January 24, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about “the wish I made.” Whose wish is it and how does it fit into the story? What kind of wish? Go where the prompt leads!
Make A Wish – by Hugh W. Roberts
“Clean up this mess, and put out the rubbish! I haven’t got all day.”
Looking at the single candle on the 80th birthday cake she’d made herself, Miriam made her wish before blowing out the candle. She watched her demanding daughter cut a slice of the cake and devour it. She wondered if arsenic had a taste.
When turning to look at herself in the antique mirror, Miriam’s wish revealed itself – a beautiful, slim, young woman ready to live life again. But this time without the burdensome daughter that craved her inheritance and cake more than her mother.
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Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love Glimpses
Glimpses
28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.
Paperback – £4.99
Kindle – £0.99
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Hugh's Views & News 
Great story, Hugh. Friends of mine have asked whether I’d go through the whole having kids thing all over again, and in my heart of hearts I don’t know. Yet, while they may not make life easier, they do make it more meaningful and I have grown a lot through them while also feeling like I’ve lost myself entirely. This all reminds me of that great Barbra Streisand song: “The Way We Were”.
Thank you, Rowena.
I don’t have children, but I have nephews and nieces who have bought much wisdom, happiness and love into my life. They are the future.
They are indeed, Hugh. I’ve spent much of the last two years researching soldiers letters from WWI and I strayed across some writings post WWI where people were looking to children as a new future. Hope. Terrible to see events in the Ukraine showing these lessons still haven’t been learnt at least by some.
It’s painful to see older people/mothers disrespected like that. They gave up so much to be treated like that… If only…. hehehehe
Yes, disrespect of our elders was something I’d never heard about when I was growing up. Sadly, in today’s world, it seems to be almost taken for granted.
Wow, Hugh, what a dark story! Well done. 🙂
Thanks, Diana. 99 words are quite the challenge, especially when I want to add a twist.
You always seem to meet the challenge. 🙂
Thank you, Diana. I enjoy these 99-word flash fiction challenges. Not only do they challenge me, but they also dare me to participate.
Lovely story, Hugh, I hope she didn’t taste the arsenic.
Thanks, Anne.
Your comment went straight into my WordPress spam folder. Not sure why, but luckily I check that folder at least once a day.
If that daughter couldn’t even be bothered to make a cake for her mother’s eightieth, well she got her well deserved slice. The best twist in this maybe is that it was a nasty daughter not the more usually portrayed nasty mother. (I was going to say evil, but I suppose killing the nasty daughter wasn’t exactly nice either.)
I had plans to entitle this tale ‘The Other Cinderella.’ One who is not only older than the usual Cinderellas portrayed but also isn’t frightened to murder those she doesn’t want in her life.
This was a good one, Hugh! Leave it to you to surprise me at the end. LOL! 😀 ❤
Good to hear you never had the ending I planned for this tale, Collen. We should all be careful when looking into mirrors.
That’s a fact! Mirrors are the windows to the soul… or is that eyes? 😳🤦🏼♀️
What a tale, she has her youth, but became a murderer. Only a Hugh story would twist that far for her to eat her own solitary cake. Wicked wish Hugh.
Well, she only had her youth when looking in that antique mirror, Ellen. However, it could well have been a mirror with special powers by taking her back in time. Or did she have special powers to travel back in time?
That right there could be a whole chapter book. “Through the looking Glass!”
Miriam has reclaimed her power. But what powers? Magical or murderous mayhem? Maybe a bit of both. I love reading your twists, Hugh. Thank you for your submission to the Collection at Carrot Ranch. It will publish Wednesday, February 2.
Thanks, Charli. A bit of both sounds about right. I like to think of Miriam as a different kind of superhero. One who won’t put up with any messing around.
I’m sure there are many who would wish to go back in time like that.
Just by looking in an antique mirror, Norah. I wonder where she bought it? I’d like one, please.
Let me know too when you find out, please, Hugh.
Way to go, Miriam!
Yep, she’s a modern-day Cinderella with murder on her mind.
Oh that’s funny what Tangental wrote! He’s right, Hugh, you slice it up and dish it out well (arsenic-free). Great to read your carrot ranch fiction stories again. Friday Fiction works!
Yes, I’m glad there is a new format and that the prompt is now posted on a Monday, Terri. It now gives me plenty of time to write the flash, sleep on it, edit and publish on the following Friday. Much better for me.
Kids, so ungrateful!
Even when they want your inheritance.
You gotta watch out for those birthday cakes when greedy daughters are around! I like Geoff’s remark “resilience with a side of murder”
Homemade birthday cakes are not good to try when the person making them is fed up with you and wants you out of their life for good.
You always warm the heart with your uplifting themes- renewal, resilience with a side of murder…
And all just before the weekend. I’m glad of the changes Charli has made, especially the move of publication date.
Shades of Alfred Hitchcock.
Do you think so? Thanks so much.
Oooh, my wish css add be true 🙂
Well done!
Thank you, Dan.
Fantastic, Hugh! And, Miriam. 🙂
We thank you, Liesbet.
Ooo, dark – haha. KL ❤️
Thank you. I think Miriam had good reasons, especially if she has been able to time-travel back in time to start her life again.
Brava, Miriam!!
Indeed. Let’s hope she doesn’t make that mistake again in her new life.