Storm Philippa had touched down at around 2 am, buckling the thin poles of the discount store gazebo, tearing canvas, flooding the gas barbecue Trevor had hired especially. Their 25th anniversary party in ruins.
Sheila couldn’t help a bitter smile.
The mess of shoddy steel and nylon was the perfect metaphor for her marriage – something unforeseen had intruded from beyond Sheila’s comfortable domestic bubble and destroyed that too.
Only her name wasn’t Philippa.
***
Written for Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers. Peruse the pic and write an appropriate tale. See here to join the fun.
Dear Lynn,
As always, you’ve managed to tell a much larger story in few words. The last line is a hard-hitting punchline. Wonderfully written, brilliantly told.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you so much Rochelle. I means a great deal
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Love this!
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Thank you, Dawn
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Excellent job of conveying the underlying story in a brief scene. What a great metaphor, indeed. The title is especially clever!
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Ah, thanks so much Joy. I could imagine some women going ahead with a big event like that, all the while knowing what the husband has done. Thanks so much and glad you liked the title 🙂
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Perfectly done. So much told in so few words. You truly are a master of the genre!
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Thanks so mcuh, Dale. Really lovely of you. And thanks for taking the time to read the story 🙂
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Brilliantly done. As usual. 🙂
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Always good to read something from you Lynn. I reckon their 25th anniversary may be their last!
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Thanks Iain – you may be right! 🙂
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Cleverly written, Lynn. A Tardis of a story
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Thanks so much, Neil
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Very clever take on the photo prompt. Poor Sheila!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you Susan
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A well-written story, Lynn. It seems one wrecker was as bad as the other. —- Suzanne
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Very true, Susan. Thank you 🙂
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Great story and a great last line
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Thank you Michael 🙂
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This is a perfect example of what flash fiction is capable of: a story told with economy, incisive character sketches, powerfully projected images, an immersive mini-tragedy. Genius.
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Ah, thanks so much Chris. Reading this put a smile on my face – made my day 🙂
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Brilliant, Lynn. Really punchy, and so much back story invoked. As Calmgrove says, a perfect example of flash fiction.
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Thank you so much Penny. Such a lovely comment made me smile. Hope you’re well
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