Category: Short Fiction

Short Fiction, short story

Fishing for Answers

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

Alora Grittiths

Photo by Alora Griffiths on Unsplash

Shaking the wrinkles from the old, worn coat, he placed his arms into the sleeves, one by one and proceeded to gather up his fishing gear and head to the river.

Thinking time was what he needed, and that old coat was a necessary part of his life, as he felt the comfort, the familiarity and what he swore was the scent of his daddy’s old pipe tobacco.

Standing at the shore, doing more thinking than fishing, he snagged a few but no real keepers, until finally, right after spotting the most vivid red cardinal, he hooked the biggest fish he had seen in a long time,  maybe even when his daddy was with him many years ago.

“Yes, I understand now, daddy, and I will do just that tonight, see you the next time.”

With a determined gait, he double stepped it back to his place and cleaned up, knowing he needed to have a spit shiny image in order to accomplish his goal.

With her bright red curls shadowing her sparkling blue-green eyes, she smiled the most beautiful, wide smile, all before he took her hand and said, “it’s time for me to talk to your daddy, but first I want to make sure it’s okay with you,” and he knelt to the ground.

 

This is my contribution to the Six Sentence Story for this week where Denise provides us a prompt word each each. This weeks word was “coat.”

Would you like to join and also see what other stories are available to enjoy? Just go to this LINK

Short Fiction, short story

Birth Day

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld
grayscale photo of baby feet with father and mother hands in heart signs
Photo by Andreas Wohlfahrt on Pexels.com

Belinda’s red tresses were gracefully swept back with a slice of the blue gingham Barton gave her for their anniversary, knowing her love of blue and how beautiful it accented her copper crown.

Betty Lou carried her tools to the duplex where Barton and Belinda made their home, Clement sniffed at the bag and licked Betty on her calf, Clement loved Betty almost as much as the salt she emitted.

Barton was working the mines, trusting that Betty Lou would be there for his bride when the time came for their first born to enter the world, how much he wanted to be there, but knew that he needed to keep making a living to provide for his family.

Bellowing was not Belinda’s way, but the beauty of childbirth brought with it truer than true pains and this was no exception as the baby was ready to be born.

Bathing the birth mother with the gentlest strokes, Betty Lou prepared for the great event, watching and waiting for the grand entrance of the new soul into the world.

Bawling from the first bit of air to his lungs, the little bitty boy announced his birthday to all who could hear, surely in the next door range, at least; a precious baby boy was born into the world, the world of coal miners, loving family, and his first best buddy, Clement, coming as close as he could to make sure his new prince would be safe.

…..

This is the Six Sentence Story in response to the weekly prompt with you can find here: Girlie on the Edge’s Link

Thank you to Denise for her devotion to providing the weekly prompt. This week’s word was “Slice.”

Short Fiction

Claiming the Heart

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash
Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash https://unsplash.com/@bel2000a

Old Time School Room

First Meeting – Claiming the Heart

Barton claimed Belinda in his heart the first time he set eyes on her at elementary school, when she came to class, all of nine years old, the new girl in the camp, just a few doors down from his home.

While some boys teased her just for being new, Barton just watched her move, ever so gracefully, as she sat at her desk, ready to pay attention to the teacher.

Studious, she was, and Barton was hoping he would get a chance to talk to her without sounding as behind as he was with his studies.

He had reasons, and she would figure that out eventually, but he didn’t care so much about that as he did about getting a chance to impress this beautiful red-haired girl with braids and freckles bouncing off her cheeks when she smiled.

Noticing that reading made Belinda smile, he opened his reader and with one eye on her he attempted to learn the words.

Sensing the feeling of heat on the back of her neck, Belinda looked around and spotted Barton looking at her, smiling; She nodded, and he nodded back, red faced but ever so pleased that she did not grimace.

…..

There you go! This is my Six Sentence Story for this week. To join in go to this LINK

Blog Hop Rules:
Write 6 sentences. No more. No less.
Use this week’s prompt word:  CLAIM
Read everyone’s story, comment, share and have fun!

 

Short Fiction

Home is Where the Heart is Planted

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld
close up of tea light candle against black background
Photo by George Becker on Pexels.com

Planting a kiss on her moistly, beaded forehead, he sleepily, quietly stole to the door, ever so careful not to wake his bride.

Love has no words for the feelings for his wife and her feelings for him, as expressive as the day is long without the need to speak as much as show.
As she stirred in the morning light, she realized she had fallen so deeply and he had already gone to his early shift, always thinking of her and her need for rest.

Nestling back in the bed and reaching for his pillow, she breathed in his aroma of the sweet lavender she always put in his bath. Reaching for her swollen belly, she held her hand over her navel and whispered, “Sweet baby, soon you will know this man, the one who took root in my soul, the one who you will call daddy, for your love will be that strong, I just know as I feel it growing each day when you hear his voice.”

Taking her soft robe and wrapping the ties, she takes to the cold floor, welcome to her warmth, and does the thing she does each day, focusing on taking care of her home for the three souls who take up residence, well four, really because of Clement the hound, they are all planted, invested in the home’s hearth.

…..

There you have it! This is my (sorry I’m late) 6 Sentence Story for the week.

I did an acrostic this time using the word “Plant” from the prompt.

If you would like to participate as well as read other’s contributions, just go to the

Six Sentence Story Link

Short Fiction, short story

Hope in the Darkness

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld
adult art black and white group
Photo by Mike on Pexels.com

Blackened by layers of coal dust, his face barely recognizable by silver anniversaried wife, Barton staggered out of the mine, clenching tightly to the line as if his life depended on it, as it was, indeed, his lifeline.

Rushing to his side, Belinda took her beloved’s arm and led him to their truck, pushing away others who wanted to know more, Belinda took one long glare at the impending group, “Thank you, but I’ve got this.” Pulling away, the crowd moved on to the next miner as Belinda drove her husband home.

Exhausted from his experience, Barton bathed, fulfilled his appetite, took his wife by her hand to lay beside him and they drifted off to a deep sleep. Shaking in the night, Barton sat upright in their bed, eyes wide open and shouted, “There is an end to this trial,” and fell back to sleep.

“Indeed,” Belinda whispered, “And it’s the end that we hoped for, to have you home, once again.”

 

 

…..

Well, there you have it. This is Six Sentence Story time and you can go to this link to check it out:

Six Sentence Story Link Up

Rules of the hop:
Write 6 Sentences. No more. No less.
Use the current week’s prompt word.
Link the URL to your post via the blue “Click here to enter” button below .
Spread the word and put in a good one to your fellow writers 🙂

PROMPT WORD:  FACE