love

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Friday Fictioneers – Even Then

(Author’s note: The last month of work has been absolute hell. Due to a lot of complications, there were many late evenings and my body hasn’t been getting the rest it needed. Along with the loss of a good Korean friend of mine late last week, it’s been difficult to even get the mode to write. However, I am hopefully going to be able to update more regularly. Here’s today’s story:)

© Sandra Crook

Even Then

by Miles H. Rost

The bead of sweat dripped off Simon’s ear, facing the stares of his girlfriend’s parents.

“How do you plan to make money for Si Hyeon?”
“I… work in aerospace engineering. I make plenty of money.”

Si Hyeon’s father sat back. Her mother leaned forward.

“You will take care of us when we can’t?”
“Of course! Having family close is important!”

She sat back and smiled. Simon leaned forward.

“How often will you babysit the children when me and Si Hyeon want to go out?”

Her parents paused, as the color drained out of their faces. Simon sat back, grinning.

Checkmate.

Want to read more?

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Friday Fictioneers – Fortress Around Your Heart

(Author’s note: The last two weeks have been quite a busy set. A few cases at work really blew up, and the celebration of my dad’s birthday were big. This meant I had to spend more time outside of writing than I did in. But, with things cooling down a bit, I’m back for another week.)

© Sandra Crook

Fortress Around Your Heart

by Miles H. Rost

For many years, Martin had built a defense around himself, constructed of utilitarian thought and his perceptions of the world imposing on him. A defense that would allow him to not be hurt.

Everytime someone got close enough, the walls went into place and he shut them out.

He met Hye Jin, a young widow and a gardener, in the fall. He would do her favors, but if she ever gave him a compliment, he always brushed it aside.

When she finally hugged him from behind, all of the defenses fell in an instant. He finally accepted love and appreciation.

Why not try your hand at it?

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Friday Fictioneers – One For The Road

(Author’s note: Thank you to everyone who commented on the story from last week. It was exactly as I hoped for it. The style of writing I’ve done for Fictioneers has been what I like to call “Snapshots In Time”, where a moment is described and a picture can be brought up from it. This is what helps keep me grounded. Anyhow, here’s the next entry:)

© Ted Strutz

One For The Road

by Miles H. Rost

The last day of my trip to see my mom was the hardest.

She was still sprightly, though older now and a little more willing to be slow. But there was always time for cribbage.

“How about one more for the road, son?”
“It’s 2-2 during the week I’ve been here. It might be good to stay right there for now. We can pick it up when I visit…”

A small piece of advice from my time in Korea, made me stop.

They won’t be on Earth forever.

I sat, picking up the cards.

“One more for the road, Mom.”

Come on and join in. Click the frog!
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Friday Fictioneers – Sundown

(Author’s note – Nothing to report. Just keepin’ on.)

© Jennifer Prendergast

Sundown
by Miles H. Rost

Gordy sat in the shadow of the sunset, the orange glow flooding through his writing room window. At the kitchen table, he tapped his pen against his nose.

He was at home, working on his album. His gal was out on the town, wanting to spend time in the city. His mind wandered to where she would be… or even who she was with.

Jealousy on his mind, he put the pen to paper, describing his woman and describing what he’d do to any interloper.

“Sundown, you better take care if I find you’ve been creepin’ round my back stair.”

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Friday Fictioneers – Spring Growth

(Author’s note: None. Enjoy the Fictioneers!)

© Brenda Cox

Spring Growth

by Miles H. Rost

Xi Lin looked at the banks of the lake, burnt trees sticking up like used matchsticks.

She knew better, however. Being a scholar of the trees in both China and America, it helped her understand exactly what was going on. While the Camp Fire was massive, and wiped out so much acreage, she knew that there was growth within.

She peered down at herself and clutched her hands. The lesson of trees also applied to people who burned with passion, and yet had spent the fuel of a relationship.

She was growing as well, a single spring growth hidden within.

Go ahead, click the picture. See what else is out there!
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Friday Fictioneers – “Beginnings”

(Author’s note: January was a very busy month. Exceptionally busy. Things are really picking up steam. Therefore, here’s today’s fictioneers!)

© Roger Bultot

Beginnings

by Miles H. Rost

“Su-Yeon Noona*!”

Paul slowed himself down as he approached the bench. Su-Yeon, raven hair and all, turned his way.

“Paul? What’s going on?”
“I just saw you pass by, and wanted to talk quickly!”
“What’s going on?”

He sat down, catching his breath. The British expat needed to exercise more.

