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Friday, February 10, 2012

#FlashFriday #FridayFictioneers: Lovers Quarrel

There's so much to love about Fridays, but one of the things I love most is Madison Woods' Friday Fictioneer series. Her photo prompts stir my creativity and help me to step out of the comfort zone of my usual genres. This week's prompt was just one more example of a photo that gave my flabby brain the workout it needed.

Click here to read more fabulous flash fiction by the Friday Fictioneers.


     Lovers Quarrel

     Tessa Toad stared at her beau frog with bulging eyes. “You broke my stool.”
     “I didn’t mean to, my love.” Beau Frog’s nostrils twitched. “How can I make it up to you? Shall I bring you a dozen flies to tempt your pallet? Babysit the tads while you go lily pad hopping with the girls? Serenade you at sunset? Oh dear. I so fear you’ll love me less.”
     The thought of a dozen flies made Tessa’s tongue uncurl. Beau sure knew the way to her heart. “Oh, bull, Frog! Though I may hate you more, I could never love you less.”


Note: I "borrowed" that last line from the movie War Horse. Best line in the movie!
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40 comments:

  1. Susie LindauFebruary 10, 2012 at 7:20 AM

    I could see this illustrated!
    I love the last line...So great~

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 10, 2012 at 7:24 AM

      Thanks, Susie. Wish I could take credit for that last line, but I've just added the note that it is actually from "War Horse." But, it was fun to write a story around Madison's photo prompt and that line. :)

      Delete
  2. Wakefield MahonFebruary 10, 2012 at 7:42 AM

    That's adorable! I love it!

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 10, 2012 at 11:41 AM

      Thank you, Wakefield. "Toad stool" was the first thing that came to mind. :)

      Delete
  3. MikeFebruary 10, 2012 at 7:55 AM

    A lovely tale Jan.
    The idea of 'babysitting the tads' made me smile.
    Thanks for a great read.

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 10, 2012 at 11:42 AM

      Thanks, Mike. I used to love babysitting "tads" when I was a child. Unfortunately, they didn't always survive my babysitting skills. :)

      Delete
  4. ed_quixoteFebruary 10, 2012 at 9:08 AM

    I like "Tessa Toad." Where do you come up with good names like that? Names are hard for me.

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 10, 2012 at 11:43 AM

      ed_quixote, I have an excellent mentor when it comes to choosing names. :)

      Delete
  5. The LimeFebruary 10, 2012 at 9:34 AM

    This is absolutely fantastic and one of my favorite this week. I feel like you just played with so many words with such precision -- beautiful :)

    Here's mine: http://thecolorlime.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/trip-99/

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 10, 2012 at 11:45 AM

      What a nice compliment! I enjoyed yours, too, especially the phrasing you used: "It faded as sunlight toward dusk." Amazing how our stories all differ, though we use the same photo prompt.

      Delete
  6. BethFebruary 10, 2012 at 9:41 AM

    Too cute! Love the title and the tale.

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 10, 2012 at 11:46 AM

      Thank you, Beth! I thought that last quote was a good thing to remember in my own "lovers quarrels." :)

      Delete
  7. RussellFebruary 10, 2012 at 9:52 AM

    I loved it. And just in time for Valentines Day too.
    The last line created a perfect ending.

    I agree with Susie. This should be illustrated.

    here's mine http://russellgayer.blogspot.com/

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 10, 2012 at 11:47 AM

      Thanks, Russell. I've always wanted to do a children's picture book. Maybe this would be a good story. Will have to re-word that last line though.

      Delete
    2. Jan MorrillFebruary 10, 2012 at 11:49 AM

      Just read your story. After talking to you last night, I was curious what you'd write. As always, I enjoyed it. Loved that it sounded so ominous and serious, but the ending was so light it made me smile. But then, your writing always makes me smile.

      Delete
  8. Joseph E. LernerFebruary 10, 2012 at 10:44 AM

    Hilarious! I'm amazed (anew) at the originality and talent of our group. The dialogue was fresh and funny (though you might want to paraphrase/substitute that last line if you plan to publish elsewhere. Steven Spielberg might send out an army of lawyers to breathe down your neck.

    My contribution this week is at http://furiousfictions.com.

    I also have a new story posted by the very talented Cheryl Anne Gardner:

    http://furiousfictions.blogspot.com/2012/02/corpus-safari-cheryl-anne-gardner.html

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 11, 2012 at 12:42 PM

      Thanks, Joe. Your story was very powerful and sad. You did a good job showing us "the other side" of the boy.

