Mother,
Foliage has returned. Five years passed before the greasy-black smoke of burning tires dissipated. We lived underground. The land is littered with grenades, bullets, bones. We collect them. Angela builds walls from grenades. Beautiful structures. Felicia fashions windchimes from bullets and vines.
Do not worry, these reminders of war are not dangerous. Frederick makes it so.
I am building homes. We live separately. For safety. Only four people remain but constructing homes from the bones of loved ones takes time.
Do not return. You would not find comfort under my roof, for it is made from Father’s ribs.
Up From the Ashes 
Wow, that’s dark, but excellent.
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Thanks, Iain. It’s been a while since I stepped into the new WordPress format to do Friday Fictioneers. But, since Rochelle was kind enough to use my photo . . . Hope you are well.
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And you, stay safe.
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Beautiful and daunting
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Thank you, Neil.
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Ghastly. The stuff nightmares are made of. Well told, Alicia.
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Thank you, Dora
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Very dark and quite wonderful, Alicia.
And a cool photo.
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Thank you. It’s amazing what one can find while walking in the woods.
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Yikes!!!
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[…] and I needs must thank Rochelle for being such a wonderful hostess and this week, thanks to go Alicia Jamtaas for her wonderful photo. If you want to play along, or simply read other submissions, just click […]
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Somewhere to avoid! Delightfully dark.
Thanks for the photo, it’s sending us in lots of different directions with our stories!
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You’re welcome! It’s fun reading other’s interpretations of the picture.
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Dear :Lish,
Grim and disturbing tale. Thank you for the photo. So glad it drew you out of hiding. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for using the photo. It was nice to dust off the cobwebs and “put pen to paper”. Shalom
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Oh wow! Glad you have returned with such a fabulous tale!
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Thank you, Dale. It’s nice to step back into FF.
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Ouuuu, that is a gooood one, Lish! Sends shivers down the spine to envision these structures. good to see you this week. It’s snowy here, close to 12 inches since monday with a layer of ice between. Staying as safe as possible.
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Thanks, Bear. 12 inches! We have about an inch with windchill expected, as well as more snow. Put on your snugglies.
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got on, in layers! LOL! Gives me an excuse to stay in under the electric blanket, and sew, though. I even forgot to get a nap in today. LOL!
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Made me think of the vast collections of skulls and other bones in caves in Europe. Mankind keeps trying to eradicate mankind.
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Sad but true!
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Wow – dark! And yet there’s life, and hope. After the men with guns, the survivors come back making use of anything they possibly can to rebuild.
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Thank you, Penny. People with any type of weapon are pretty scary to me.
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what an imaginative rendering of your own photo prompt. well done.
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Thank you! I actually pulled the story from another flash fiction site – Pegman. When Rochelle chose the photo I drew a blank, spent about an hour flip-flopping between new story ideas then remembered a previous story. Boom! Cute out 50 words (Pegman allowed 150 words) and was done.
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Blimey, that’s a pretty dark existence they’re living.
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But I think things are getting better! Thanks, Ali.
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Excellent, loved this. Darkly elegant and in a way plaintively resigned.
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Thanks, Sandra. I think they are resigned to accept what the world has become but will strive to make it better.
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So glad you were tempted back here! A whole world conjured up and a killer last line.
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Awe, thanks!
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When the destruction is over you have no choice but to pick over the bones. It is nice you keep the family close.
Horrific tale in many ways, but loved the dystopian world.
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Thanks for stopping by to read and leave a reply. Stay safe!
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Definitely a dark short story. It was interesting reading though.
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Thank you.
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Fascinating… and I would have enjoyed reading more.
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What a lovely thing to say, Michael. Thank you.
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Gruesome! Let’s hope things don’t ever get that bad. I’m glad Mother is in a safe place.
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Oh, boy! I’m with you on all points. Thanks.
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One use for bones. Brothers Grim eat your heart out.
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Thanks for reading.
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It may be dark but it is also beautiful.
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Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
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You’re welcome! I would love for you to read some of my short stories. I write short stories based on vivid dream experiences. My blog is
https://dedicateddreamer.blog/
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What an inventive and creepy story. Love the contrast between the suburban letter style and the gothic activities of the survivors, especially the house created from father’s bones.
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Thanks so much.
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You’ve layered this very well. Death & destruction, despair, and hope are all present in only 100 words. Masterfully done.
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Thank you for such a lovely comment.
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Ominous, sinister, and gloomy story of a scary situation that could just happen.
Have a wonderful weekend … Be Safe 😷 … Isadora 😎
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