Category: Stories, poems and other short pieces

Cat Time

Chris Hall40 Comments

Photo Prompt ©Yvette Prior

‘You are so nosy, aren’t you.’
‘What, me?’
‘Of course you are.’ She snickered. ‘Me as well.’
The two of them continued to peer from their upstairs window.

‘Did you see that?’
‘No. Didn’t see anything.’
‘But you must have done.’
‘Why? I can’t see everything at the same time. I’d been looking in the other direction, and on the ground. We usually see that beautiful cat who walks with that nice man.’

‘Ah there they are.’
‘I wonder what they saw.’
‘You see I saw a dumpster, but that’s gone now, but I bet that cat enjoyed seeing that!’

~~~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

7 November 2025

Just a cat…

Chris Hall50 Comments

that is no such thing
as ‘just’ a cat – ‘just’ a cat?
definitely not.

she’s always regal,
pretty, beautiful – of course,
and she’ll stare, and stare.

what is she thinking?
we will never really know,
she’s just amazing!

could we pry?
nope, definitely not.

~~~~~~

Image credit: Haoli Chen @Unsplash

A white and fawn cat is hiding behind a partially open curtain hanging on a window. Through the window we can see green trees. The cat is also watching the trees.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #313 photo prompt.

What do you see # 313- 3rd November’ 25

Art Project

Chris Hall54 Comments

Photo Prompt © Dale Rogerson

The two boys had been mooching.
‘Hold on.’ He stopped and pointed.
‘Oh, I see. Interesting.’
They looked at each other, then jumped over the hedge.

‘Ooh, a painting,’ as he peered at it.’
‘It’s a bit dreary.’
‘Here, there’s some sticky paints on the easel.’
‘We could jazz it up a bit.’

Both of them got to business.
‘This looks better. More colour.’
‘Shall I add an animal?’

Then a man appeared. ‘Oi! He strode toward them.
He was wearing a beret!
He glared.
He walked around.
And then he said: ‘Hmm, that’s actually better now, especially that kangaroo.’

~~~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

31 October 2025

What fun!

Chris Hall55 Comments

Just a mushroom?
No, it’s definitely more than that.

It’s beautiful.
It’s crimson, golden, even russet.
Come on, let’s get closer.

They knelt down carefully.
We shouldn’t disturb it.
Well, not just yet.

It’s a beauty.
It certainly is.
Okay, let’s pick it.
Now!

~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Benjamin Lehman @Unsplash

This image shows a golden cap mushroom growing in a forest floor.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #312 photo prompt.
Plus, hooray! Congratulations, it’s four years for WDYS. Well done, dear Sadje!

What do you see # 312- October 27, 2025

One day?

Chris Hall43 Comments

Photo Prompt © David Stewart

It was lashing down that fall, as she stared outside, willing for something to happen. She’d switched on her tv, and sat down on her dilapidated couch. She’d watched some of the news, but nothing had really grabbed her. She’d switched it off.

She’d picked up a trashy novel from her coffee table, as several magazines drifted down to the floor. Another chapter finished, she sighed and put it down. Surely she could do something better than this?

She went into her kitchen, and brewed some coffee. She mused as she poured, then walked back.

Could she be a writer?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Historical Faction
Word Count: 100

24 October 2025

All White

Chris Hall41 Comments

a
hostage?
no, don’t be silly!
this is a stage (almost)
she was wearing her glad rags
as she skipped the light fandango

it
was only
a very tiny flat
not a hotel, nor a hostel
it was all her own… just for the summer
and she’ll bathe before running across the Rialto Bridge

~~~

Image credit: Karsten Winegeart @Unsplash

This image shows a Summer morning, at Rialto Bridge, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy. We can see a young lady/ woman standing on the pier, looking back.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #311 photo prompt.

Plus, Di of Pensitivity 101 – Monday’s Three Things Challenge: HOTEL, HOSTEL, HOSTAGE

What do you see # 311- October 20, 2025

That’s a big tree!

Chris Hall78 Comments

Photo Prompt © Lisa Fox

‘We can easily climb that big old tree.’
‘Definitely.’
The two boys dropped their bikes.

They both stared at it, then trotted around.
‘Gosh, it’s so tall, we can hardly see the top.’ ‘No probs though.’
‘Which side shall we try?’
‘Tell you what, I’ll go on the bendy one, and you can go on the straight one.’

The two of them jumped up, and began to climb.
The first one went more quickly on the bendy one, while the straight one was rather slower.
But then they almost met at the top.
‘Well, that proves something,’ as they giggled.|

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S. If you haven’t seen me saying something on your post, I believe it’s gone to spam. I won’t just leave a ‘like’.

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

17 October 2025

Erupting!

Chris Hall33 Comments


it is spewing out
black and blackest molten rock
violent, terrifying

ash is all around
flint, smoke, exhaust, fog, it’s erupting
raining down lava

it’s Madame Pele
she’s the goddess of fire
and she’s on the move

tangerine colours
from head to toe, amazing

~~~~

N.B. – In Hawaiian religion, Pele is the goddess of volcanoes and fire and the creator of the Hawaiian Islands.

Image credit: James Lee @Unsplash

This image shows Hawaii Volcano National Park, Hawaii, USA, The volcano Kilauea is spewing lava high into the air, and white smoke is seen emitting from the fiery lava.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #310 photo prompt.

What do you see # 310- 13th October- 2025

Funny?

Chris Hall53 Comments

Photo Prompt © Roger Bultot

It was the middle of the day and the middle of the week. Always the same, just like clockwork. Only the obvious tasks. She would remove the slightly drooping flowers on the top few steps. She’d already brought some new ones to freshen it up.

She looked up to the tall windows and beyond, she said a little prayer, closing her eyes.
But then it happened, and so quickly.

She walked back, slipped and tripped.
Her beautiful blooms were held up.

But, oh dear.

Her bloomers were on show, just as the old rabbi appeared.
What a confusion…
Oops, indeed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Anectdote
Word Count: 100

10 October 2025

The Hand

Chris Hall37 Comments

a jagged edge, it’s blurring, it’s dark and so cold
tears are dropping across her face, a hand waves
a blunt object appears, it’s unearthing but what?
suddenly something shatters and scatters across the room
she’s moaning, she’s scared, hardly surprising
the hand appears again
what is it doing?
but it’s gone
wake up
BANG

~~~~

Image credit: Katie Mukhina @Unsplash

This image shows the shadow of an arm and hand cast on a wall. The outline of the shadow are a bit blurry.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #309 photo prompt.

What do you see # 309- October 6, 2025