This week’s photo prompt is provided by Iain Kelly. Thank you Iain!
We meet in the square, where the chess players have their folding tables laid with checked cloths. One board has two tones of wood on rickety criss crossed legs. I imagine leaning on it, bringing the whole set – knights, kings, queens – tumbling to the pavement.
It feels right that we meet by the chess players, coats and scarves swaddling them against the cold. They’re here to do battle and so are we.
You nod, instantly look to your smart lace-up shoes. I wonder if she bought them. We walk for a while along the same paths we used to walk before her, half a metre between us, fallen leaves turning to ash under our feet.
One of us has to break the stalemate and I’m surprised when it’s me.
‘I want the house and custody of Tom and Sarah.’
Queen takes King.
Written for Priceless Joy’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. See the photo and write a tale (up to 175 words) to accompany it. See here to join in and to read the other stories.
Word Shamble 
Love it. The detail about the shows was brilliant
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Thanks so much, lovely. Hope you’re okay 🙂
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Hanging in there Lynn!
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Love to you, sweet 🙂
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Another fabulous slice of life story, Lynn — the little details add up to so much. Great job applying the symbolism of the game — and how easy it would be to tip over the table — to what’s happening in their relationship. Powerful stuff!
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Thanks so much, Joy. Glad you liked the parallels between the game and the edgy relationship. Let’s hope they don’t use the kids as pawns. Thanks so much for reading 🙂
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Oh but you led me along so cleverly Lynn, enjoyed your take on this image….
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Thank you, Michael! And thanks so much for reading 🙂
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Loved the analogy, the subtle symbolism, the gentle leading to the slaughter house, so to say. Beautifully written, take a bow.
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Ah, thank you Neel! That’s really wonderful of you. What a lovely comment. Thanks for reading 🙂
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Excellent! Such a surprise ending! I didn’t realize what it was until the end. Great story, Lynn!
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Thank you, Joy 🙂 That’s lovely of you to say so. Thanks so much for reading 🙂
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Ah, nice use of the photo – I suspect their divorce will be a long game of chess after this opening move. Nicely done.
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Thank you Iain. Yep, I wonder what his counter move will be? Thanks for reading 🙂
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Holy crap! You snuck up on us there at the end, that’s good.
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Haha! Thanks Bill. This took a few people by surprise, how she went in for the kill. I think we’re seeing one hurt lady here and she’s gone for the jugular! Thanks for reading 🙂
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Very clever write.
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Thanks so much! 🙂
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I enjoyed the symbolism, nicely done.
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Thanks Michael. Very kind of you to read and comment 🙂
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i never expected the ending and I am usually quick with making the conclusion, great piece, life is like that, we plan and strategise like in a chess game but sometimes we loose it all in the end.
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Very true. Sad there has to be a winner or loser in relationships, but I suspect here there will be. Thanks very much for taking the time to read and comment
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Well this path certainly didn’t go the way I thought it would.
Leaves turning to ashes – I can see and hear this.
I liked the layered way you wrote this piece.
Ellespeth
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Ha! A few people said the end was a surprise 🙂 Thanks for reading and for the comments – glad you liked the leaves and ashes 🙂
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