Fred flew towards the sound of her laughter. There was always
food left whenever he heard it.
He swooped in through an open window of the boat, and landed
on the table. Fred started gobbling the food down as his feet alighted,
ignoring the gasping man.
“You bitch,” the man choked, before the arm reaching towards her
shrank, growing feathers.
She strolled to the table. Fred stopped eating when she
reached for a piece of bread. Instead he chased the new bird out. No matter how
many she changed, he was still her first. Fred flew to her waiting arm.
Photo by Fatima Fakier Deria
Song Choice: Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police
This short story was inspired by the photo prompt given by Friday Fictioneers. More flash fiction available at the link.
Dear Rommy,
ReplyDeleteI had to read this a couple of times to get it. Fred is quite the loyal fellow even though she turned him into a bird. Cute.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Stockholm syndrome I imagine.
DeleteOh my... like Rochelle I had to read it more than once... This was a fun and original take!
ReplyDeleteAh well, I'll strive for better clarity next week. Sometimes it's tough to get everything clearly across in under 100 words. I find I get very big ideas and squeezing them down is tricky.
DeleteWell that was certainly different. Didn't see it coming. Well played.
ReplyDeleteI think I have a certain perverse sort of nature where I look at these prompts and reject the first few thoughts I get, only to try to work with ones I deem appropriately weird.
DeleteYou know, Nature is very smart. It's the reason why she never gave me the power to turn people into animals. If she had, I suspect the world would be bursting with confused vermin.
ReplyDeleteThis one gave a good giggle.
Sometimes I wonder about exceptionally aware seeming vermin. The squirrels on our college campus were such devious little bastards, I'd wonder if they were obnoxious students cursed to have furry tails, yet still retaining the desire for the really good pizza crusts from the local delivery place.
DeleteSo much better than pigs!
ReplyDeleteYay! Glad you got the reference.
DeleteTook me twice through to get it. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteAh well, I'll just need to work on my skills to compose something better next week.
DeleteA strange tale. Why does she change them to birds, I wonder? Unique take, well done.
ReplyDeleteAs Sharon guessed, my story was inspired by the Greek mythological character Circe who turned men into pigs. I admit when I became a teen, I found that to be a funny pun (I have no idea if ancient Greek women lamented about the opposite sex resembling porcine animals).
DeleteMy thought of seagulls for this came from the scene in Finding Nemo, where all the gulls were squawking "Mine! Mine!" I wondered what Circe would have done to men who assumed she was theirs before she had consented, hence the story.
Ah.. I think I would prefer to be changed to a bird than a swine... Quite a lady...
ReplyDeleteBirds do have the advantage of flight.
DeleteIntriguing tale, I too wonder why she changes them, but I like the fact that we're not told
ReplyDeleteIt was a play on the old Greek myth of Circe turning men into swine.
DeleteI second it. I too had to read it more than once, what probably is an indication that I am getting old(er). Loved it, after I figured it out.
ReplyDeleteOr I could be clearer when I write :) But, practice makes perfect, so I shall give it a go again next week.
DeleteOne has to read this more than once, Still, there are possibilities. Thanks for the mind trip.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Martin!
DeleteI got it right off, though I have no recollection of the Greek myth. Take-off or not, it's a really well done short story.
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm glad you enjoyed it. It gave me a giggle to write it.
DeleteBrilliant Rommy! I got it too, right off! Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteWoot! Coolness :)
DeleteFred just wants to protect his territory, while she is one for the birds. Imaginative take on the prompt.
ReplyDeleteSeagulls are funny like that
DeleteBrilliant. The first time reading it surprised me; the second just made me smile. Poor Fred - loyalty even after a thing like that.
ReplyDelete