Photo Copyright: J.Hardy Carroll
Here we are again and this week we’re gathered under an overhead window. We’ve come together to discuss our original stories for the week. This is the Friday Fictioneer’s group. Our hostess for the gathering is the talented and gracious author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge for each of us this week and every week is to write a story with no more than 100 words, not counting the title. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and be inspired by the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt was provided by J.Hardy Carroll. Thanks, J.Hardy. To read the other stories by group members, just click on the link below, then on the smiling frog. Next, follow the given directions.
Genre: Horror Fiction
Word Count: 97 Words
Beware the Full Moon By P.S. Joshi
Frank was thrilled. His younger brother Bill was coming to live with him. Their mother had written the boy was hard to manage and asked if he would take him for a while.
When he met Bill’s bus, he was shocked at how thin and drawn the boy looked.
That night Frank slept soundly as a full moon beamed through the skylight of the apartment. A dark figure crept out the door. Minutes later a high-pitched howl pierced the air.
A day later the newspaper printed the blaring headline,
MAN FOUND TORN APART IN THE CITY PARK.
I think I know who did it
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Thanks, Neil. I do too. Fairly soon Frank is going to have to accept who did it also. His mother was in denial no doubt. —- Suzanne
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Oh, that was a scary one. Love the form of it.
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Thanks, Bear. I’m glad you liked the story so much. If I could have used more words I could have made it even scarier. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Yes, that old word count beast can bite us sometimes.
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Dear Suzanne,
Oh dear. What’s a person to do when little brother is a werewolf? Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I’m glad I never had that problem. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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A proper full=bloodied horror 🙂
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Thanks, Iain. I’m glad you liked it. I like your description. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Oh oh … Maybe should’ve asked a bit more questions about the definition of ‘hard to handle’?
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Thanks, Na’ama. Yes, you’re right. The words “hard to handle” didn’t come close to the problem. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Yep. Yikes … 😉
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Such terror in just a 100 words. Love it!
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Thanks, G. I’m glad you enjoyed the story so much. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Beware the frail, thin boy…
Well done!
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Thanks, Dale. That’s a better title than mine. I’m glad you liked the story. 😀 — Suzanne
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🙂
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i guess it’s time for the kid to be sent back home. 🙂
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Thanks, Plaridel. There’s certainly more serious trouble ahead if he stays. I wonder how many people died that way in his hometown before the mother sent him to his brother. —- Suzanne
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“hard to manage” seems to be something of an understatement 🙂
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Thanks, Ali. You’re certainly right about that. 🙂 — Suzanne
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…and I thought my brother was odd! Great take Suzanne
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Ah, ha, ha. Thanks, Keith. Will your brother be reading this story. Poor guy. They do say “truth is stranger than fiction”. 😀 — Suzanne
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So Bill is the killer by implication? Did anyone die when he was living with his mother?
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Thanks, Abhijit. We’re not sure as yet but I’d bet there were killings and other trouble causing the mother to send Bill to live with Frank. She no doubt suspected he was trouble. —- Suzanne
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A little hard to handle might be an understatement. Did mom every try a collar and leash? Maybe one of those shocking obedience collars 😉 Well, at least on nights with a full moon.
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Ah, ha, ha. She was probably scared to try restraint. I would have been had I been her. 😀 — Suzanne
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All I can say, is I hope Frank can find Billy a good hairdresser. The boy’s gonna need it. If you’ve got big teeth and an ugly smile, should at least be groomed properly.
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Thanks, Russell. You’re right of course. A good manicure would have helped also. 😀 — Suzanne
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“hard to manage” is the understatement of the century!
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Thanks, Jade. The woman is in need of some good strong metaphors. 😀 — Suzanne
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lol, you are very welcome 🙂
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Yeah, I’ve heard that werewolves can be hard to manage. Cranky.
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Thanks, Linda. I think we need to dial that way up from cranky. Let’s imagine the attitude of a starving grizzly bear. —- Suzanne
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🙂
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Looks can be deceiving. This would make a great longer piece. 😀
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Thanks, Tannille. I agree. I may lengthen it to a short story in the future. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I always wanted to be an only child…
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My daughter was afraid if I had another child she wouldn’t be the baby anymore. If you’re an only child, you miss the fun of conflict with a sibling. 😀 — Suzanne
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It could have been worse, Bill might have stayed inside to do what he do best.
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Thanks, Bjorn. Yes, Frank could have been attacked by Bill so he was fortunate in that respect. He’s still in danger though. You can’t trust a werewolf. —- Suzanne
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Fun story!
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Oooooooooo
I live this, the goal in the dark, the thin and drawn appearance. Better keep an eye on the moon
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Ughhhhhhh Auto Correct !!
I meant…
I love this, the howl in the dark, the thin and drawn appearance. Better keep an eye on the moon.
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