Smorgasbord Short Stories – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction – A Dream Home by Sally Cronin

This week on the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills   the prompt was a husband carrying his wife… interesting…

A Dream Home by Sally Cronin

As a girl she didn’t dream of fairy tale weddings or fancy white dresses. She was an orphan, in and out of foster homes, and all she wanted was a house of her own. They met at the local community centre; a carpenter, his hands worn and callused. He asked her what her dream was and she shared her vision. He said nothing, just smiled and nodded. Today, in her simple blue dress, carrying a posy of wild flowers, he swept her into his arms and through the door of the home he had built to show his love.

©Sally Cronin 2020

If you would like to participate in this week’s challenge you have until 14th January: Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills

My latest release contains a section of flash fiction as well as verse and speculative short stories..

Amazon £3.50:Amazon UK

And $4.53: Amazon US

Thank you for dropping in today and as always your feedback is very welcome..Sally.

Smorgasbord Short Stories – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction – Key Lime Pie by Sally Cronin

This week for the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills  the prompt is ‘Key Lime Pie’.... and I hope you enjoy the ingredients in my story……

Key Lime Pie

My mother-in-law is coming to dinner tonight with the rest of the family. I am staring at a piece of paper she gave me on her last visit, which provides a step-by-step guide to making the perfect key lime pie. Apparently hers are legendary, and have become a tradition on my husband’s birthday since he was five. Even though we have only been married a few months; I know that his mother will be looking for flaws. Which is why I have made a sherry trifle, a dessert I know my husband loves; a new tradition of our own.

©Sally Cronin

If you would like to participate in this week’s Flash Fiction then please head over to Charli’s to find out more: December 6th Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction

My latest release contains a section of flash fiction as well as verse and speculative short stories..

Amazon £3.50:Amazon UK

And $4.53: Amazon US

Thank you for dropping in today and as always your feedback is very welcome..Sally.

Smorgasbord Short Stories – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction – Romantic Gestures by Sally Cronin

This week’s prompt for the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills  is Romance... in all its glory… It is the glue that keeps a relationship strong along with other elements such as laughter and respect. And your heart can flutter at any age when you receive a romantic gesture, grand or as brief as a touch of a hand on your cheek.

Romantic Gestures.

For sixty years red roses, hearts and grand gestures had been his way of showing how much he loved her. Now as he sat beside her hospital bed he was at a loss. He desperately wanted to make her last moments as love filled as possible; but grand gestures were of no use now. She stirred and turned her head to look at him, attempting to speak. He leant closer to her and heard the words ‘You are the love of my life.’ He smiled and nodded as he kissed her frail hand gently. ‘And you too my darling’.

©Sally Cronin 2019

Thanks for dropping in and I hope you enjoyed the story….and if you would like to participate in this week’s challenge you have until Tuesday November 26th: Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills

Smorgasbord Short Stories – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction – Reunited by Sally Cronin

This week on the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills – Charli has asked us to write a story using the Mexican Day of the Dead as a prompt.. anywhere that it takes us.

 

Reunited

She had loved her stepfather, and he had always treated her as his own. She understood and respected his wishes when it came to the headstone when her mother died. But now he was gone too, and rather than be buried in this plot, he had chosen to have his ashes scattered in the memorial garden.

She reached out and touched the new headstone that had replaced the original and hoped that her mother and father would now be at peace.

Georgina Walsh
1890 – 1942
Beloved wife of
Lance Corporal Herbert Francis Walsh
Killed in action November 2nd 1918.

© Sally Cronin 2019

If you would like to participate in this week’s challenge, you have until November 5th. https://carrotranch.com/2019/10/31/october-31-flash-fiction-challenge/

Smorgasbord Short Stories – The Carrot Ranch #Flash Fiction Challenge – Life’s Greatest Gift by Sally Cronin

This week, Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills was to create a story in 99 words not more, no less about The Greatest Gift….

Life’s Greatest Gift

Thomas prowled the corridors of the care home as its residents slept. During the day he would jump from lap to lap, rubbing gnarled hands with his head, accepting tender touches and morsels of food, hoarded and saved for his visit. For many he became the family they no longer knew, and was adored.

The cat slipped through a door left ajar, and approaching the bed, he leapt onto the pillow. Thomas purred gently into the old woman’s ear. She sighed and gave one last gentle breath, accepting the greatest gift in life of being loved until its end.

©Sally Cronin 2019

If you would like to participate you have until September 17th: https://carrotranch.com/2019/09/13/september-12-flash-fiction-challenge/

I have a number of short story collections and you can find my books and their reviews: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/my-books-and-reviews-2019/

I hope you enjoyed my bit of flash and your feedback is always welcome.. thanks Sally.

 

Smorgasbord Short Stories – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction – True Grit by Sally Cronin

This week’s Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills was to use the title of one of the greatest western’s of all time True Grit in one form or another.. Since is was my father’s favourite film (along with any John Wayne Western) I have responded with this.

