This is my maiden voyage into the realm of the Friday Fictioneers. I was encouraged by my fellow writer and poet, Bill @ Our Literary Journey. A big shout out to Rochelle @ Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple for hosting Friday Fictioneers. The weekly challenge she presents is to write a story based on the photo prompt, provided today by Ted Strutz. My challenge is to write a complete story in 100 words or less. Wish me luck!

Story title: Madness Genre: Mystery Word Count: 99 ************************************
“Are we a normal family,” he asked. "Shhh," I whispered. "We are a mad lot, we creatives, but you know that darling. You’re as mad as they come." "Am I?" he sulked. "How else do you explain the murals on our walls and the chain on the front door? I can only imagine what the place looks like to the outside world. The groundskeeper ran off after your last fit some decades ago." "Has it been that long, Sister?" "Longer, I fear, but one day when they open this house it will be a shrine to your creative madness."
Great job Sue! You should do it every week. ☺️
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Oh thanks so much, Christine. I’m just dipping my toe in the water and trying to connect with other writers. I have a lot of new blogs to read 🙂
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Yes, I like to dabble in flash fiction every n ow and again. It’s fun! Keep it up, I’ll be reading 🙂
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Thanks so much for your encouragement, Christine 😉
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The story has a mysterious feel. Why are they locked in? Who will open the house one day? Wonderful intriguing story!
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Thanks so much for reading, Brenda. I appreciate your kind words 🙂
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Wonderful job, Sue. Great story. 🙂 And welcome to the classiest herded cats on the internet.
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Thanks so much, Bill. I happen to love cats😊
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Sort of an Emily Dickinsonish bit of a character, is she? I’ve always heard and read that she was so very daft.
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Behind the veneer of daft was poetic genius🤗 As for this family of artist, a bit of madness inspires their creativity. Thanks for reading.
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You managed to show how the creative mind gets so involved in their passion that the rest of the world can go whistle. I wonder if she buried the gardener rather then he ran away. this might explain the downward slide into madness.
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It’s possible the garden is filled with dead bodies 🙂 Thanks for reading!
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Artists who were insufferable while alive do acquire a certain allure once dead, don’t they? Welcome to Friday Fictioneers, Sue
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Indeed! Thanks for reading and commenting, Neil 🙂
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Great to see you taking part Sue. Love the idea of some creative madness inside that old house 🙂
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Thanks so much, Iain 🙂
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I’d like to have a peep inside! Great to come across a new participant. Luck not needed, it was great.
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Aw, thanks so much, Keith. I appreciate your kind words 🙂
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Dear Sue,
Sounds like an “interesting” family. You had me running at the chains. Well done. Welcome to Friday Fictioneers. I warn you, it’s highly addictive. I dipped my toe in 8 years ago and months later I was facilitating it. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much for the warm welcome, Rochelle😊
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I want to see those murals! 🙂
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Something tells me they are masterpieces! Thanks for reading 🙂
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Well done, Sue.
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Thanks so much 🙂
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You are welcome.
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Sue, I’d say you did a really nice job and even at 99 words, which is also acceptable. Keep up the good work. You had the imagination to create a great story from a prompt. Well done!
And, since you’re new —
Five out of five starter kits of madness. 🙂
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Aw, thanks so much 😊 I appreciate your encouragement.
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There’s a ghostly feel to it, especially with the chain on the front door. The biographies of “mad” creative artists are always interesting in retrospect. Unfortunately suffering so often accompanies them while they are alive. Welcome to Friday Fictioneers, Sue!
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Thanks so much😊 I’m from a family of artists and we celebrate our crazy 😆 When I saw the photo prompt it reminded me of my great grandparents house in the south. I was always afraid of that big old house and was convinced it was haunted. The story idea came quickly and I’m glad I took part in the challenge. The Friday Fictioneer family has been very welcoming 🤗
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You’re very welcome, Sue.
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