Still life, is it?

April 17, 2026 Chris Hall27 Comments

Photo Prompt © Ted Strutz

But is it art?
What do you mean?
Well, it’s not really real.
Sorry?
It has been generated with software.

It’s not surreal, no. It’s very realistic.
Now that I understand. I could munch some fruit in there.
That bit of banana is beautiful, isn’t it?
And that mug of coffee looks hot.

That old photo looks interesting too.
I like the way that artist is working outside.
It’s called en plein air
Ooh, impressive.

You know there is a market for buying crypto-art?
You don’t say?
Yep, it’s called Non Fungible Tokens.
Well, all I can say is… blimey!

~~~

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

17 April 2026

Seascape

April 10, 2026 Chris Hall62 Comments

Photo Prompt © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Another small boat around here? I keep seeing them.
It’s rather grey today, although that’s pretty normal.
Not hot, not too chilly.
It’s called ‘in the middle’.

I have been trying to get the right light, since it is important to me.
That little boat seems to be tacking back and forward. That’s clever.

It’s a granite grey sea, and a slate grey sky, plus a charcoal grey on the beach.
But just a pop of colour from that sailing boat would be good.
Ah, some ultramarine blue, a little crimson red, and a tiny bit of cadmium yellow.
Perfect!

~~~

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

10 April 2026

Drum roll…

April 3, 2026 Chris Hall51 Comments

Photo Prompt © Roger Bultot

Can you reach up?
Ahh, not quite.

Don’t worry, I’ll get a chair.
Do you want to pass that down?

Got it?
Yep.

Good. I’m down.
Let’s look at what’s in it.

It’s such a pretty patina.
Pretty old too.

Let’s lift the lid between us.
It’s tight, isn’t it?

Do you think it’s a big drum?
Seems so.

Here it is.
Oh!

Not a drum.
What unearth is it?

Let’s take it out.
Ooh, carefully.

Here, on the table.
That’s it.

It’s a musical box, with a winder.
I’ll do it.

What? Trump????
No. Don’t be silly. It’s Trumpton!

~~~

P.S. – Trumpton is a British stop-motion children’s television series from the producers of Camberwick Green.

~~~

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

3 April 2026

Lace but tatty, sadly

March 27, 2026 Chris Hall73 Comments

Photo Prompt © Sandra Crook

That tatty lace was once so pretty. It covered those tall windows, and the light would shine brightly in the early evening.
The sun still smiles, but there’s no-one to see it here in this house.

Then the house was a home.

The walls and the doors were painted in rich and bold colours.
The garden was glorious with many exotic flowers, bushes and vegetables. And beyond, those magnificent trees would often seem to sing.

But that was a long time ago.

Would you see a ghost sometimes?
Would you hear a strange knock in the night?
Maybe? Maybe not.

~~~~~

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

27 March 2026

She is an artist, and a good one, she thinks…

March 13, 2026 Chris Hall63 Comments

Photo Prompt © Lisa Fox

It was the opening exhibition, and she was a teensy-weensy nervous. She was wearing her good clothes (for once), and she had her best beret on her bonce (naturally). She held her champers while holding her pinkie out to look posh, as she helped herself with some dainty morsels.

It was terribly busy as everyone slowly milled around the various interesting (and uninteresting) paintings. It was always nice to see other artists, and many knew each other.

Then there was a loud couple of claps.
An art critic appeared.
There was a silence for a moment.

And the winner is…

~~~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100 (Not counting the lengthy title)

13 March 2026

Very modern, isn’t it?

March 6, 2026 Chris Hall69 Comments

Photo Prompt © Roger Bultot

‘That’s odd.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well… look.’
They both stopped.

‘It’s a new building.’
‘So?’
‘All those structures feel unreal.’
‘What??’
She continued to stare. ‘Definitely peculiar.’

‘But I wonder whether we could get a coffee there?’

They walked up to the building, but then they were both stumped.
‘There’s no doors.’
They peered into the coffee area, although there was no coffee brewing.
‘I don’t think they are real people. They’re definitely busy, but I’m sure they are all bots and artificial cloning things.’

Suddenly all the windows became opaque.
‘More than weird.’
‘Let’s back away… and quickly.’

~~~~~

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

6 March 2026

A sunset surprise

February 27, 2026 Chris Hall70 Comments

‘Aliens? Can’t be.’
‘What d’you mean?’
‘Oh… nothing.’

They stood together watching another glorious sunset, and saying nothing for several minutes.

‘So why did you mention aliens?’
‘Whoa. Look.’ She pointed her finger as a bright light zoomed across the sky.
He said nothing.
‘Didn’t you see it?’
‘Nope.’
‘Hmm,’ she huffed.

She was still looking around the sky, when another one happened. ‘It’s that little bright green light again.’

But then it dawned on him. ‘Our son’s sitting just inside. He’s playing with a laser pointer pen and it’s green.’
‘Well, at least he’s stopped doodling on our walls!’

~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: It’s been one of those weeks.
Words that Don’t Particularly Count: 100

27 February 2026

Barbeque?

February 20, 2026 Chris Hall50 Comments

Barbeque? Well, not usually called it here. We prefer the word ‘braai’.
But it’s just a way to say, ‘howzit’.

It’s time to open some beer… naturally, and to make sure all the meat is arranged around the grill, since everyone has something different.

The women have brought salads and stuff. They’re already ‘skinnering’ (gossiping), and very happy with that. Now it’s the perfect time for ‘sundowners’ for the girls… some lovely white wine – and chilled.

Route 66? Almost. This is Route 62!

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

20 February 2026

Park place

February 13, 2026 Chris Hall49 Comments

She had been moseying along that long sidewalk, since she had little to do that day. The street was wide and very, very straight, as she continued to walk on. There were trees on the left and trees on the right, and they had been planted for some years.

She almost felt that she should hug a tree.
But that would look daft.

A little later she entered the park there.
There was a handy bench not far, so she sat down.

Opening her big bag, she took out her writing book and a pen.
Then it became a poem.

~~~

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