True Grit

Each year on her late father’s birthday, Molly would watch True Grit, his favourite western. This year she was nine months pregnant and hoping after three boys it might be a girl. Her husband rubbed her ankles, passing her tissues as she wept at the end of the movie. The baby kicked and Molly felt a sharp pain.

‘It’s on the way love.’ She smiled at him. ‘I am going to call the baby Mattie, boy or girl.’

‘Thank God, I thought you were going to say Rooster for a minute.’ Laughing and excited they headed out the door.

©Sally Cronin 2019

If you would like to participate you have until September 10th: https://carrotranch.com/2019/09/06/september-5-flash-fiction-challenge/

I have a number of short story collections and you can find my books and their reviews: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/my-books-and-reviews-2019/

I hope you enjoyed my bit of flash and your feedback is always welcome.. thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Short Stories – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction – The Charm Bracelet by Sally Cronin

This week on the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills the prompt was ‘Old World Charm’ or words to that effect.. in 99 words no more no less..

The Charm Bracelet.

Keira stood in line with the other teenagers. Dressed in plain cotton overalls, the queue stretched back for miles. Above them, lining the cliff edges, were their families, held back by a tall fence. She looked down at the silver charm bracelet her mother had placed around her wrist as she had said her tearful goodbyes.

‘This will remind you of the old world my daughter, and our love.’

Keira finally reached the head of the line and was called forward by the guardians.
Placing her hand over the bracelet, she stepped through the portal, into the new world.

 

©Sally Cronin 2019

If you would like to participate in this weeks challenge, here is the link: https://carrotranch.com/2019/08/22/august-22-flash-fiction-challenge/

I have a number of short story collections and you can find my books and their reviews: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/my-books-and-reviews-2019/

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have enjoyed my story….thanks Sally.

 

 

Smorgasbord Short Stories – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction – Strawberry Jam by Sally Cronin

I hope you will enjoy my flash fiction in response to Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills  This week the prompt was sweet jam… and here is my 99 words, no more no less.

Strawberry Jam by Sally Cronin

Margaret sat in the sitting room of the nursing home, in a chintz covered chair by the window. She couldn’t remember why she was there, but perhaps the family had brought her out for tea. She tried to think of her daughter’s name; a pretty girl in a blue overall who spoke gently with a lovely smile. Margaret looked at the plate on her lap, lifting the contents to her lips, it tasted delicious with something red and sweet that stirred distant and happy memories. Jam, strawberry jam, on scones, with butter and cream. How could she have forgotten?

©Sally Cronin 2019

If you would like to participate in this week’s challenge here is the link: https://carrotranch.com/2019/08/15/august-15-flash-fiction-challenge/

I have a number of short story collections and you can find my books and their reviews: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/my-books-and-reviews-2019/

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have enjoyed my story….thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Short Stories – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction – Poisoned Apple by Sally Cronin

In this week’s post Charli Mills is heavy of heart about the recent violence that seems to be spreading through all our countries. The Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge  this week is about the rhetoric that is disseminated through every media outlet and social media platform, aimed at filling people’s heads with untruths and fear.

The prompt was Poisoned Apple and here is my interpretation. I don’t usually make political statements…but Charli did say to write where it leads us….

Poisoned Apple by Sally Cronin

It is common in this modern world, to be offered promises that seem as wholesome as a bowl of shiny apples. However the red skinned fruit may hide toxic untruths and evil intent. Once it is swallowed, the poisoned apple will stick in your throat, causing you to spout the heinous words hidden within; spreading the evil like a virus. The only antidote to its venom; is to establish the truth, and wash the words down with random acts of kindness. We must all think carefully before embarking on a dangerously addictive diet of fake news and ill intentions.

©Sally Cronin 2019

If you would like to participate in this week’s challenge here is the link: https://carrotranch.com/2019/08/08/august-8-flash-fiction-challenge/

I have a number of short story collections and you can find my books and their reviews: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/my-books-and-reviews-2019/

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have enjoyed my story….thanks Sally.

 

Smorgasbord Short Story – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction – Rock Star by Sally Cronin

This week Charli Mills  the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge shares her joy at having bills to pay.. it has been a long and challenging process to move into their new home, but it has all worked out. She also shares her delight in her new course to obtain her degree and this week’s prompt, which is to write 99 words, no more no less about a Rock Star..

Without further ado….here is my bit of flash.

Rock Star by Sally Cronin

The performance came to a climax, the singer whipping sweat laden hair around in a frenzy. Voice gravelly with fatigue, he growled out the final lyrics, gyrating across the stage. The last notes faded to the roar of the crowd. Thrusting his guitar above his head, he backed into the wings. Grabbing a towel he headed to his dressing room, eager for what waited for him. He sat back in the chair satisfied. Nothing like a fish paste sandwich and glass of cold milk to end the night. He smiled at the woman. ‘Thanks Mum just what I needed.’

©Sally Cronin 2019

 

I hope you will participate in the challenge...https://carrotranch.com/2019/08/01/august-1-flash-fiction-challenge/

I have a number of short story collections and you can find my books and their reviews: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/my-books-and-reviews-2019/

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have enjoyed my story….thanks Sally.