creative writing – Tina Stewart Brakebill

The Neighborhood Watch

December 5, 2025 Tina Stewart Brakebill

The woman sipped her tea and activated the live video feed. It was time.

The girl with the red hair was floating in the pool like that Disney mermaid. The agent strolled through the backyard. He stopped at the pool, clearly irritated.

Just then, the boy began to creep from behind the pillar. Then ran at a full gallop. A water gun exploded. The man landed in the pool.

Another open house ruined. Those kids really don’t want to move.

Can You Tell A Story In…

Our challenge was to tell a story in 80 words using the following words:

CREEP

MERMAID

TEA

VIDEO

RED

GALLOP

AGENT

PILLAR

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

The Grands First Date

November 22, 2025 Tina Stewart Brakebill

Grandpa, do you remember meeting gramma?

Of course. It was a blind date. Meaning I’d never met her. Not even a photograph. Then Betty opened the door. She was a vision. So beautiful. My heart was immediately full of love.

It was your heart that was suddenly full, was it? [wink]

Betty! Don’t be nasty.

That explains the “empty” gas tank at Lover’s Lake.

Betty! [wink]

[66 Words]

Inspired by word prompts of VISION, FULL, and EMPTY, this little story basically wrote itself!

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Nov. 22, 2025

Weekend Writing Prompt #443 – Vision

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

the fisherman’s flowers

November 19, 2025 Tina Stewart Brakebill

Those are lovely. But strange. All alone. Wonder where they came from.

It’s so he can find her.

Who?

The fisherman.

Fisherman? What are you going on about?

Everybody knows the story. He went out the day before his wedding. Never came back. I guess she cracked cause later she walked into the sea. Left her wedding bouquet on the shore, so he’d know where to find her. Just in case he ever came back. Ever since, her flowers show up every year.

Oh no. That’s so sad!

Hah! Got ya. You’re such a sappy sucker. They grow all over.

(100 words)

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

Thanks to Rochelle and Friday Fictioneers for my Fisherman’s FF inspiration.

21 November 2025

Flash Fiction, Haiku & Other Poetry, tutto e niente

the boy next door

November 5, 2025 Tina Stewart Brakebill

Staring out the window, I search for the final line of my verse.

Through the looking glass

Beyond the land of wonder

Alice …?

Alice cries for home? Alice mourns for me?

I need to move away from the glass. I can’t focus. Every sound, any little movement, and I’m sure it’s her. Finally. Home for the holidays. She said she’s not interested, but she’s just confused. I can change her mind. Explain things. Show her my words. Convince her she’s meant to be with me. Mine. Forever.

Then it comes to me. The perfect ending:

Alice dies for love.

(100 words)

Esther’s Writing Prompt (GLASS) immediately brought Alice in Wonderland to mind and then the Friday Fictioneers photo skewed Wonderland into an even creepier space.

Writing Prompts

7 November 2025

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

second thoughts

November 1, 2025 Tina Stewart Brakebill

Waiting for my cue, I practice my smile. It feels wrong. Too forced. Too white against the gray pallor of my skin.

I try to shake off my doubts. I am the heir apparent. It is my heritage.

But some nights it’s too much. It’s like a giant squid has me wrapped in its tentacles. It squeezes and squeezes and whispers “birthright” in my ear, but I don’t feel lucky. I feel like it’s trying to drown me.

But it’s too late for second thoughts. The crowd chants my name as I once again claim my birthright.

(97 Words)

Photo by Anthony Obunadike on Pexels.com

Thanks for the inspiration.

Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge – Grey

Weekend Writing Prompt #440 – Heritage