PHOTO PROMPT © JS Brand
Heaven
My boat drifts toward Berrisford Harbor, as waves lap gently against the hull. I squint to make out the oceanview penthouse I once shared with Pops and imagine him staring out the window. Sixty years since I last visited my boyhood paradise, and not much has changed.
But then, everything changed after Pops died.
Yet, I can still hear his voice, clear as seagulls crying above me. “Boy! If you’re not here in five minutes, you’ll miss the boat.”
A man waves from the dock.
His silhouette is unmistakable. Pops?
“About time you got here,” he calls. “Let’s go fishing.”
THE END
Friday Fictioneers is a compilation of writers from around the world who gather online weekly, guided by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge? To write a story in 100 words or less based on a new photo prompt.
To read more stories in an online flash fiction anthology by Friday Fictioneer authors, click:
Thank you for the photo prompt, JS Brand! I had to think for a bit on this one, but a dream last night finally told me what to write about. 🙂
Jan Morrill Writes 
A satisfying story
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Thanks, Neil. Henry’s philosophy of life in your story made me smile – and think. 🙂
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That was an enjoyable read. I wonder if it was Pop’s ghost – or if he was mistaken about Pop’s death?
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you, Susan. When I first read your comment, I thought, “I guess I need to make it more clear that he’d made it to heaven, where Pops awaits.” But then, I decided I kind of like the vagueness and thought I’d let everyone have their own interpretation. 🙂
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Beautiful play between the imaginary and the real in this story. Loved it.
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Thank you, Moon. Your story had a special, poignant meaning to me. There was a day when I could have been your main character. Sad and beautiful tale.
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The ghost of his father lives on in the place and his memory. Beautifully done.
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Thank you, Iain. We all have different definitions of what heaven would be–whether it consists of our memories, or whether it’s an actual place. Who knows?
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I read this as the narrator has now died and is traveling to join his father [pops]
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Thank you, Michael! You interpreted as I intended, though I’ve also enjoyed reading the different interpretations. Can’t find your story. If you can include a link, I’d love to read it!
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Dear Jan,
I’m not sure if Pops is the ghost of his father or an old friend. Either way it works. Love your writing. Hope you’re feeling better.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My original intention was that he was the narrator’s grandfather, and his memories were of his childhood. He has died, and and “Pops” awaits him at heaven’s “dock.” But, I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s interpretations, and its been a good exercise for me to let it go and not go back and “fix” it. 🙂
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Oh my! That does trigger and stimulate the imagination!
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Thank you, Sabrina. That’s what I love about these photo prompts. They stimulate our imaginations in so many different ways!
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I thought he had died – from the title – and this was heaven, but I liked the slight ambiguity and it’s interesting to see how other people interpreted it. That’s one of the beauties of flash fiction for me.
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You guessed right, Sarah. I wondered if I was “cheating” by calling the story “Heaven.” I wondered if I gave away too much instead of “trusting” the reader. In the end, even with the title, people had different interpretations. I agree, it’s one of the things I like about flash fiction–no room given to the writer to “control” the reader. 🙂
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Whichever way you interpret the ending, this is a simply delightful tale.
Click to read my 100 Word Story!
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Thank you, Keith! I very much enjoyed reading your story, too. I enjoyed each progressive beer right along with your main character–especially after the second course of cabbage. 🙂
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Brought a lump to my throat.
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I hope it was a good lump, Dahlia. 🙂 I wanted to leave readers with the thought that we all have our definition of what heaven would be, and he reached it.
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So heaven is heaven because we make it so, by our response to it. Lovely story, Jan
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Exactly, Penny! And we each have in our minds what heaven will be. Thank you!
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I have a sense that this is how it is when you go finally go home… fishing sounds like heaven
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I often think of home as heaven, Björn. Perhaps that’s how my story was born.
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Really like this one 🙂
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Thank you, Linda! 🙂 I look forward to reading more stories of Zing and Zang!
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I got it right away. I expect my dad will be waiting by the boat when I arrive at the next life. We spent many happy days fishing together.
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It’s the one thing that brings me peace when I lose someone I love, Russell, that they’ll be waiting to welcome me one day. Sorry to hear your book launch was postponed due to ice. I know it will be a great launch when you’re able to have it. Wish I could be there! 🙂
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Wow. Yeah, I definitely got that this was heaven and also the ambiguity works, in terms of being not an ending but a continuation. It evoked all kinds of comparisons to Tolkien and Celtic mythos in general. Really well done. Thanks so much for sharing this one. Wish I could give five stars!
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Wow, Anne! Thank you so much! 🙂
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