      Delete
  9. Susan WenzelFebruary 10, 2012 at 11:31 AM

    I love "beau" and "bull" frog. Very punny! I, too, would like to see a picture of your characters!

    ~Susan (Here's mine: http://www.susanwenzel.com/)

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 11, 2012 at 12:43 PM

      Thanks, Susan. And I love that you used poison in your story. Funny how we all saw something different in the photo!

      Delete
  10. Siobhan MuirFebruary 10, 2012 at 11:35 AM

    LOL, such sweetness in the world of toads! Well done, Jan. :)

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 11, 2012 at 1:02 PM

      :) Thanks, Siobhan. I like yours about the dog, too.

      Delete
  11. Linda PalundFebruary 10, 2012 at 11:48 AM

    I think we all agree that your tale is delightful. Flies and frogs and tongues!
    Prose to describe the world of toads and toads stools!
    Yours,
    Lindaura

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 11, 2012 at 1:05 PM

      Thanks, Lindaura.I had fun with this one. It's good to step out of one's usual genre. :)

      Delete
  12. MaggieFebruary 10, 2012 at 2:41 PM

    Nice! And I loved that line in the movie.

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  13. Madison WoodsFebruary 10, 2012 at 4:15 PM

    I loved it Jan! I agree that you should illustrate it. I loved Beau Frog and the offer to babysit the tads, LOL.

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 12, 2012 at 4:26 PM

      Thanks, Madison. After reading these comments, I'm kind of tempted to try a children's book. :) And it would all be because of YOUR prompt.

      Delete
  14. Jake KaleFebruary 10, 2012 at 4:56 PM

    "Oh, Bull, frog!" I see what you did there. Excellent work. :)

    Frogs have a much more complicated social life than I imagined. I thought that just sat around croaking the names of alcoholic beverages. They're also a lot more considerate than I imagined. Beau is a credit to amphibian-kind. Not just for his thoughtfulness, but also for sticking within his own species when it comes to mates, unlike a certain more well-known frog who shall remain nameless.

    My entry is here:
    http://jaykayel.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/loose-lips-100-word-flash-fiction/

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 12, 2012 at 4:29 PM

      I liked the wickedness of your tale, too, Jake. So much fun to read something that packs such a bang in so few words!

      Delete
  15. BlueFuryFebruary 11, 2012 at 4:13 AM

    This was really interesting. I'm not one for romantic fiction but this is a unique direction, possibly even suited to a story for children.

    Good stuff!

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 12, 2012 at 4:31 PM

      Welcome to the Fictioneers, Gary! Perhaps one day I'll further develop this story for children. It would be a fun picture book.

      Delete
  16. LupusAnthroposFebruary 11, 2012 at 9:36 AM

    One of my first thoughts for the picture had been "toadstool," but I envisioned it as a barstool that had been broken in a bar-room brawl. I like your better. :)

    Here's what I finally wrote (sans toadstools): http://wp.me/p24aJS-2F

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 12, 2012 at 4:36 PM

      I have BADGER on the brain!! But I'm glad you liked my story. :)

      Delete
  17. JudeeFebruary 12, 2012 at 8:54 AM

    Loved this, such a creaative take on the prompt! Great imagination and well written.

    For mine:
    http://writetuit.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/flash-friday-soupe-du-jour/

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 12, 2012 at 4:38 PM

      Thank you, Judee. I loved your story about Maude's mushroom soup! Like I said on your site, deliciously dark!

      Delete
  18. vincentFebruary 12, 2012 at 9:04 AM

    This was terrific. A great sense of humor that comes across in your writing.

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 12, 2012 at 4:40 PM

      Thank you, Vincent. I enjoy attempting humor every once in a while. It's fun not to take myself so seriously. :-o

      Delete
  19. RuthFebruary 12, 2012 at 10:47 AM

    Woo-hoo, Gypsy Jan!
    Very creative and cute, cute, cute! You let go of "Miss Spock" and believed. See what fun that is?

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    1. Jan MorrillFebruary 12, 2012 at 4:41 PM

      Dixie, "Miss Spock" is pretty stubborn, but every once in awhile, she loosens her death grip. :)

      Delete
  20. Palooski65February 14, 2012 at 7:41 PM

    Adorable story--I loved it!

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  21. Robin HawkeFebruary 21, 2012 at 12:45 PM

    From stool to bull...clever, clever, Robin

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