Rocking All Over The World #writephoto #shortstory #flash fiction

Posted on May 11, 2016 by TanGental

image

Moving Heaven and Earth, mostly Earth

Barry Stack had a crush, which was a bit of an issue for a column of Portland stone, cast adrift by the tectonic gods in a sea of alluvial waste. From the snooty Boulders over to the west, through the hard working Gravel families grinding out a living by the river to the much despised Rubble gang crumbling to dirt in the eastern reaches, everyone he saw was loose and ovoid.

Barry spent several millennia indifferent to their grumblings, minding his own place high above the plain, until after one particularly hard quake the youngest Boulder sister rolled across his footings.

Olympia Boulder was polished like all the Boulders, attending nature’s glacial finishing school for several hundred years. She had seen the world, crossed continents and now she rested at his feet.

Barry creaked and groaned but she ignored him. He felt certain she was unhappy with him and tried to understand why.

In the end Kevin Pebble a hyperactive cousin of Pa Gravel explained. ‘She just wants to be back with her sisters. She needs another earth tremor.’

Barry gave this some thought. He knew he had to do something. Much as he wished, calling up an earthquake was beyond him. However for eons he had been holding together his fissures, knowing that to let go would risk rendering him more Stump than Stack. But love, even for rock, is a powerful emotion and Barry knew he had to let go for the one he now knew he loved.

So at the end of one glorious day, he did just that. As the dust settled and Olympia rolled back towards her family he turned a mournful gaze on her departure. His eyes shone with tears of both joy and despair.

In that moment, he caught sight of his shadow and the odd triangular shape that now comprised his summit. In one monumental act of self sacrifice, Barry Stack had invented the party hat.

This is in response to Sue Vincent’s #writephoto prompt using the image above

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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33 Responses to Rocking All Over The World #writephoto #shortstory #flash fiction

  1. Al Lane says:
    May 11, 2016 at 1:17 pm

    I lol’d ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Dermott Hayes says:
    May 11, 2016 at 1:55 pm

    It may not be blood but it can be said, without contradiction, you got tears from a stone

    Liked by 2 people

  4. gigglingfattie says:
    May 11, 2016 at 2:20 pm

    Great little story paired with a stunning photo! Where was it taken? It reminds me of this old cemetery in St. Andrew’s I was in a few years ago.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    May 11, 2016 at 2:56 pm

    Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
    Sue Vincent set a photo challenge with this atmospheric shot of a tower. Geoff Le Pard has risen to the occasion with his usual unique style and written a love story with a difference…

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Tammi Kale says:
    May 11, 2016 at 3:29 pm

    What original thoughts! Loved it!

    Like

  7. Ritu says:
    May 11, 2016 at 3:59 pm

    Love it Geoffles!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Sarah Brentyn says:
    May 11, 2016 at 4:59 pm

    Aw, so sweet. ❤️🎶 “Love on the rocks” (Neil Diamond). Gave me a giggle. Nice one.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Olga says:
    May 11, 2016 at 5:59 pm

    Hi Geoff. Didn’t expect to laugh at the end. Loved the emotional journey you created with your words. So creative. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Let's CUT the Crap! says:
    May 11, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    Absolutely divine. Love it. I finally met a family of rocks with character. 🙂 😀 😛

    Liked by 1 person

  12. thecontentedcrafter says:
    May 11, 2016 at 9:16 pm

    Awww! Grins over morning coffee ❤ Don'cha love a good love story with a novel hat at the end!

    Like

  14. Pingback: Photo prompt round-up – The Tower… #writephoto | Sue Vincent – Daily Echo

  15. KL Caley says:
    May 12, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    Haha! Great job – A rock’in good love story. KL ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Hugh's Views and News says:
    May 12, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    You’re such a master at this. So different from the others. I love the imagination in it.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Ali Isaac says:
    May 12, 2016 at 11:58 pm

    Well that was different… totally unique and totally you! Well done, it was a lot of fun.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. derrickjknight says:
    May 13, 2016 at 5:36 am

    Great fun, Geoff

    Like

Comments are closed.