Copyright – Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
To submit your own 100 word story about the photo prompt, click here. I value constructive criticism, so please feel free to be honest in your comments.
She was the size of two dragonflies and glowed like hot magnesium, so bright that Josie could never look straight at her. At night, Josie would hear things that nobody else could: The flutter of wings, tiny footsteps on her pillow, and the hum of magic. The fairy didn’t speak but she patiently listened to Josie’s tales of anguish. Occasionally, she would bring Josie trinkets and trophies from an imagined fairyland, which Josie would play with in secret.
When other children in the orphanage complained that their possessions were going missing, Josie wasn’t worried. The fairy would protect her treasure.
To Be A Magician 
Gotta love those fairies … although they can be little tealeafs 🙂
Tealeafs?
Autocorrected ‘thieves’, is my bet. I liked the ‘glowed like hot magnesium.’
Thanks.
Thieves. 🙂
Haha, my mum told me it was rhyming slang afterwards. Role reversal!
😀 Yes
This is a beautiful story MissK. The magic of childhood, of protectors and innocence. Well done.
I’m not entirely sure about the innocence…
I love the two sides I see to this story – an innocent fairy tale-like story of a child who can see “the little people” (because kids believe), versus a child who’s made up her own world (and is nicking other kids’ stuff) in order to blank out her lonely existence in the orphanage.
Thanks, I had hoped it would come across ambiguous.
Enjoyed reading this, and agree that there’s some ambiguity here, almost a sinister edge even? Nice work!
Thanks! I was really hoping for that effect.
Either the fairy of the young girl is naughty. Some times kids do things they are not supposed to do.
Interesting story!
Thanks! Can fairies be naughty?
Loved this story. Poignant and very clever!
Thanks you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Purely lovely 🙂 I especially liked the end “the fairies would protect her treasures”
Thanks. 😀
Fairies! ( or a disturbed kid) either way,it’s awesome. Love the phrase glowed like hot magnesium 🙂
Thank you. I’ve no idea where that phrase came from. I think I might have been watching too much Breaking Bad.
A great idea – you draw us into her fantasy and then show us the reality. The only thing I’m not so sure of is ‘the size of two dragonflies’. I just can’t visualise this as a size marker. Why not just one dragonfly?
Haha, one dragonfly did not seem quite big enough, but I think you’re right. It’s a bit awkward.
A great tale here…so captivating and refreshing.
Thank you. 🙂
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Well done.
Thanks Sandra.
Dear Miss KZ,
A poignant tale of a lonely child with a vivid imagination. I can also see the seeds of her future kleptomania being sown. Nice one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I wanted to fairies to be real when I began writing! It just wasn’t to be.
Dear Misskzebra,
That was a spooky and chilling piece of work. I loved the description and the dismay of the other children and the confidence of your MC.
Aloha,
Doug
Thanks Doug! I can see Josie stubbornly jutting out her chin as the adults ask her about the missing items…
Loved this story, darling. Fae folk aren’t generally very Disney-like.
Thanks for the mention on your blog. 🙂
Pingback: Friday Fictioneers – Unfaithful | Being the Memoirs of Helena Hann-Basquiat, Dilettante.
You’ve told such a sweet story and with such lovely words and the ending with her being an orphan and stealing those things gives it an edginess that makes it memorable.
Thanks Linda. I almost gave up on this picture!
I like the imagination of this — both yours to write it and that of the child’s. Josie is quite the survivor. I agree with other commenters — that having Josie steal the trinkets (rather than the fairy being real) gives an edge to the story.
I had to leave it a few hours after seeing the picture before this idea gradually developed. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Hmm, a bit of a psychological tale here!?
Scott
Mine: http://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2013/09/04/friday-fictioneers-962013-bits-of-life-rated-pg13-genre-horror/
well if the fairy took a few treasures who’s to fault her??
Nice fantasy
That’s what Josie thinks, too.
I loved the first line: ‘She was the size of two dragonflies and glowed like hot magnesium.’ A great little story. 🙂
I wish I’d put “burning” magnesium instead, but I don’t think it matters too much.
I wonder if she’ll go up to have multiple personalities? A well written tale.
She certainly has a talent for creating a prettier truth.
I loved this take – and is actually closer to the folklore on fairies than the modern day take of them being all lovely and sparkly! Very imaginary friend!
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Great story completely wrapped up from start to finish. Superb work. Really liked this: “glowed like hot magnesium” reminded me of Science class at school.
The feeling of power at A Level when the teachers let us burn magnesium ourselves rather than have it merely demonstrated… unbeatable.
Very nicely done – you got the effect you aimed for! I liked the hot magnesium best, too, but the whole piece works beautifully. 🙂
A protector is what every lonely child craves most. Good for her the fairy is on her side.
That was beautifully told. Your description of the fairy was a treasure in itself.
I loved ‘the hum of magic’… Such a different take on the prompt, very imaginative piece I enjoyed very much.
Dee
Hi Zebra,
Nice trip to fairyland sprinkled with beautiful pixie dust. Ron
Wow, the connotations speak for themselves in these quick 100 words.
Hmm, quite an intriguing story. So, is it real or does Josie have a very good imagination? Hopefully the other children don’t find all their treasures under Josie’s pillow.
Pingback: Chapter 4 of Dumblight | FanFiction Fridays