Friday Fictioneers

It’s time for Friday Fictioneers again. The challenge is a story in 100 words relating to the photo prompt, hosted by Rochelle Wissoff-Fields and enjoyed by many writers from around the globe.

It’s still October, (Mental Health Awareness Month in Australia) so my story has a mental health flavour to it again this week. I hope you enjoy it.

Copyright – The Reclining Gentleman

“Water off a duck’s back.”

For most of my schooling years I sat at a desk by myself; an island amid a sea of children. I endured remarks like ‘retard’ and ‘weirdo’.

I appealed to the teacher for wisdom.

“Like water off a duck’s back,” I heard her mutter to another teacher.

This led me to the duck pond. I’ve been feeding and studying the ducks for years now. Last week I applied for the perfect job; Researcher of Ducks! It seems my knowledge is actually valuable and highly sought after.

Finally I can feel the water running off my back.

Friday Fictioneers

Friday Fictioneers with Rochelle-Wisoffields

Writers from around the globe challenge themselves to writing a 100 word story to the provided photo prompt.

This week I’m focussing on mental health. October is Mental Health Awareness Month in Australia and the theme this year is Be YOUnique. ‘This theme aims to encourage all of us to consider our strengths and challenges and nurture our own ‘unique worth’. We should also take the opportunity to support the people in our lives and celebrate their own individual qualities that make them unique.’ (Mentalhealth.asn.au)

So here is my creative story.

My Drum Beat

I’ve always walked to the beat of my own drum; until a month ago. That’s when the volume diminished and the rhythm distorted. So I stopped walking … and sat …

Dust speckled my room and gave off a musty odour and my albums stared blankly and silently at me. My soulful, soothing haven became a silent, cold, dark enclosure. Even the lamp bulb blew.

Mum cried when she saw me sitting, so she sat with me, then she pulled down the curtains and the sun filtered through. Yesterday I heard a distant beat and I tapped my foot to the rhythm.