Liz Young's Blog, page 6

THE ALLEY

 

THE ALLEY

During the day the flagstones rang with the footsteps of people on the way to the beach. Tourists bought souvenirs, or scarves to protect sunburned shoulders, locals stopped to drink coffee in the shade.

It was different at night, when the alley exuded menace, the walls echoing with the clink of bottles and frequent fights.

Each morning the shop owners swept up broken glass and syringes, saying nothing to the authorities for fear of discouraging trade, but it was more difficult to hide a body.

Ayla from the hairdresser's was still hosing down the blood when the police arrived.

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Perhaps the traders went a tad too far in their efforts not to lose trade, but needs must when times are tough! I know the deeling, as I am trying to drum up customers for my books, the latest of which can be found by clicking on the image on this page. Please do buy a copy!

Thanks to Rowena Curtin for the photo prompt and to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers on her blog   https://rochellewisoff.com/  You can read other stories by following the frog link on her blog.

MEETING THE PARENTS

 

MEETING THE PARENTS

They met at university, fell in love, and were soon sharing a flat.

Her parents visited first, loved the flat and admired Felix’s cooking.

‘That went well,’ Ellie said. ‘Your parents next.’

Felix frowned. ‘Must we?’

‘Of course, or are you ashamed of me?’

He kissed her. ‘’I’ll phone them.’

Ellie spent a week re-decorating and bought some wickedly expensive lampshades. Felix planned a special menu.

Felix’s father greeted Ellie with a hug. ‘He’s a lucky chap.’

His mother managed a half-smile at Ellie and accepted a glass of wine. ‘Interesting lampshades, Ellie, did you make them yourself?’

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My first mother-in-law was a real piece of work, and such remarks would have slid off her tongue without a thought. She was the sort of MIL that prove their reputation for being difficult, although my second MIL was lovely, which proves that generalisations are fraught with contradictions.

Thanks to Jennifer Prendergast for the image that prompts this week's raft of stories, more of which you will find by following the link from   https://rochellewisoff.com/  - the blog home of our glorious leader Rochelle.

AND I'd like to remind you that my latest book ACCIDENTAL ADOPTION is available on Amazon. The first reviewer calls it 'a page-turner' - click on the cover image at the top of this page to buy a copy and see if you agree.

FROZEN

 

FROZEN

‘I don’t pay you to sit around playing computer games!’

‘You haven’t paid me at all this month.’

‘You’ll get your money. It’s just that things have been a bit tight recently.’

‘Let me guess – the Wilsons haven’t paid? They were expecting to inherit grandad’s fortune, but instead he spent it on being frozen.’

‘How many times must I tell you it’s cryogenic preservation, not freezing! But it’s not the Wilsons. Mr Hayward rang to say we can unplug his mother-in-law.’

‘I’ll do it now. My tea’s gone cold and I need to plug in the kettle.’

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Yes, I know they're washing machines, but you really don't want to hear about my twin-tub adventures, which was all I could think of otherwise!

Thanks to Miles Rost for the photo and to Rochelle for hosting us on her blog    https://rochellewisoff.com/

A reminder that my latest book ACCIDENTAL ADOPTION is now available from Amazon. My first review calls it 'a real page-turner' - why not buy it and see if you agree?    ACCIDENTAL ADOPTION: Amazon.co.uk: YOUNG, LIZ: 9798373281683: Books

BALCONY SCENE

 BALCONY SCENE

They met in a nightclub, hardly enough light to see each other and definitely too loud for conversation, but somehow their relationship flourished.

Then his parents found out he was seeing a girl from the estates, her parents refused to allow her out with ‘that rich kid’, and they were reduced to WhatsApp.

Desperate, her parents lied, telling her he was engaged to another girl. She sent him a farewell message and jumped from the balcony. He arrived as the ambulance drove away.

A month later he was found under a bridge, syringe dangling from his lifeless arm.

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It had to be a Romeo and Juliet story with that balcony, didn't it? Thanks to Lisa Fox for the image which prompted the story, and to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers on her blog  https://rochellewisoff.com/  where you can find a link to other short stories.

While I have your attention - my latest novel ACCIDENTAL ADOPTION is now out on Amazon. Please buy a copy, read it, and leave an enthusiastic review!

ACCIDENTAL ADOPTION: Amazon.co.uk: YOUNG, LIZ: 9798373281683: Books

 

OUR BENCH

 

OUR BENCH

We first met on this bench, each of us taking a breather while walking our dogs. A year later both dogs attended our wedding.

Over time we added two children, and we’d sit on our bench drinking Thermos tea while they threw stones into the waves.

We sat here after his diagnosis.

‘You must do this when I’m gone,’ he said.

‘It wouldn’t be the same without you.’

He took my hand. ‘I’ll be here.’

I couldn’t, until now.

Today’s my birthday – he always remembered my birthday – and he hasn’t forgotten. Look! he’s drawn me a heart.

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I do believe in an afterlife, and there are times when I feel someone I've loved and lost is close. True or not, it's a comfort.

