PHOTO PROMPT © Shaktiki Sharma
Fi pulls her coat tighter. The fake fur is stiff with dirt and spilled food, but it’s all she has. The temperature hasn’t risen above freezing for days. In the gutter the same chip trays cup the same stiff grey puddles of ice.
Neon stings her eyes as the milky sunlight fades, music from the bars and pubs clashing, a bright torrent of sound.
Back home, the TV will be on for the chimes, the New Year carried in on the sound of bagpipes and crying.
A car pulls up at the kerb as the clocks strike twelve.
Written for Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers. Write a story in 100 words or fewer to match the photo – see here to join in and to read the other tales.
Word Shamble 
Grim and gritty. Beautifully evoked atmosphere
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Thank you Neil. Glad I conveyed the atmosphere well enough. Thanks for reading
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I liked the ambiguity of the ending here. I shall tell myself things were taking a turn for the better, here. Good one.
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Yes, the reader can bring the ending they want to her year – perhaps it’s a family member, a charity worker offering her a hostel bed for the night. Let’s hope her new year is better than the old. Thank you, Sandra
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Love it. A “write your own” ending is always fun.
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Yes and interesting to see who sees the happy and who the tragic endings. Thanks for reading 🙂
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Dear Lynn,
I can well imagine who’s driving the car. You’ve set the stage and the atmosphere very well. I felt a bit of a chill myself as I read. Good job.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle. Some have imagined a happy ending, so who knows? Thanks for reading and best wishes for the New Year.
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So well done Lynn.
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Thanks sweetheart. 🙂 Happy New Year to you
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Best wishes to you xx
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XXX
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I want to believe that the person pulling up in the car is a member of her family, come to take her home, but I think it is a much less pleasant scenario.
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I think you can imagine either way. Why shouldn’t she have a happy ending – hopefully there are people out there who love her still. Thanks Clare
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Another (very effectively) depressing one, Lynn. I feel like giving you a cup of cheer and a big hug. 🙂
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Haha! Sorry, Joy. Some wonder if it’s a family member pulling up to take her home – maybe we can imagine that. 🙂
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Vivid stuff, Lynn, for such few words.
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Thanks Chris! Let’s hope there’s a happy ending ahead 🙂
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Atmosphere is your greatest strength and it is incredible. Awesome job
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Thank you so much! What a lovely comment. Glad it worked for you
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Very atmospheric!
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Thanks very much 🙂
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Alas I think the new year will began with another plunge downwards… very effective (and I think we saw a similar person waiting there)
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The streets are filled with sadness and it’s a place that’s hard to escape from. Thanks Bjorn! 🙂
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Excellent.
You paint a dismal, sordid picture with painful accuracy.
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Thanks C. It’s a sad and lonely place at the bottom. Thank you – glad the atmosphere came through 🙂
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a bright torrent of sound. Yum! Love this line.
I fear who has driven up. Well done.
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Thanks so much Alicia – that means alot. Glad you liked it and thanks for reading 🙂
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You painted a strong image, then left it to the reader to finish, well done
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Thanks so much Michael! How did you finish the story? Was she rescued or lost to the streets?
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It being twelve midnight led me to think that she was rescued. But for how long I am not sure.
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You may be right Michael – let’s hope so 🙂
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Aside from the difference in season and climate, your story could well precede mine for a happy ending on both counts. I have Mum frantically searching for her daughter at the bus stop. They say never get between a mother and her baby and that can include drugs. Thought I’d provide a link to mine to ease the connection: https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/slaying-the-beast/
xx Rowena
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Thanks Rowena, you’re absolutely right about our ideas being similar – let’s hope there’s a happy ending for both here. Great tale 🙂
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I love the way you’ve captured the dirty streets and subsequently the dirty business that goes on on them. Perfectly done.
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Thanks Michael. Glad the atmosphere came through. Sad and scary out there.
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I think you sum up everything I hate about new year- a night to be at home for me. But maybe not at the home described. The devil and the deep blue sea….
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Yes, I squirrel myself away until midnight, drink to the New Year then bog off to bed! Yes, the streets aren;t much of a home – let’s hope she can escape them soon 🙂
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Not a life you would want for a loved one…. for anyone really! Hope the next car offers hope and not…
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No, you’re right there Roger. Let’s hope the next car brings escape, love – a home. That would be a brighter start to the new year
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I would like to think that she was scooped up by her guardian angel.
My tale is called ‘Oh Bother!’
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Yes, let’s hope so – if not anyone who will take care of her! Thanks for reading
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I always love when the end is up for interpretation by the reader. Grim descriptions indeed
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Thanks Dale. Let’s hope this time the story has a happy ending. 🙂
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I could see those grey frozen puddles clearly – well written.
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Thanks so much Liz. Yes, those streets are chill in more than one way. Thanks so much for reading and for the kind comment
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Summed it up well, Lynn. The grit of the street — and who would be pulling up at the curb but some “john” waiting for some midnight action. This reads like the introduction to a really sleazy event, even though the ending is ambiguous.
Have a Happy New Year, Lynn. 😀
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Thanks Kent. Could be the start of something – or the end of a tragedy. Thanks for reading and hope you have a grea 2017
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I loved the atmosphere you created, really grim and sad. Nice story!
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Thank you Debra. I do love creating an atmosphere! Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment 🙂
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Such a grim story, but we are left with the possibility of hope. We need that for sure!
Lynn, you should check out the #BloggersUnite for #50HappyThings; I’d love to see your list! Happy New Year!
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I think there is the possibility of hope there, just at the end and you never know – her 2017 could be wonderful. Thanks Dawn, the lists sound intriguing – I’ll try to take a look
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It looks like the photo prompt had a great many lurking on the dark side.
I enjoyed the build up to the ending. Great writing …
Happy New Year 2017 🎉 Cheers 🍷
Isadora 😎
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Thanks Isadora. Yes, a dark lurking all round and no surprise with that image! Thanks so much for reading and have a great 2017
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A different kind fo Cinderella story.
Great imagery!
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Thanks Dawn. You never know, she may be saved by Prince Charming yet! Thanks for reading
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My pleasure.
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🙂
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A dark and ominous scene sets the tone for the story. To me it was as if she was a streetwalker struggling to survive. Very well written.
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Thanks so much. Yes, a dark life, but let’s hope there’s a light sometime soon 🙂
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Painted very vivid and chilling images
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