“Valentine’s day is coming up. And I’d like to take you out for a date.”

Su-Yeon’s eyes got wide, then narrowed as she grinned.

“So you want me to leave my title of noona, soona?”

Paul blinked.

Gears turned.

He laughed.

Blush appeared.

“Oh stop it, you!”

Su-Yeon just chuckled.

* – “Noona” is Korean to denote a woman who is older than a man, but is familiar to them (regardless of biology). Commonly used among younger college-aged males for the upperclass college-aged women.

Oh come on, you know you wanna join.
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Friday Fictioneers – Sound Of Silence

(Author’s Note: One of the primary reasons I haven’t written here in the last little bit has been because I’ve been involved in National Novel Writing Month. I have been spending a lot of energy on writing 50,000 words, in the hopes that I can not only do it, but maybe surpass it and get it into editing (the hard part). I’m inspired, funny enough, by Val McDearmid. She is a good Scottish writer who has had some of her work turned into streaming programs (Britbox’s “Karen Pirie” is the latest). So, I am working my hardest. But, I decided to take some time out today and write here. So here’s today’s work.)

Sound Of Silence

by Miles H. Rost

Marie sat in her chair, working on the same loop of crochet that she’d been working on for the last minute.

Her daughter, Margaret, sat by her with her hand on her knee.

Marie put down her crochet and looked into Margaret’s eyes.

“You don’t know what it’s like. To do something, then forget you already did it.”

“Oh, Mom…”

Marie smiled sadly, and put her hand on Margaret’s head.

“Time to get back to my crochet work.”

Margaret looked up as her mother picked up her project and started on the same loop, yet again.

Her heart shattered completely.

Go ahead. Click the frog. You know you wanna.
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Friday Fictioneers – Auf Immer Und Ewig

(Author’s note: I was off last week as it was my birthday week. I had a lot of things to do, so I got to them. Now that things are starting to calm down, I can get back to more regular writing. Keep an eye on this website for possibly more longer-form stories. Otherwise, here’s today’s fictioneers… Note: The song is very important. Listen and enjoy.)

© Bradley Harris

Auf Immer Und Ewig (Forever and Ever)

by Miles H. Rost

A craving that could never be sated.

Nick gazed out towards the horizon, passing a glance over the ocean as though it wasn’t there.

Every month, he’d come to that very spot, and look out. It was a therapy, his father would say, a way to heal from the scars of the past.

It wasn’t.

“I always go there,” he said to his best friend one day, “because I want to go back. I left her back there, and I want to be with her just once more.”

It was all he would say about his tour back in Vietnam.

Click the Link to See other writers like me!
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Friday Fictioneers – Dragonfly

(author’s note: Well well well! Lookie what we have here! One of my pictures! Can’t wait to see what the stories prompt up! Here we go.)

© Me!

Dragonfly

by Miles H. Rost

The names announced. The hats thrown. All that was left were the people as they gathered and started leaving.

Outside of the main auditorium, Quan looked up at the sky as his mother and father were chatting with another group of parents. As they finished, they walked back over to him.

“We’re proud of you, Quan.”

“You made salutatorian, that’s a pretty big honor.”

Quan sighed, as his parents looked at each other, puzzled.

“I could have done better.”

His dad, a former Tianamen Square protester, squared him up.

“Dragonfly, you did the best, and we’re proud. Don’t think otherwise.”

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Friday Fictioneers – Midnight Pretenders

(Author’s note: The last time I wrote, I had just started the process of moving to a new place. Happy enough, I’m moved in and doing well. Changed up a bunch of things, and I feel good about prospects down the line. Especially the freedom of being able to write while looking at an interesting suburban neighborhood. Anyhow, here’s an unusual take on today’s Friday Fictioneers entry…)


© Jennifer Pendergast

Midnight Pretenders

by Miles H. Rost

“Atsuko, you’ve never made Christmas cookies before?”

Atsuko Inori flushed, her secret exposed.

“Well, we have eggs, flour, sugar. Do we have vanilla?”

“Vanilla? No vanilla,” she said, “Cannot get from big supa.”

Stephano opened her refrigerator, and smiled.

“You have lemons. Lemons make real good Christmas cookies.”

She moved her hips slightly, almost dancing.

Stephano looked up, catching her.

“You wanted to make lemon cookies, didn’t you?”

“I like lemons. My tongue dances, just like me, when I eat.”

Stephano stifled a chuckle, bringing down bowls from their cupboard.

“Well, let’s not waste time. Anytime you dance, I’m happy.”