Thakns to Roger Bultot for the photo - he must send a regular supply to Rochelle, who hosts our little group on her blog   https://rochellewisoff.com/   To read other stories prompted by this image, follow the froggy link on her blog.

 

TOWN LIFE

 

TOWN LIFE

After a life of servitude on the island followed by the alien abduction, nerves were strung tight. They squatted in an abandoned building, found enough casual work to buy food, but the hazards of town life were only negotiated after endless discussion.

The children and older girls were closely watched, but the teenage boys refused to obey the elders. They ventured further and further afield exploring, bringing home tales of daring along with stolen fruit, while the girls could only hang out of the windows, watching life pass by.

Then the most beautiful boy Shoda had ever seen waved to her.

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This really must be the final episode in my mini-series - it was never intended to become one in the first place! Thanks to Alicia Jamtaas for the photo prompt, and to Rochelle for being our host. To read other stories go to her blog   https://rochellewisoff.com/ and click on the froggy link. Why a frog? Ask Rochelle - she's the boss.

I am very close to publishing my next novel, ACCIDENTAL ADOPTION, which will be available on Amazon. If you would like to be on my mailing list, please let me know!

 

WHERE ARE WE?

 

WHERE ARE WE?

The alien commander watched Fredo and Shoda’s keyboard skills on the monitor. ‘They’re too bright – more trouble than they’re worth. We’ll catch some four-legs for food instead.’ He flicked a switch.

Fredo gasped. ‘I think it’s working! Hold tight, everyone!’

They clumped together in a nervous group, there was a brief sensation of weightlessness, and a moment later they landed in a ruined building. Slowly they picked themselves up, looking skywards, but the aliens had gone.

‘Everyone here?’ inquired a tremulous voice.

‘Where is here?’ someone replied.

‘It’s Earth,’ said Shoda, ‘with no aliens and no guards. That’s a good start.’

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Here, by popular request, is the third part of my alien story. You can find the first two in my blog archive on the right of this page. Thanks to J Hardy Carroll for the photo prompt, and to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers. To read other interpretations of the prompt, follow the frog link from her blog   https://rochellewisoff.com/

 

CHILD-SIZED

 CHILD-SIZED

As the ship slowed they watched the countryside recede on large screens, then a green face peered round the door and its owner was pushed into the room.

“He’s so small!” Fredo exclaimed.

The alien backed against the door as the children surrounded him.

“He’s frightened of our size,” said Shoda.

“They should have checked before they kidnapped us,” Fredo said, studying a keyboard. “I think we can work this out. Shoda, take the other control.”

Their parents held their breath and prayed as young fingers danced over child-sized keys.

Seeing himself un-observed, the alien slipped out of the room. 

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By popular demand, this is a continuation of the story I began two weeks ago, so if you missed the first two episodes, feel free to look in my blog archive. Thanks to Na'ama Yehuda for the image prompt, and to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers on her blog https://rochellewisoff.com/  If you fancy reading other stories, or even joining our small but select group, click on the frog on her page.

INTO THE UNKNOWN

 

INTO THE UNKNOWN

The sun was setting when they heard the low-voiced call, ‘Come.’

‘That’s Fredo!’ his mother cried and ran across the bridge.

Some still hesitated, but the trickle of children became a stampede and the adults could only follow.

Blinded by the sun’s last rays, they didn’t see the craft hovering overhead until it was too late. An irresistible force lifted them, dropped them in a strange room, then they were pinned down by the speed of acceleration as the craft sped skywards.

Fredo clung to his mother. ‘Sorry, they gave me no choice.’

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This is a sequel to last week's story, written because so many people asked what happened next. So if you didn't read last week's blog, you might like to look in my blog archive and do so now!

Thanks to Fleur Lind for the photo prompt, and to Rochelle as ever for hosting Friday Fictioneers, which hasn't changed its name in years despite starting on a Wednesday. In fact, if I don't write my story till Friday, hardly anyone reads it!

GRAFFITI

 GRAFFITI                                     

Twice daily the guard from this end marches across the bridge to meet his opposite number for a shared smoke, the boom of his boots reminding us how deep the ravine is. Sometimes, while his back is turned, daring lads run on tiptoe to spray graffiti, their parents unwilling to forbid these small tastes of freedom.

 

But this morning the unthinkable happened – both guards disappeared. After a few minutes two lads ventured all the way across, and vanished. No yells, no shots, just a deathly silence.

Eventually their fathers went looking, and they haven’t returned either.

 

We’ve been waiting all day. We don’t know what to do.

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I saw heavily-graffitied pillars when I first glanced at Roger Bultot's photo, and that brought to mind a spray-painted sentence I saw once in the car park of Las Galletas, our local shopping village in Tenerife.  It was so romantic that it's stuck in my head ever since.

 Te amo porque nací para cerrar los ojos a tu lado.

I love you because I was born to close my eyes beside you.

And on that note I wish you a very Happy New Year for 2023.