 7:10 AM

    Powerful, evocative and a lesson learnt. Good shot. Mine is here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/fridayfictioneers-spectators/

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  16. AnonymousJuly 13, 2012 at 7:20 AM

    That gray balloons line was great.

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  17. UnknownJuly 13, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    I never understood the fascination with smoking in the bathroom... What a powerful story Rochelle. I pity the bird most though, the hunting ground it used to haunt are now gone. Mine is over here and on the list. http://remakingme-atiyatownes.blogspot.com/2012/07/friday-fictioneers-for-power.html

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  18. LoreleiJuly 13, 2012 at 11:09 AM

    I liked how this one snuck up on me. I wasn't expecting the last line, and it made me go back and re-evaluate the narrator's role in the fire. Great piece!
    cheers,
    Lorelei
    www.westcoastwriters.blogspot.com

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  19. AnonymousJuly 13, 2012 at 3:51 PM

    Nice construction, well rounded story with a punch. Well done and all the best with your writing.
    http://wp.me/s1nUrn-buzzard

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  20. Quill ShivJuly 13, 2012 at 4:56 PM

    The tone of this story read the recollections of a trauma victim. Which is a tone I LOVED. The third person took me out of it a little bit, however. I think the punch would have been harder in the first person.

    But as it is, it is a *very* strong piece. Well done!

    This is my link: http://quillshiv.com/2012/07/12/lady-of-war/

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  21. Susan WenzelJuly 13, 2012 at 10:08 PM

    A lesson hard learned, indeed. Well written! Thank you for sharing.

    ~Susan (www.susanwenzel.com)

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  22. AnonymousJuly 14, 2012 at 1:03 AM

    Rocks!
    Enjoyed your story. Looking forward to the next one.

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  23. AnonymousJuly 14, 2012 at 4:56 AM

    This one was brilliant. Good plot and very well-written. With the added bit at the end, which was a surprise. I like it very much.

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  24. Mary ShipmanJuly 14, 2012 at 6:21 AM

    Great story! Well done!

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  25. AnonymousJuly 14, 2012 at 9:14 AM

    Yes, well, smoking does kill, doesn't it? Usually in a more insidious manner. Will Angela ever come clean?

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  26. RussellJuly 14, 2012 at 11:18 AM

    Congratulations on the book, Rochelle. That's a huge accomplishment and I'm very happy for you!

    Now, back to the story. The title, "Arson" would imply that the fire was intentional. The last line leads me to believe that she is sorry for the consequences of her actions. Quite a compelling little tale.

    Thanks for the nice comment on mine. Here's the link for other buzzard lovers. http://russellgayer.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousJuly 14, 2012 at 11:39 AM

    Nicely done, She will have a hard time sleeping at night with that guilt. Thank you for stopping by my place and the kind words.
    Here is mine for others to read yaralwrites.com

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  28. AnonymousJuly 14, 2012 at 1:19 PM

    What guilt she must feel. Strong emotional story, Rochelle.

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  29. Sonia LalJuly 15, 2012 at 1:54 PM

    I suspect Angela did something to start the fire.

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  30. BethJuly 15, 2012 at 7:25 PM

    I said "Ohhh" aloud when I read that last line about Angela's cigarette. Very powerful. Well done, Rochelle.

    Thanks for your nice comments about mine and congrats on landing an agent!

    http://banterwithbeth.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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