Image courtesy of Ted Strutz
Freak.
I ignore the other kids. The wind bites my nose. I button my coat.
Weirdo.
The familiar puff of steam. I clutch my camera with numb fingers.
Loser.
A stone hits me in the back of the neck but I manage to snap a picture of the cab.
The photo won’t take long to develop and when it does I’ll show mum. It might be my dad! He’s been away on top secret missions since I was born. A spy masquerading as a train driver. Ferrying secrets.
She’ll say no. Call me a gullible idiot. She always does. But part of me still hopes. Perhaps it’s him. Perhaps he’ll love me.
Friday Fictioneers is a weekly 100 word story challenge, inspired by a photo prompt. Hop over to host Rochelle’s blog to read the other entires or join in!
fabricating fiction 
Just lovely, Louise
Thanks Neil.
I could sense their determination and hope, however misguided, and that sense of needing to know. Nicely done.
Thanks Iain.
so sad to feel the hope and longing to have dad in his life.
and could really feel the coldness inside with the coldness in the setting: camera with numb fingers, but not numb in hope…..
hm
Thanks so much. I do hope his life gets warmer all round.
I hope so too
A lovely, poignant tale of hope and finding a way to survive.
Thanks so much for reading Jan.
You got right into the soul of that wistful, isolated child. Well done.
Thanks Sandra. I think there is more to come with this character.
Dear Louise,
Touching, infuriatingly tragic. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks. I could have gone on and on with this character.
Having rocks thrown at you seems a bit harsh for childhood teasing.
I thought it was quite tame with some of the things that go on with kids.
I suppose. I was teased a lot in junior high but no one threw rocks at me. In high school however, I got hit a few times but only by fists (and a bicycle chain, but that’s a long story).
I think a bicycle chain is worse than a stone!
To be fair, I was sixteen and it was a city-wide riot.
Sad and wistful. Beautifully done.
Thanks so much.
That much determination has to pay off sooner or later
I think so!
What determination! What a great take on the photo!
Thanks very much.
You’ve written that cleverly and well. You tell us the truth about him. He’s a freak, a weirdo and a loser – and gullible. And yet you show the odds against which he struggles, the determination with which he pursues his quest, and we feel that such courage deserves reward. He’s a Don Quixote for the twenty-first century.
Aww thanks Penny. My heart aches for him.
That’s heartbreaking – a solitary search for a love that will always evade your narrator. Tragic, Louise
Thanks Lynn. It was nice to try something different.
You did it well, Louise 🙂
Sweet, innocent and lovely. A real tear-jerker. Thankfully me tank is dry these last few weeks. Didn’t stop me enjoying this, though, Louise.
Thanks for reading Kelvin.
Such a sad but determined young person. I like to think that her/his search will eventually pay off.
I hope so. Thanks for reading Dale.
Lovely sensitively told story. His hope will help him. He is a survivor.
Thanks so much Jilly.
Not only is this child full of hope he/she is strong, fighting against those that pummel him/her with stones and meanness. Hopefully, Mom with come around.
Thanks Alicia!
Perhaps….<3
You never know!
This is so well done. Pulled me in right from the start.
Thanks so much.
Awwwe, what a touching tale of love.
Thank you.
So sad, poor little kid. Made up a fantasy about her dad so he might come home one day and didn’t really leave them.
It is sad but no one died this week 🙌
The yearning is so very palpable.
Thank you.
I love how you’ve brought to life the child’s hopes and imagination.
Thanks Sascha.
A sad story because it is a reality for far too many young people. But I am impressed by the inner strength of the young boy and his tenacity. He stays hopeful!
We all need a bit of hope!
For sure!
A child like that will always search… I wonder if it’s one of the cases were the mother doesn’t know.
Possibly! Thanks for stopping by.
Such a sad story. I feel for your narrator, forever searching for their father.
Thanks for reading Sarah.
Oh this is painfully sad. And the narrator’s optimism – which we can see is naive – only increases the pathos. Very succinctly written.
Thanks very much!
Well written and so sad. I could feel the narrator’s alienation.
Thanks for reading.
Short, concise, and heartfelt. Really enjoyed!
Thank you Matthew.
Vivid and heartbreaking. A moment as fleeting as the protag’s picture, and yet so rich in detail and characterization.
Thanks very much Nick.
You are so talented in writing!! I loved your blog so much so I’ve decided to nominate you for a Mystery Blogger Award! It’s totally optional but I’d be thrilled if you’d accept! Here is the link if you’re interested in taking part! 🙂
https://wordpress.com/post/cybersecurityavani.wordpress.com/833
Thanks so much!
Oh, Louise.
Thanks for reading!
Beautifully sad. It’s so hard to make the reader feel for the character in such a short story, like you have done.
check out my site artofstorylitfictionalterreality.wordpress.com I’ve only just started it.
I’ll check it out. Thanks for reading.
THAT IS engrossing!!
Beautifully sad….. awesome work!!
Check out my site
https://artofstorylitfictionalterreality.wordpress.com/
aww sad and touching all in one! Thanks for sharing ❤
Thanks so much for reading!
The flow of your story is unbelievable. It’s so flawless. I wish I could write like you. Great job.
Thanks so much!
The use of paragraphing truely is beautiful, separating our dreams from the harsh world around us before the unfortunately merge much like they have in your final paragraph. The feeling of hope we desperately cling onto as these words of discouragement drowns us, especially when those who we assume should endlessly love us join the parade.
Beautiful and simple yet deceptively complicated, bravo.
Aww thanks so much. Very appreciated.
That was simply beautiful, tugged at my heart.
Thanks so much Shreya.
Love how you managed to make this so touching with so few words, awesome flash fiction!