Today’s picture was taken by Roger Bultot.Thanks, Rochelle, for posting it. I’m sure this scene will inspire many wonderful stories! My 100-word piece about this gorgeous old cafe follows.
Sarah came to the cafe for the sounds
clatter of spoons
rattle of plates
the jingle of laughter and
jangle of that tiny tarnished bell over the door
Sarah made friends here
broke up with boyfriends here
Went away smelling of over-cooked eggs
and burned bacon
and feeling like she’d just left her home.
Home was a mangled car in the yard
home was the sound of the too-loud TV
Mama’s tears
dogs barking
and a faucet drip, drip, dripping
Home smelled of mold and cigarettes
Home was Daddy lying in
her brother’s empty bed
eyes staring at nothing
Up From the Ashes 
Another excellent story.
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Wow! Thanks, Kecia. What a lovely comment.
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I put that I liked it. Of course, I didn’t. It made me feel I wanted to take a shower. Well done
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I’m making cold process soap today. Would you like me to send you some? Thanks for reading and commenting, Neil. I truly appreciate it.
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That’s such a tragic story, a diner being more like home than home actually is. Wonderfully done, Alicia
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Those ladies look like they’re having gobs of fun. My story started out that way then went all sad on me! Glad you stopped by to read.
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My pleasure Alicia 🙂
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Very bleak. Sort of lingers afterwards. Great stuff.
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What a nice thing to say. Lingering is good. I appreciate your stopping by and commenting.
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When a greasy diner is homelier than home there is at least some hope… grim reality.
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Thanks, Bjorn. I wonder how often this happens. When I was a teenager, one of the many young men I “fell in love with” hung out with my neighbors, sisters and me. He never invited us to his home ~ in fact, I had no idea where he lived. Just a few years ago I found out his dad was an alcoholic and beat him. Grim reality indeed. Hope your eye is repairing as it should.
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Great reporting. Which felt like it could expand into a interesting short story.
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Thanks, Michael. What a lovely comment.
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I can so understand her need to get away from such a home. There is so much life in a diner, isn’t there?
Hopefully, she also finds a way to get out of her situation…
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You are more than right! We have a local pizza parlor that is so much like “going home.” HELLO! they shout! HOW WAS YOUR TRIP? they ask. And in turn we ask about their children, parents, and journies. Thanks, Dale
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So nice!!
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Nice verse, a real sense of the diner atmosphere and the tragedy of her existence.
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Thanks, Iain. I’m glad the contrast came through. Too bad it can’t be the other way around.
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Everyone needs a safe place. Well written piece, Alicia
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Oh, they surely do. Thanks, Russell!
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All very well done, excellent detail. And the key is the mother’s tears and the father lying in the brother’s empty bed. Excellent.
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Thanks for noticing those details. Muchly appreciated. Alicia
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🙂
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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Very well done! In a few words you’ve created a character we can all sympathize with.
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Thanks, Christine. I find I really enjoy these flashes of story. Fun to write.
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Very well done. You have woven a whole life around that cafe. Beautiful writing, as always, Alicia.
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Thank you very much, Neil.
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An escape from a broken home life. Well written! I loved the descriptions.
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Thanks, Ali. I stole some of them from an unpublished novel I wrote years ago. Maybe I’ll revisit it this summer. Thanks for dropping by!
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Lovely detail, and tragic.
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Thanks, Claire. Dawn Landau and I were talking about you on Tuesday night during our critique group meeting – Wicked Women Write. Were your ears burning? We were discussing how we need (yes, need) to read Swimming Lessons. Cheers!
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Dear Lish,
Brilliantly layered story. So much in so few words. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks very much, Rochelle.
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Brilliant. Simply brilliant. :o)
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Thank you very much!
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There’s so much to this story and it rings so very true for many sad souls who hang out in places like this day after day, to gain respite from horrendous circumstances. I feel particularly for your character, as she’s called Sarah D: Excellently written.
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Ha! That’s fun, Sarah. Thanks so much for stopping by to read and comment.
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At least she found sanctuary there. A superb story.
Click to read my Friday Fiction
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Yes! Sanctuary is key. Thanks, Keith
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Wow! Brilliantly unveiled
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Thanks, Dahlia. What kind words.
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This started out so nicely – I loved the sense and feel of the opening, wrinkled my nose knowing exactly how she smelt, and got more and more depressed as I read. Well done on working my emotions and giving us so much story in so few words.
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Wish I could have left you smiling. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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This one made me think. And cry a little.
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Sorry about the tears, but I’m glad you read the story and left a comment. Did you write a story this week? If so, I can’t find it.
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No worries. Lots of things draw tears these days. Just posted mine.
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Wow that story packed a real punch. Great writing.
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Thanks. My husband said, “Oh, another depressing one!” I appreciate your comment better.
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Sad. I can understand why she enjoyed going to the diner. Good writing with great description, Alicia. —- Suzanne
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I’m glad I’ve never had to experience a situation like this, but I’m sure so many other people have. Thanks, Suzanne.
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So much sadness, clearly described in so few words. Good job.
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Thank you very much.
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Heartbreaking and well-told. I’m impressed–and sad, but that’s fair!
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Thanks, Emily. All is fair in love and war, after all. Glad you stopped by.
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This is very sad. You have told us so much in so few words.
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Thanks for reading!
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Great verse, very potent and sad.
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Thanks, Michael.
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What a sad but real story. I love diners where you see regulars and chatting. Her home was a dark place to be…she found a refuge. So many possibilities for a short story. I truly enjoyed it as well the form you used.
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Gosh, thanks very much Oliana. I wish I were good at short stories. Maybe I’ll give it a go.
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Oh do! I find less than 1200 words I can manage but more than that I tend to get bored. I so admire writers but I so enjoy reading, so it balances out.
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