“Fiction In A Flash Challenge” Image Prompt Week #9 – Star Story
Soooz at Welcome to the World of Suzanne Burke posted the “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Week #9 this week with this image. She invites us to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of our choosing. Maximum word count: 750 words.
I have been trying to take part from Week #1 but somehow didn’t make it. This week, Mae got me motivated. She started the prompt without know where she was heading. So I tried the same thing. I started a few lines, then went on my walk. I finished my story in half an hour in my head. So this is my take on the prompt.
Star Story
“No, I can’t do it. I’m afraid of heights.” Michelle shook her head, looking at the bridge.
“Don’t worry. Hold my hand. I’ll just be one step ahead of you.” Michael took the first step onto the bridge. Michelle followed.
“But, but… the bridge is bouncing and wobbling.”
“Let’s go slowly. We’ll take one step and stay still until the bridge stops moving, then take another step.”
“I’ll try. Just take slight steps. I can’t go fast.”
“I know. I won’t go any faster than you want to.”
“My arms and legs are tingling.”
“Okay, let’s stop for a minute. Now just look straight at the treehouse. Don’t look below the bridge or even at your feet.”
“Okay, let me close my eyes and think of something else.”
“Good. When you’re ready, open your eyes and just look at the tree house and follow my steps.”
“My legs feel better now. The treehouse has a balcony with patio chairs.”
“Yes, now hold on to the door and step into the house.”
“Phew! I did it.”
“Let’s grab a couple cans of iced tea from the personal refrigerator and sit on the balcony.”
“How did you find this treehouse?”
“Well, that’s a lengthy story. I haven’t told you about that yet. See, my mom died of cancer when I was nine years old.”
“Sorry to hear that. You told me she died when you were young.”
“Yeah, it was hard for me to talk about it. After she died, I didn’t talk for a long time. I stayed in my room mostly when I was home from school. My dad tried to talk to me, but I just didn’t say anything to him. He read me bedtime stories every night. One night he read a book about a treehouse.”
“Was it this treehouse?”
“No, a smaller treehouse in a boy’s backyard. I was curious. I asked dad if we could build one. I wanted to go to the treehouse and stay in it by myself.”
“What did your dad say?”
“He said our trees in the backyard were not tall enough for building a treehouse.”
“Did you think of a playhouse instead?”
“No, it wasn’t the same. Anyway, one day, my dad took me camping and this treehouse was in the campground. We climbed up here at night and sat in the balcony looking into the sky through the opening of trees.”
“Was the sky clear?”
“Yes, there was a full moon. My dad asked me to look at the bright start close to the moon. He said that was where my mom went. My mom could see me from there, and she wanted me to be happy. He said my mom waved at me with the twinkles. I looked at the star and it twinkles. I waved back to her.”
“I’m sure your mom wanted you to be happy.”
“My dad said we could see the star from our backyard on a cloudless night.”
“We could look at the star tonight and you could wave at your mom!”
“I would like to do that. Thank you for believing my Star Story. You’re the best thing happened to me. I’ve never been so happy after my mom died.”
“I like that when you share stories like that with me.”
“I thought some people may think it was childish.”
“I think it is precious. We could come camping and climb up to this treehouse again.”
“Fiction In A Flash Challenge” Image Prompt Week #9 – Star Story
The Showers of Blessings 
So sweet! Thank you for sharing such a cute story about a dad doing good things for his child.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was an inspiration from many bits and pieces. I love the idea behind that. My son-in-law took Autumn camping just the two of them.
LikeLike
Heart touching and well written.
LikeLike
Thank you, Mark.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You did a great job with this story, Miriam. I also read and enjoyed Mae’s. Prompts certainly do promote creativity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right, Robbie. Prompts take our eyes to see different things.
LikeLike
I love your story, Miriam. Treehouses fascinate me. You took us there in booth seen and feeling!
Dwight
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading, Dwight! It was fun writing it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a touching story, Miriam. Sweet relationships all around. The dad raised a good kid into a healthy man. I’m so glad you took up the prompt. It’s a good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading, Diana. I like to see more healthy men turned into healthy dads. Your speculative fiction was my favorite also. You picked wonderful prompts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely story and treehouse 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading. I appreciated your comment, Rojeena. 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very sweet story, Miriam.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Kim!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Miriam, I am so glad you participated and that I was able to give you a little nudge. This was such a sweet story.
It made me think of the times when I was a kid and would sit outside with my dad and we would look up at the stars. I’ve always been fascinated by the night sky and the thought of stars being loved ones we lost looking down on us is heartwarming.
Also, I have to say I would be like Michelle crossing that bridge. I’m terrified of heights, LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read your post, then I wrote the first few lines. During my walk after dinner, I did my “think about writing” as you said lately. But I couldn’t finish writing before bedtime because Hubby and I are puzzling in the evening. So I finished today. Yay! In fact, I was Michelle when it comes to height!!
Thank you for liking the story.
LikeLike
What a sweet story, Miriam. A great use of the prompt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know Mae wanted to do it from the beginning, so did I. She gave me a little nudge! Thank you for liking the story, Jan!
LikeLike
I enjoyed reading your story, Miriam. You depicted the feeling of being on a bouncing suspension bridge so vividly I felt I was walking across it! I appreciated the happy ending, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember how it felt walking on one and the tingling feelings. When we went to Australia and climbed the Harbor Bridge to the top, I didn’t think I could make it. I could look down only when we got to a point with a lot of steel structure. It was not the same as looking down with no obstacles.
Thank you for reading and your comment, Liz.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Miriam.
LikeLiked by 1 person
💖😀
LikeLike
I really enjoyed the story. It brought back a lot of childhood memories.❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, good!! Did you have a treehouse growing up? ❤
LikeLike
No, but my friend did. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, they’re good for the kids. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely story 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading, Willow. 🙂
LikeLike
I really enjoyed it Miriam 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you did,Willow! Still waiting for the surgery? ❤
LikeLike
I did Miriam and yes I am 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good, Willow! ❤
LikeLike
💜💜
LikeLike
Lovely story. I have a fond memory of treehouses because of something like that–seen through a friend’s eyes. Thank you for this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you liked the story, Jacqui, thank you! I think treehouses are great for kids!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do think of them for kids and am amazed at these ‘tree house’ vacation spots for adults. Really???
LikeLiked by 2 people
I haven’t really seen tree house as vacation spots for adults, Jacqui. Perhaps I wasn’t interested to look into it!
LikeLike