THE THRIVING BED OF DAFFODILS

 

Photo Copyright: Al Forbes

This story was written for Sunday Photo Fiction–September 25th, 2016. Each week the host, Al Forbes, provides a picture prompt. The challenge for each member of the group is to write an original story or poem with no more than 200 words, not including the title and inspired by the prompt.

To read the other stories written by group members, just click on the link below, then on the little blue frog in the blue box.

The link to the other stories this week is as follows:

https://sundayphotofictioner.wordpress.com/2016/09/25/sunday-photo-fiction-september-25th-october-2nd-2016/

Genre: Realistic Mystery Fiction

Word Count: 200 Words

THE THRIVING BED OF DAFFODILS by P.S. Joshi

Detective Gilbert loved cold cases and seeing if he could solve some before he retired. He did it on his own time so no one objected. He’d solved a few. With the introduction of DNA testing, it became easier.

He was especially interested in the disappearance of wealthy young widow, Margo Hitchens. First, her husband had died suddenly in an auto accident. The car found abandoned and burned yielded no clues to identify the driver.

Gilbert suspected Margo’s stepfather who would inherit both her share and his if she couldn’t be found. He drove out to the estate but wasn’t allowed on the ground.

He thought,  My hands are tied.

He was suspicious of various landscaping projects carried out on the property, especially a thriving bed of daffodils. The department head finally gave permission for the grounds to be excavated due to  pressure from other family members, part owners of the grounds. Detective Gilbert had sought their help, explaining his suspicions.

Digging began on a Tuesday. Shortly someone shouted, “We’ve found a body.” It was later identified as a former servant. Margo’s body was eventually found in a rose bed nearer the house. Case solved.

* * *

[Additional note: The servant was thought to have been the driver of the car that struck and killed Margo’s husband. It was also thought he’d been paid well by her stepfather.]

THE VINE-COVERED STAIRWAY

Photo Copyright: Amy Reese :

NOTE: The New Your Public Library in the United States has just uploaded nearly 200,000 digitalized images (pictures, maps, posters,etc.) anyone can use for free. They’re free of copyrights due to age so are in the public domain. The link is as follows:

http://digitalcollections.nypl.org

Here we all are again for another week. Today we’re gathered near a virtual old vine-covered stairway. Our hostess for this gathering is the gracious and talented author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. We’re the Friday Fictioneers group. Our challenge this week and every week is to each write an original 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 Amy Reese. Thanks, Amy.

To read the other stories by the group, 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/2016/01/13/15-january-2016/

Genre: Speculative Fiction

Word Count: 100 Words

THE VINE-COVERED STAIRWAY By P.S. Joshi

Twelve-year-old Sarah was visiting her grandmother in the summer of 1967 and was bored.

Her grandmother gave permission to walk through the village, but not to go near the old estate on the edge as it was dilapidated and dangerous.

Sarah entered the village and saw the estate wall with a vine-covered stairway going to the top. It looked safe so she started to climb. It was sweltering, she felt dizzy, but finally reached the top.

Was her imagination tricking her? Stretching before her was a vast green meadow with a castle in the distance. She was in medieval dress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE MAZE

 

Copyright–Melanie Greenwood

Here we are again another week, gathered this time at the virtual estate of a wealthy family. They have an especially beautiful maze in the back yard. We’re here to do more than sightsee. We’re going to discuss our original stories for the Friday Fictioneer’s group. The hostess for this group is the talented and gracious artist and author, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The prompt this week was supplied by Melanie Greenwood. Thanks Melanie. Using this prompt, our challenge is to write a story with no more than 100 words. It’s to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the prompt. Be sure to click on the little blue frog in the blue box to read the other stories.

The link to the other stories is as follows:

http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/6-february-2015/

Genre: Detective Fiction

Word Count: 100 Words

THE MAZE By P.S. Joshi

Chief Inspector Burton was interested in the cold cases. In his spare time, he was always working on something concerning them.

He found the disappearance of ten young women, some twenty years before, especially curious. Few leads had turned up, and the cases had to be closed.

Checking further, he discovered the women were all from the same general area east of the city, not far from the estate of wealthy arms manufacturer, Mr. Joseph Birmingham. He decided to visit Sunday afternoon.

Mr. Birmingham had died and the estate was for sale.

On the grounds, he noticed a luxuriant maze.