Copyright–Georgia Koch
Here we are gathered together again to discuss our original stories for the group, Friday Fictioneers. Today we’re gathered in the virtual sunporch of a rural home near a small lake. Our hostess for this gathering is the gracious and talented author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge for this group is to write a story with no more than 100 words. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt was supplied by Georgia Koch. Thanks Georgia.
To read the other stories from the members of this group, click on the small blue frog in the blue box. The link is as follows:
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2015/01/21/16-january-2015/
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100 Words
THE HAPPY TIMES By P.S. Joshi
I remember the day my ship, The Happy Times, was launched, it was a beautiful day. It had rained that morning. There was some water on the decks, but I, Captain John, and my first mate, Jerry, felt it would probably dry off by noon.
We cast off into the deeper water. It was calm so we decided at noon to prepare and eat our lunch.
When we happened to check below, we noticed a slight leak. Our plans abruptly changed, and we headed for port.
To others it was an old row boat. To us it was The Happy Times
…neat ending. m’Lady :):)
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Thanks Seumas. I’m so glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Lovely name for a boat, and a good omen for the future they’ll spend in it! Great last sentence.
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Thanks Ali. I’m very pleased you liked the story, especially the name of the boat. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
And it was a Happy Time. i loved this tale.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thanks Doug. I’m so pleased you loved the story as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
This sounds like two little boys with very big imaginations. Cute story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. I’m so glad you liked it. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Lovely tale. I had an idea of the age of these two intrepid sailors as I started reading. But the end they were much younger and braver. 🙂
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Thanks Sarah Ann. I’m so glad you liked the story. I think little boys are great. I raised one. 🙂 — Suzanne
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This made me smile, Suzanne. I find that as an “old boat” I leak more than I used to.
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Thanks Russell. 😀 I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. I think all of us “old boats” have similar problems. Your comment made me laugh out loud. 😀 — Suzanne
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Oh I love the names of old ships .. and yes this one was a lovely one to carry the fantasy on.. On of my favorites I ever seen was the name “Nil Desperandum” if I ever have a boat I will name it so.
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Thanks, Bjorn. I’m so glad you liked the story and the name I chose for the boat (ship).”Nil Desperandum” would be a great name for a boat. 🙂 — Suzanne
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This brings to mind the ringing laughter of boys looking forward to a day on the water and not really caring if their boat had a hole in it. Bring on the adventure.
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Thanks Alicia. Ah for the carefree days of the young and adventurous. I’m so glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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What ones love is special regadless of what it seems to be to others. The sense of a true happy time is present throughout the story. Great stuff!
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Thanks, Perry. You’re right; we each have things and/or memories that are special to us. I’m so glad you liked the story. Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Suzanne, I love the sweet childhood memories cast into this story. It’s often true that what others see as old or rickety, are things that children overlook and love. Nice job!
And I have to ask, again… you have gone by Susan for so long; why the change to Suzanne? I’m very curious. 😉
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Thanks, Dawn. I’m so glad you loved the story. Thanks for the encouragement. I took a pen name at first because I was concerned someone might get upset at something I wrote. However, then I read that if someone wants to know your name bad enough, they can find out somehow. I decided to start using the name most people use for me and that’s Suzanne. I have been called Susan and Suzie (mostly by people in my family and people who knew me from the time I was little), but most people call me Suzanne which is my given middle name. Sorry if I had people confused. You’re not the first to ask. We’re located in Pune, India. I decided if I have a book to market one day, people will want to know anyway. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks for shedding some light on this, Suzanne! I’ve been curious since you started using a slightly different name. Wonderful writing, whichever name you use! 😉
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You’re welcome Dawn. I’m really glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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A lovely story! Brings back memories of simpler times. We have a little sail boat call Soulmate.
Lily
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Thanks, Lily. I’m so glad you liked the story. I grew up near a small lake and used to go rowing by myself a lot for something to do. I’ve never been sailing. That’s a great name for a boat. 🙂 — Suzanne
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A lovely tale of carefree childhood times, where everything is just taken in stride and the fun goes on.
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Thanks, Marg. I’m so glad you liked the story. Kids are great. 🙂 — Suzanne
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You captured the essence of happier times. Well done, Suzanne.
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Thanks, Sandra. I’m so pleased you liked the story. Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne, Excellent story – and anytime you make it back to dry land – it is a “Happy Time”. Great job! Nan 🙂
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Thanks Nan. I’m so glad you liked the story. You’re right, happy landings are great. Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Lovely happy story with that sense of childhood wonder.
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Thanks, Subroto. I’m so pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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A little leak in the best of days can still make for a good time.
I’m not sure that I said that right. Enjoyed the story. Randy
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Thanks, Randy. 😀 I promise I’ll take it in the nicest way possible. I’m so glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Remembering happy times indeed. A lovely story Suzanne and a good take on the prompt.
Dee
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Thanks, Dee. I’m glad you enjoyed the story. I enjoyed writing one about happy children. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
First, I was glad to read the explanation concerning your name, and I’m also glad to meet you formally under your given name.
As to the story, this sounds like a fun jaunt for our fellows. I’m confused concerning the times, though. Were they at sea for more than a day? They leave in the afternoon but later they are eating at noon.
Whatever the case, you have indeed described happy times. Everyone needs an adventure like this.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Thanks, Marie Gail. You’re perfectly right. I changed “afternoon” to day. Thanks for catching that problem. I’m glad I went ahead and changed to my given name. It’s the one I’m most at home with. I’m also glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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This had me smiling, Suzanne. Just a slight leak. I almost missed your story this week!
Later in the week I’ll come back and read the bookstore story and the wolf picture story. I’m thinking to write one for the bookstore photo so I’ll wait until I’ve done that.
Hope all is well!
Ellespeth
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Thanks, Ellespeth. I love writing stories about children. I write all three stories these days. I can’t seem to pass up a good story prompt. 🙂 That old bookstore was a good one, and so was the wolf. We’re doing fairly well. It’s been winter here in India. It usually dips to about 50F which is somewhat like Calif., but there’s not heating in the homes here, so I end up wearing a heavy sweater and socks in the house. We’re in Pune, in the mountains, so it’s cooler than in Mumbai. I hope you’re doing well. Take care. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you for stopping by my blog and the like. Liked your back. Sweet story of happy times which are in the eye of the beholder.
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Thanks, Janice. You’re welcome for the like. Thank you for reading my story. I’m so glad you liked it. I enjoyed writing it. 🙂 — Suzanne
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“To others it was an old row boat. To us it was The Happy Times.” This is the truth isn’t it. It is always in the eye of the beholder. Enjoyed your lovely story. 🙂
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Thanks, Joy. I’m glad you enjoyed it. You’re right, some things are truly in the eye of the beholder. I enjoyed writing this story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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These stories are fun to write.
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They certainly are, Joy. I can’t seem to pass up a good prompt. 🙂
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