Friday Fictioneers – Visiting Granny’s

ByLinda Parkinson-Hardman

Friday Fictioneers is a weekly challenge to writers and bloggers set by the amazing Madison Woods on her blog which you can find at MadisonWoods.wordpress.com. Madison is kind enough to share one of her photographs as a prompt and those taking part are encouraged to write a 100 word story – yep, that’s right just 100 words.

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‘Tra la la, tra la le off to Granny’s I will be’ Redding sang at the top of her voice as she careened down the path, basket swinging wildly and threatening to pitch all the contents out into the grassy edges.

Singing always helped her make the best of a very bad day and she was trying to forget the row she’d had with Dad that morning when he forced her to visit Gran.

Mind you a bit of bribery worked every time and she’d be extra good if it meant getting to the party at Matt’s house on Saturday.

It wasn’t that she didn’t love Gran she thought; it was just the old person smell that went along with her. That and the dog which always snarled when she arrived. She was sure it would eat her if Gran wasn’t there to stop it.

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The idea behind Friday Fictioneers is that you submit a 100 word flash fiction story associated with the picture challenge added the previous Wednesday. You can read the other submisions this week on Madison’s Blog here: http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/pathways/. There is also a Facebook Page too specially for Friday Fictioneers and you can find it here: http://www.facebook.com/FridayFictioneers.

If you’d like to know the rules then this is the page to visit: http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/friday-fictioneers/; and finally, if you’d like to read my previous attempts you can find them all listed here: http://lindaph.co.uk/tag/friday-fictioneers/

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52 Comments

  1. Pingback: Friday Fictioneer « Haiga 365

  2. I had a moment of inspiration overnight so I’m going to give it a go Gilly, I hope you like it 🙂

  6. Mmmm, I’m still thinking about it and wondering what tack to take and wonderfing if can I find another fairytale or myth to use as a base.

  10. I’d be honoured Madison and thanks so much for asking as well and I’m particularly fond of RRH myself – just waiting to see if they include her in the Once Upon a Time series on TV at the moment.

  11. Love your story, Linda. Red Riding Hood is one of my favorite tales, LOL. Hey, can we adopt your icon for the FF page on Facebook? It’s pretty awesome. Karen saw it and posted about it to me, too 😉 Let me know over on the FB page or message me because with my new site I don’t get to see when a reply has been made to my comments 🙁

  12. Thanks Kwadwo – Maybe it’s time for all teenagers to appreciate just what they do have 🙂

  13. What a brilliant song to sing along to – it’s such an anthem of my youth and great it’s being introduced to another generation 🙂

  16. Thanks JK – in fact I’m very mindful of the whole ‘out of the mouths of babes’ at the moment because I’m coming across some very funny instances where children are saying just what you don’t want to hear. 🙂

  17. Now there’s a thought Scott and thanks for spotting the missing A too – I shall amend it shortly. 🙂

  19. This was very creative! Lovely little story on our dear old “Redding”!:)
    Cute and light-hearted! I like this very much!

  20. I agree with you … those who think teenagers used to be more mindful and respectful are victims of wishful thinking; but this is a modern Red and she’s about to meet her comeuppance. It seems that you left out the word “a” in the only sentence of the second paragraph (“make the best of A very bad day”), and I think Doug’s suggestions were useful now that you’ve followed them. Otherwise, the story flows well and could be expanded as a screenplay for either “Once Upon A Time” or “Grimm”. Anyone interested can find mine at http://scottcheck.blogspot.com/2012/06/no-escape.html

  27. Thanks Brandon – I think I thought the wolf was already there at Granny’s as the house ‘dog’ 🙂

  31. You are very welcome, I enjoyed your take on the prompt too and it is sad the way that we move away from family as we grow older. 🙂

  33. I’m so pleased you laughed – I was giggling while writing it as I was imagining the arguements I’d had with my Dad as a child too. 🙂

  38. I love the fairytales and myths – they tell us so much in so few words 🙂 Thanks for sharing yours too!

  39. They always do Raina! And the pathos in your’s of the old ‘friend’ left behind was just brilliant, almost made me cry 🙂

  40. Loved your take on LLRH–I understand the reluctance to visit Granny. Young people are sooooooo busy and involved–it’s not that they don’t care. I enjoy my 10 grandchildren but, as they get older, I see how time slips away from them into more “important” things. It’s life. Well done!

    Thanks for visiting mine.

  44. Dear Linda,

    Change ditch to pitch and capitalize ‘granny’s’ in the fist paragraph.

    Beyond those two items, I think your modern take on LRRH was wonderful and perfect for the prompt.

    Aloha,

    Doug

  48. I’m sure she will she’s a modern teenager and thanks for the comment – really enjoyed yours too 🙂

  50. Yes, I got Little Red Riding Hood also…but the real girl in the fairytale loved her granny and wasn’t turned off by any old person smell. I’m glad the dog snarled at this spoiled brat & I hope Matt’s party is a flop. lol. Here’s mine:
    http://www.triplemoonstar.blogspot.com