Lost Friends
It’s Friday Fictioneers time hosted by Rochelle, and the photo this week was contributed by Jan Wayne Fields. We need to write a 100-ish word story based on this photo.
I’ve pretty much written nothing but comedies for my challenges recently, but this photo made me feel a bit gloomy for some reason. I nearly renamed this “There in Spirit”. But that sounded a bit corny :-).
Click on the blue guy to read this week’s other stories, or even contribute your own!
Copyright Jan Wayne Fields
Jared stared out of the window. The table behind him was set for four as it always was on this day, a memorial to the four friends who had sat here together every year to celebrate life.
Inseparable since childhood, three years ago death had intervened. A New Year’s party, several drinks too many, a car, a corner, a tree.
Jared’s heart felt heavy as he thought of the three companions he would never again share good times with, help through the bad times.
The door opened and the three friends sombrely entered. Jared took a last look and faded back into their memories.
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draliman on life 
Yikes, I am picturing my brother in this story.
Very sad, but very well done.
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And here was me thinking it would be quite a rare name!
Thanks. The photo just looked kinda sombre to me.
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Aw, now you made me cry. Gee. You keep surprising me. Here’s to all the ones we remember and miss.
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Sorry 😦 The photo put me in that kind of mood, I guess.
Here’s one indeed to those who are no longer with us.
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Awesome story in 100 words. Nice job!!! I was expecting the other way… Three spirits one friend.
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So was I until I got half way through!
Glad you liked it.
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Photo put me into a funk also. As always….well done.
DJ
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Yeah, I couldn’t get a comedy out of this one. Thanks!
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Great story, Draliman. The twist at the end came with just the right touch of surprise. Nicely handled.
MG
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Thanks. I was worried it would be a bit confusing but people seem to have got it!
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Not confusing at all, just understated enough to be pulled off in style. 😉
MG
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Cool, I definitely didn’t want to be too obvious, thanks 🙂
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Nice twist at the end there! Good job.
janet
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
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Love the surprise ending. Great story!
Chris
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Thanks, I’m always one for the twist at the end!
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That was a real tear jerker and should be High School required reading (among many other people).
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I thought that as well, part of Driver’s Ed. maybe.
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Yes! Drivers Ed would be perfect!
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sad story. great twist at the end. totally unexpected.
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I don’t usually do sad but that’s what the photo said to me. Glad you liked it!
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Wow.. nice twist at the end..
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Thanks, I enjoy my little twisty endings!
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That was pure beauty Mr Drailman. ❤
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Thank you 🙂
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Yes, but can he move a penny? Ditto! Great switch. 🙂
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Maybe if he meets someone in the subway who can teach him…
Glad you liked it!
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Great story, loved the twist at the end, very nicely done 🙂
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Thanks, turning it on its head was a late decision!
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Great twist. Vry nicely done
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Thanks, glad you liked it!
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how touching. could have easily been me this new years. life is brief… great story.
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Life is brief, and can end so suddenly. I’m glad you enjoyed my story.
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Great twist.
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Thanks! It wouldn’t be a DraliStory without a twist 🙂
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I also enjoyed the unexpected twist.
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It seems to have been quite popular, thanks!
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Wow! Great twist at the end. Thanks for the surprise. Alicia
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You’re welcome, I like an unexpected ending 🙂
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very good drali
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Thanks 🙂
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Dear Ali,
That little twist at the end gave me chills. Exquisite creepiness.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I’m glad you liked it! I had the idea to turn it around about half way through.
Ali
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I think that your second sentence in para 2 is really good – tells the story in so few words. There in Spirit would work for me.
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Thanks. A word limit does force us to be a little creative with the phrasing, and sometimes it works!
The alternative title might have been better.
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Holy shit, that is a great story.
Stomach still feeling it 5 minutes later.
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I’m glad you liked it and felt it too.
Thanks!
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Ooh spooky, I wasn’t expecting that ending. I had to read it a couple of times to be sure what had happened. Amazing atmosphere for such a short tale.
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Glad you liked it! I wanted to be clear without being too obvious, it’s a tricky line to tread sometimes.
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Great and unexpected twist at the end, Ali. I also was expecting it to be the other way round. Well done! 🙂 — Suzanne
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I was expecting the ending to be the other way round as well until I got to it! Glad you liked it 🙂
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Very touching, that’s how you work the twist.
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Thanks. Not my usual thing but it’s nice to try something different once in a while.
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Great story, though very sad. I love the twist at the end. 🙂
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Thanks. Glad you liked the twist 🙂
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Ouch, that hurt my heart. Great twist at the end of a very good story.
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Thank you! I thought of the twist part-way through but I thought it added something to the story.
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Nice! Kind of a Sixth Sense twist at the end…
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I didn’t think of that but it is, isn’t it?
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I see dead possums!
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Now stick that on a t-shirt with a picture of Buster and I’ll get me one.
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Very tender and very clever – wonderful twist at the end.
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it. The twist has proved very popular 🙂
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This is a most excellent story.. the double perspective like magic with mirrors.. what is real and what happens elsewhere.. to me there is still two possibilities to what had happened.
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Thanks. It can be seen from both sides – just before I hit publish I remember I was still a little unsure myself!
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I love that he ‘faded into their memories’ – better than fading into the air, or the walls, or vanishing altogether. Sad story.
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Thanks, I reworded that sentence a few times to get just the right “feeling”.
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I love the way you have written this story, particularly the twist at the end. How sad that is and beautifully done.
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Thank you. When I saw the photo it immediately said to me that whoever the places were laid for, they weren’t all going to show up. Then I decided to twist it at the end.
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Clever. I always thinks the spirits stay with us for a while to make sure we’re okay. It is a sad prompt, and I just couldn’t go sad this week, but I enjoyed your take a lot.
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I’ve written nothing but comedies for weeks but this photo definitely said “sad” to me. I’m glad you liked it!
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So sad 😦 I’m glad they’re continuing the tradition and that he stopped by for a quick visit.
Ellespeth
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I think they’ll always congregate on this day together to remember.
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Dear Draliman, Excellent story! I love “too many drinks .. a car, a corner, a tree.” What a wonderful sentence! WOW! Awesome writing as usual! Nan 🙂
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Thanks! The word limit sure has us thinking hard about our writing, doesn’t it?
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What a great twist! And at the last possible moment. Thanks.
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I like my last minute twists! Glad you liked it.
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Good twist!
👍👍
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Thanks!
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