family

FlashNano Day 26: “Write a story that includes a celebrity.”

/ Liz H-H / 15 Comments

You know the routine, and I’m so sad this is the last year Nancy Stohlman is hosting it! So here’s a holiday story to help you digest the holiday weekend (A little corny, but I know nothing about celebrity life, so…)

Janie was an up-and-coming starlet, a nice girl, but a little naïve. Her latest movie had just come out, and though she had a small part, the critics mostly liked her, said she was one to watch. She had a certain je ne sais quoi (noted by an early fan, and grabbed up from her socials and integrated into her marketing and promotions sites). And it did fit. But she had plans of her own for growing a solid, positive public image.

Being polite, never losing her temper or trashing others, remembering where she came from, avoiding situations that might lead to accusations of excess—all of these things came naturally to her. But celebrity can breed jealousy, can breed contempt, and even she was unable to avoid the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

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Cougar Comes Around

/ Liz H-H / 10 Comments
Dirty glass bottle, top broekn off, on a wooden surface
© Ayr/Gray

Many thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr for their photo prompt, THE UNICORN CHALLENGE.  03/28/25). No more than 250 words in length. [For those interested, a background flash, part of the Lula stories, is found here: https://valleyofthetrolls.blog/2024/10/02/mark-of-the-mountain-lion/ ]

Like most of the girls that found their way to Lula’s Saloon, Tucker found a way to fit in, using her own special gifts and learning other invaluable skills. All accepted Lula’s rules of community, or moved on.

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Little Red Tatterhood

/ Liz H-H / 15 Comments
Empty city street, except for a tree growing up in the middle of a wide red brick sidewalk. Tree has a dark vertical split near its basem with two bright red Amanita Muscaria mushrooms on either side of the split.

© Ayr/Gray

Perhaps Rose could have been more wary on her weekly walk to Granny’s apartment, but she knew the way and felt confident in her red cape and hood. How could she go wrong? It had plenty of pockets! And she had her wooden spoon to fend off any attackers.      Continue reading →

Bells

/ Liz H-H / 18 Comments
Two people exiting teh arched entryway of a very large church

© Ayr/Gray

Many thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr for their photo prompt for THE UNICORN CHALLENGE (01/10/2025). No more than 250 words in length.

“I’m not so sure about this.” Maisie, hands in sweatshirt pockets, looked sidewise at Ted. “Why are we doing this again?”
“Because it’s what we’ve always done.” Ted’s hands were calloused from many years of woodworking, and his strong, blunt fingers rasped across his unshaven jaw. He’d gladly traded his family business’ corporate ID for the scent of fresh wood and aromatic finishers. But the family’s silent disapproval of his choice still smarted.                    Continue reading →

Winter Pulla Bread

/ Liz H-H / 12 Comments

The challenge? Write a story in exactly 6 sentences based on Denise’s one word prompt: EVEN. Visit, comment, and write & post your own on SIX SENTENCE STORIES. The Café is open. Come as you are!

You start with a precise recipe: this many deciliters of starter, so many grams of flour (careful not to overpack, and smooth the top evenly with a blunt butter knife), a measure of vegetable oil, a half teaspoon of yeast dissolved in ¼ cup (plus two extra teaspoons) of warm water, and half that amount of salt, ¼ cup of honey, a single brown-shelled egg (room temperature and beaten), one quarter-cup of golden raisins (soaked for an hour and drained, to be added last) and a generous rounded teaspoon of cardamom.

Except that you halve the recipe because your mother has passed and she can no longer help you enjoy the bounty.                            Continue reading →

Tradition

/ Liz H-H / 14 Comments

The challenge? Write a story in exactly 6 sentences based on Denise’s one word prompt: SHADOW. Visit, comment, and write & post your own on SIX SENTENCE STORIES. The Café is open. Come as you are!

Her work had only just begun, but the timeline was tight, tempers frayed, and there would be many hours before she could shut down the kitchen and rest her head.                              Continue reading →