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
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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.