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Baby Steps

It’s time for my Friday Fictioneers entry once again!

Friday Fictioneers involves writing a roughly 100 word story in response to a photo prompt, which this week has been provided by B. W. Beacham. It is hosted as always by the lovely and talented Rochelle.

You can read all the other contributions by clicking or tapping the little blue froggy (before you tap, ensure you have a touch screen, otherwise click 🙂 ).


copyright_bw_beacham

Copyright B. W. Beacham

Little Mikey reached past the detritus in the lake and fished out another trout. He watched it struggle for a while, then carefully taped its gills shut. He replaced it in the water and watched avidly until it stopped moving. Smiling, he placed it carefully next to his previous experiments.

“Still with the fish. At his age I’d already decimated the neighbourhood pet population and was ready to start on the neighbours,” said Meg, sitting nearby with her husband.

“Let him progress at his own rate,” replied Clive. “We’ll find him a cat for his birthday. Baby steps, love. Baby steps.”

  1. May 8, 2014 at 6:36 pm

    This is genius! I love it!

    Like

    • May 8, 2014 at 6:40 pm

      After last week’s romance I went back to what I know. It was so much easier to write!
      I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂

      Like

  2. NotAPunkRocker
    May 8, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    What’s with parents pushing their kids to be overachievers these days? 😉

    Nice job! 🙂

    Like

    • May 8, 2014 at 6:41 pm

      Thanks!
      Give little Mikey a break. He’ll get there in his own good time 🙂

      Like

  3. May 8, 2014 at 7:02 pm

    …That poor cat.

    Like

    • May 8, 2014 at 7:10 pm

      I was actually feeling so sorry for the cat I nearly didn’t put that bit in.

      Like

  4. May 8, 2014 at 7:12 pm

    Oh Alistair you have such a dark and ominous side to you… that gave me shivers!

    Like

    • May 8, 2014 at 7:23 pm

      I’ve just watched 6 and a half series of Criminal Minds in a row. Too much, maybe.

      Like

      • May 8, 2014 at 7:51 pm

        yea maybe just a few episodes too many… 😉

        Like

        • May 9, 2014 at 6:39 am

          🙂
          Fortunately I’m interspersing it with Castle, which is still murder but with humour! My internet TV gets blocks of stuff all at once with a time limit attached, so I have to keep watching one after another to see them all.

          Like

  5. May 8, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    Wow that was creepy. I mean I may have nightmares about this one. 🙂

    Like

    • May 8, 2014 at 7:40 pm

      Oh no, sorry 😦
      It was creepy. I dread to think of what he will do as he grows up, encouraged all the while by his twisted parents.

      Like

  6. May 8, 2014 at 8:21 pm

    ….I’m not available…. Pawkiss 🙂

    Like

    • May 9, 2014 at 6:40 am

      You’re quite safe, Little Binky 🙂

      Like

  7. May 8, 2014 at 9:53 pm

    Dear Ali,

    Creepy family. I hope they don’t move into my neighborhood. 😉 Well done.

    shalom,

    Rochelle

    Like

    • May 9, 2014 at 6:42 am

      Dear Rochelle,
      Me too. They’re probably described as “quiet, keep to themselves” where they live.
      Ali

      Like

  8. May 8, 2014 at 11:52 pm

    Okay. That was totally icky creepy. I think you are channeling Poe.

    Like

    • May 9, 2014 at 6:48 am

      Icky creepy this week was so much easier to write than last week’s romance 🙂 Like 20 minutes rather than an hour.

      Like

  9. May 9, 2014 at 1:58 am

    I got a possum that kid can have a whole lot of fun with….

    Like

  10. May 9, 2014 at 2:31 am

    Should grow up to be a fine member of society.

    DJ

    Like

    • May 9, 2014 at 6:50 am

      I’m sure that’s will be the way he appears to be from the outside.

      Like

  11. May 9, 2014 at 3:26 am

    i’m afraid the kid will grow up to be a serial killer. 🙂

    Like

    • May 9, 2014 at 6:50 am

      I think so too. Apparently this is the way they often start (according to “Criminal Minds” anyway).

      Like

  12. May 9, 2014 at 4:49 am

    Ewww, a serial killer in training! Very unique interpretation of the photo prompt!

    Like

    • May 9, 2014 at 6:51 am

      I’m sure his parents will train him well. Nothing like continuing a family tradition!

      Like

  13. merbear74
    May 9, 2014 at 11:03 am

    Ew, creepy!

    Like

  14. gentlestitches
    May 9, 2014 at 1:22 pm

    Dear little chap, perhaps he will topple over?

