Photo Copyright: Georgia Koch
Here we are for another week. Today we’re revisiting an old row boat pulled into shore. Our hostess for this weekly gathering is the talented and gracious author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. We’re the Friday Fictioneers group. Our challenge this week and every week is to write an original story with no more than 100 words not including the title. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt is a rerun originally sent in by Georgia Koch and requested this week by Dee Lovering. Thanks, Georgia, and Dee.
Congratulations to Rochelle on making the July deadline for the third novel in her series. The novel is entitled AS ONE MUST ONE CAN.
I’m sorry I missed the story last week. I was ill with a head cold. I’m feeling much better now.
I was satisfied with the story I wrote for this prompt the last time, so I’ve repeated it with just a couple tiny changes.
To read the other stories by the group members, just click on the link given below, then on the little blue frog in the blue box.
The link for this week’s stories is as follows:
https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/08/24/26-august-2016/
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 afternoon. 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 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.
A feelgood story indeed
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Thanks, Neil. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Oh I do love that turn… there was a time when every boat was a ship… yes we did that once with a dinghy… but it could only sail with the wind so we had to be fetched back…
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Thanks, Bjorn. I’m so pleased you liked the story. It sounds like the wind played a trick on you. I’m glad to hear you were rescued. 😀 — Suzanne
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Lovely story and pleased you are feeling better this week x
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Thanks, Louise, I’m so pleased you liked the story. Yes, I’m feeling much better. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Good 😃
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Glad you’re feeling better, Suzanne. A sweet story. I’m assuming they made it back to shore. More Happy Times ahead. 🙂
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Thanks, Diana. Thank for your good wishes. I’m feeling much better. I’m so pleased you liked the story. Yes, they make it back. They’ve got the rest of their childhood to enjoy. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Lovely story. The attachment to boats is so difficult to define, but I got the feeling that this one was dear to the crew.
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Thanks, Sandra. Many people like water, and I think that’s part of the attraction to boats. My dad used to like to fish sometimes from a boat. Yes, those children had a special fondness for the boat. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I like how you brought this full circle, it made me smile.
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Thanks, Dawn. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the story so much and liked the way it began and ended. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Always look on the bright side.
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Thanks, Chioma. You’re right. We should try to be optimistic. I’m so pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Reblogged this on Matthews' Blog.
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Thanks, Depatridge/Matthew for the reblog. I really appreciate it. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I like and, as a result, encourage such literary thoughts Suzanne.
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Good thing to do. (head to port that is)
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Thanks, John. Yes, it is good to head for port when the boat starts leaking that bad. I’m happy you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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🙂
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Dear Suzanne,
To them it will always be Happy Times. Nice upbeat story. Glad you’re feeling better, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I’m pleased you liked the story. It’s a happy memory for them. Thanks for the good health wish. I’m feeling much better. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Glad you are feeling better. I like this 🙂 A great story.
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Thanks, Al. Thanks also for the health wish. I’m pleased you liked the story so much. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Sweet! Happy times in The Happy Times 🙂
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Thanks, Ali. Yes, they named the boat for the good times they spent in it. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I’ve always believed that a bad day fishing was better than a good day at work. Happy Times is a great name for any boat.
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Thanks, Russell. At least fishing is often a profitable leisure pastime. It’s not a waste of time. Work is what we do so we can eat and have a roof over our heads as well. I’m pleased you liked the story. That ‘is’ a good name for a boat. 😀 — Suzanne
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nostalgia exists for a reason. well done.
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Thanks, Rich. Yes, nostalgia is there for a reason. The rough edges of our past are often smoothed down a bit. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Glad to see you are feeling better. Good thing they caught the leak in time, deep water is not the nicest place to meet your end.
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Thanks, Lore. Thanks for the wishes for my feeling better. I appreciate it. Yes, a leak in a boat is not good news when you’re in deeper water. My dad used to make me wear a life vest when I went rowing by myself. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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The Happy Times? I was just happy they got back to the shore on time! 🙂
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Thanks, Bun. That was a good thing, wasn’t it. I didn’t think of it as tension in the story, but I guess it was. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Charmingly whimsical piece, Suzanne
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Thanks, C.E. I’m pleased you liked the story. I’m sorry you’re still having physical problems even after the treatments. I hope that clears up soon for you. —- Suzanne
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I saw the water leaking in, hope you are back to health. Mike
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Thanks, Mike. I’m glad my story was that realistic and you liked it. Thanks for the good wishes for my health. I’m feeling much better. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I love that they attempted before retiring!
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Thanks, Sabina. I’m pleased you liked the story, the way I wrote it. 🙂 — Suzanne
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That’s lovely, Suzanne – the trick of making us believe it was a ship to the reality of the row boat. It’s all in the perception, isn’t it? The boat was a ship to them. Great story 🙂
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Thanks, Lynn. I’m pleased you liked the story so much the way I wrote it. I decided it would work best if I told it through the boys’ eyes. 🙂 — Suzanne
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It worked very well that way. My pleasure Suzanne 🙂
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I think this could be a metaphor for life, and for ‘things’ we do in our lives. To some, for instance, it was a ‘kitchen,’ to us, it was food, love, sustenance, and laughter. Great story!
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Thanks, RW. You’re right. It could be metaphors. I’m happy you enjoyed the story so much. 🙂 — Suzanne
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My SO and I had a canoe once and named it Buttercup. It doesn’t matter how big or small, when it’s your ship, it gets a name, and you’re the captain. Lovely story, Suzanne, and I’m glad you feel better.
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Thanks, Gabriele. I like the name “Buttercup” for your canoe. You’re right. Every mode of transportation that travels on water should have a name. It gives extra personality. Thanks for your good wishes on my health. I do feel much better. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Ah, neat! It sounds like two boys on an adventure that have to be home by supper time. The imagination at that age is something we all must experience as a part of growing up. That’s my take on it.
Thanks, Suzanne!
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Thanks, Kent. You truly understood my story. I raised two kids with great imaginations and they were a joy to have around. 😀 — Suzanne
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I’m sure, having been a boy myself once … 😉
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Well, I’m glad they’re so good-spirited about their leaky boat. Sometimes the most imperfect memories are truly the best. Great tale, Suzanne.
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Thanks, Amy. You’re right. In remembering, we often forget the imperfect part. I’m happy you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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