Friday Fictioners – Tina Stewart Brakebill

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)

PHOTO PROMPT ©Yvette Prior

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

double dog dare

October 15, 2025 Tina Stewart Brakebill

What’s that splotch on your forehead?

I won. That’s what matters.

You won? What?

Cash money!

NO! How? What did you do?

So Jimmy and me was in the park by the river.

Were.

Were what?

You and Jimmy WERE in the park.

I know. I just said.

Forget it. Go on.

Well… there’s this tree.

Yes?

And it’s got these knobs and a big bendy branch.

And?

Jimmy dared me to climb to the top and shimmy down the bendy part. Bet me ten bucks.

You didn’t.

Did. Head first. WINNER!

Except for your head.

Totally worth it!

(100 words)

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

The joy of childhood splotches! Thanks for the inspiration to Friday Fictioners’ photo, RDP’s word (SPLOTCH, and Esther’s Weekly Writing Prompt (MONEY). Twas fun!

17 October 2025

RDP Wednesday: SPLOTCH

Writing Prompts

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Finally

September 17, 2025 Tina Stewart Brakebill

The house was quiet.

Finally.

The loud click of the lock had echoed in her mind for just a moment as she shut out the last of the stragglers. But the constant stream of words had stopped.

Finally.

No more kind-hearted souls urging her to “eat something.” No more obsequious parishioners offering her sympathy and prayers. No more polite policeman asking stupid questions. No more of his exacting demands for unattainable perfection. No more of her internal screams of anguish. No more.

Finally.

She gazed out the window. His final view offering her an open road to the future.

Finally.

The attempts at unblocking my writer’s block seems to be have channeled me to the dark side! Thanks Rochelle and Sandra for the inspiration for this 100 word ode to revenge or maybe regret or possibly hope. The reader can decide. Visit her site for more info on the Friday Fictioneers challenge.

19 September 2025

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Gran’s Tampa Totems Table

December 4, 2024 Tina Stewart Brakebill

Everyone was so busy reminding the grands about shady web threats and unknown numbers, they forgot that old men still answer their doors for young girls.

Her patter felt smooth as he ushered her inside.

Then she saw it. Her gran’s Tampa Totems Table.

She knew it wasn’t. Gran’s totems were gone. Like her.

Still, she faltered. Memories flooded in. What would Gran say if she saw her now?

It took only a moment to recover her flow, as she remembered Gran’s final words: “Smile. And don’t forget. Men are all the same. Stroke a mark’s ego and he’s yours.”

Thanks to Rochelle and Friday Fictioners for the inspiration to write after an extended break. Visit her site for more creative writings.

6 December 2024