    Like

  15. May 9, 2014 at 1:46 pm

    Meg and Clive have a lot to answer for. Spooky.

    Like

  16. May 9, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    Al, You’ve done it. You’ve made this ghastly family humorous. 🙂 They’re likely to be the only ones left in the neighborhood after some time. O_o Well written and creative. 🙂

    Susan

    Like

    • May 9, 2014 at 6:06 pm

      I did have to stop myself from putting in a couple of other lines which made me laugh 🙂
      I’m guessing they move around quite a lot before the authorities catch on.
      I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Like

  17. May 9, 2014 at 1:52 pm

    Love!!

    Like

  18. May 9, 2014 at 6:27 pm

    Oh dear! I don’t think I like the path Little Mikey is on. I hope he falls in love with his cat.

    Like

  19. May 9, 2014 at 8:09 pm

    Wow, that’s some scary story, an entire family that’s the bad seed. Well done!

    Like

    • May 9, 2014 at 8:13 pm

      Thanks, the kid’s certainly not going to be learning anything good from the his parents, that’s for sure.

      Like

  20. May 9, 2014 at 8:25 pm

    Oh, that was subtle, very very good 😉

    Like

    • May 10, 2014 at 4:11 pm

      It’s chilling the way his parents talk about it like it’s normal 😦

      Like

  21. May 9, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    It’s so sweet when serial-killers want to have their children take up the mantel and continue.. I guess he was passed the stage of pulling legs of the beetles…

    Like

    • May 10, 2014 at 4:12 pm

      Beetles is first grade stuff! Nothing like following in his parents’ footsteps, they’ll be so proud.

      Like

  22. May 9, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    Disgustingly good!

    Like

    • May 10, 2014 at 4:14 pm

      Thanks! I creeped myself out a bit with this one.

      Like

  23. May 10, 2014 at 5:50 am

    Very creepy, and all too realistic.

    Like

    • May 10, 2014 at 4:14 pm

      I bet there’s a few families like this around.

      Like

  24. May 10, 2014 at 1:20 pm

    Good lawd!

    Like

  25. May 10, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    I love the way it just got casually worse & worse, right up until the awesome end lol 🙂

    Like

    • May 10, 2014 at 4:15 pm

      It the casual nature of the whole thing which makes it all the more creepy, I think 🙂

      Like

  26. May 10, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    Glad you can’t see the “yuk” look on my face right now, although I guess that would tell you your story worked in a horrible sort of way.

    janet

    Like

    • May 11, 2014 at 4:46 am

      It was definitely supposed to elicit some form of yuk reaction – it certainly did with me.

      Like

  27. Sun
    May 11, 2014 at 3:35 am

    so that’s how you raise them… 🙂

    Like

    • May 11, 2014 at 4:46 am

      You have to start when they’re young.

      Like

  28. May 11, 2014 at 6:36 am

    Husband wants to know, what tape can work in water? 😉

    Like

    • May 11, 2014 at 7:18 am

      Ah, details! This is where my lack of research lets me down 🙂
      Maybe duct tape, though I doubt it would stick to the fish. Maybe I should have used a staple gun (yeeks!).

      Like

  29. May 11, 2014 at 2:54 pm

    O.K. this is really creepy. Made me take a look to make sure my Zebra Finches and cat were still around. Really – though- a great take on the prompt, Kudos.

    Like

    • May 11, 2014 at 3:00 pm

      I’ve got to stop watching Criminal Minds, I’m even creeping myself out.
      Glad you enjoyed it though!

      Like

  30. May 11, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    Oh despicably twisted. Love it! Inviting you to stop by my #FridayFIctioneer post & leave feedback. Shandra

    Like

    • May 11, 2014 at 3:26 pm

      I just spotted your reply to Alicia. Yep. ‘Criminal Minds’. That’ll do it! 🙂

      Like

    • May 11, 2014 at 4:39 pm

      My mind scares me sometimes 🙂 I’m on my way!

      Like

  31. May 12, 2014 at 10:12 pm

    Loved the parent’s voice. They could’ve replaced the entire 8th series of Dexter with this little vignette and the world would’ve been a happier place.

    Like

    • May 13, 2014 at 6:49 am

      I’ve only seen up to Dexter series 7. I heard series 8 is pretty bad (7 wasn’t great to be honest) but if it comes on BT Vision I’ll probably watch it anyway (it’s covered in my subscription) so I can bitch about it later 🙂

      Like

  32. May 14, 2014 at 2:28 am

    Such a twisted family. I love them. They need a novel.

    Like

    • May 14, 2014 at 11:42 am

      It could start with the parents’ “antics” and move on to their decision to raise a serial killer of their very own!

      Like

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