music

by

Friday Fictioneers – Live and Let Dye

(Author’s note: None. It’s the middle of spring/the start of summer. Let’s read!)

© Liz Young

Live and Let Dye

by Miles H. Rost

“Red Cabbage?”
“Diced.”

Paul checked a box.

“Onion Skins?”
“20 sets of red, 20 sets of yellow.”

Another box checked.

“Oranges?”
“6 bags of mandarins. I ate them all and saved the skins in the freezer.”

Paul raised his eyebrows, then chuckled as he checked the box.

“Carrots?”
“3 pounds. Shaved. Should be able to dye 3 pounds of cloth.”

Paul smiled as he checked the final box.

“Alright. We’ve got the stations set up, the stoves ready, safety prep done.”

He took a breath.

“Melinda?”
“Yes?”
“Bring in all the children. Let them to dye to their hearts content!”

Oh come on now, how did you not expect a picture of fruit to not have some connotation to the work of dyemaking? (Kidding!)
Click Me to read more fun stories!
by

Friday Fictioneers – Island Rain

(Author’s note: Hey, everyone! Getting back into the game. Hoping to start posting every week again, and maybe drop some other story ideas on here. This month is going to be further work on my first book, at least a rough draft. We’ll see how things work. I have a goal of getting it off to an editor by the end of April. We’ll see what happens. Anyhow… here’s today’s fictioneers!)

© Me!

Island Rain

by Miles H. Rost

A laundry cafe.

Not exactly a typical thing to see, but in Korea, they’ll make a cafe or bar out of anything. It seems like Korea catches waves earlier, then moves on quickly. America doesn’t usually have things like this.

While sitting and waiting for my wash to dry, I sipped on a cup of yuzu tea, the sounds of jazz fusion music in my ears. The fact I was able to find this place during my month off from teaching was helpful, as I could work through the evening on my writing.

I could stay in this place forever.

You know you want to click it.
by

Friday Fictioneers – Golden Brown

(Author’s note: None. Have been dealing with some stuff the last week, mostly environmental. Here we go for this week!)

© Lisa Fox

Golden Brown

by Miles H. Rost

“This is your office, you have two windows, so that should be enough light for you.”

The new professor, with newly salt and peppered hair, finally felt as though he arrived.

“And the furnishings I have in storage?”
“We got the moving company to go and get them. They should be here within the hour.”
“Then it looks like there’s nothing left. Thank you.”

The professor walked in as the administrator took his leave.

He walked to the window and sat on the ledge. He smiled, watching the falling leaves that matched the color of his students’ hair.

Golden Brown.

Go ahead. You know you want to read more from others.
by

Friday Fictioneers – Shinto

(Author’s note: After a wonderful birthday weekend, I am recharged and ready to go for 2023. Hopefully able to get back to doing these once a week. Enjoy today’s fictioneers!)

© Fleur Lind

Shinto

by Miles H. Rost

Evening hauls were not the best for Sadao.

He was more of a day person, and loved his music. But with the salaryman lifestyle not to his liking, he needed a way to make ends meet without living at home.

He passed through the urban Takasaki area, carrying Canadian beef on his way from Ota to Nagano. As the sun went down, he flipped on the radio.

“A trip from the past in America. This is the band Hiroshima, with Shinto…”

Sadao smiled, settling in for the last leg of his first run.

It would be a good night.

From the “Odori” album, 1980.
To join the party, click the frog
by

Friday Fictioneers – The Jester’s In A Cast (American Pie)

(Author’s note: National Novel Writing Month is in full swing. I’m at about 17,500 words out of 50,000. I am going to be spending a lot of time coming up with marathon writing sessions, but I believe I am doing well. I now need to work on finding an editor to help with starting out this new venture. Oh well, we’ll see what happens. Anyhow, here’s today’s Fictioneers!)

© Starsinclayjars

The Jester Is In A Cast

by Miles H. Rost

“I don’t know about you, but Bob Dylan absolutely has to be the Jester.”
“How do you figure?”
“Take a look at history. Elvis’s music was big, until Bob Dylan came along. And Bob’s music was the big thing until the Rolling Stones came along.”
“What does Elvis and the Stones have to do with it?”
“Elvis was the King. The Jester stole the King’s crown. Bob Dylan took over after Elvis went through the military. As far as the Stones? Their 1967 album is ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’.”
“So, Mick Jagger is Satan?”
“Don McLean was on to something.”

by

Friday Fictioneers – You Make My Dreams Come True

(Author’s note: I skipped posting the last couple of weeks due to my travels down to Houston. I had an absolute blast with people at a writer’s gathering, and at the anime convention across the street. I got a lot of inspiration, just getting back into the swing of things is going to be the important part. Which is why I am posting this story today.

Oh, and to Haileigh, if you’re reading this: Thanks!)

© Roger Bultot

You Make My Dreams Come True

by Miles H. Rost

Geno’s Cheesesteak, a warm afternoon, and the radio.

Harvey couldn’t have had a better day. A paid half a day off due to a delayed component, and his paycheck already cashed and deposited, was the impetus for sitting and having some good food.

The sounds of Hall and Oates wafted through the air, their latest hit adding extra sonic food to his buffet of the day. He bopped his head along to the sound of the Yamaha CP30, slowly enjoying his sandwich.

Finishing his cheesesteak, he stood from the cement seat to leave.

Full belly, full soul, full day.

Yes, Virginia… they were from Philly, too!
Join us! You know you wanna!
by

Friday Fictioneers – Who Says

(Author’s note: I plan on getting to comments this weekend. Now that the case I’ve been working on has completed (at least, this part of it), I’ll be able to focus on getting things done correctly and won’t be as tired. Otherwise, enjoy today’s fictioneers!)

© Lisa Fox

Who Says?

by Miles H. Rost

“We’re going to practice in… this?!“

Marcus sighed, knowing that Trini was going to say what she said.

“Wait until we get inside. I think you’ll be surprised.”
“Are the others here?”
“They’re setting up inside.”

They opened the creaky door, and slid into a small corridor. The walls and doors nearby were padded with soundproofing material and carpeting.

“How did you…”
“Just wait, Trini. The best is yet to come.”

Opening the door, they entered the Thom Bell style control room, with the studio opposite the glass.

“Who says we’re not resourceful?” Marcus replied.
“Damn…” Trini muttered in awe.

Wanna read more stories? Click the painted frog!
by

Friday Fictioneers – Gloria

(Author’s note: I was off for a month. I’ll be honest, work got hectic and things just got really buggery. I am happy to be back, though, as today the weariness has been removed (with a change of case.) Here’s today’s fictioneers!)

© Anne Riga

Gloria

by Miles H. Rost

A vinyl record careened by Luigi Binalli’s nose.

Hearing a commotion, Binalli had entered the radio studio to see the great Giuseppi “Gus” Lombardo frisbee The Eagles Greatest Hits album against the wall.

“Stupid Americans!” Gus spat, while shattering a copy of Chic’s “Good Times”.

“Gus! Why are you destroying our records?!”
“They stole our songs! They took Tozzi’s song and ruined it!”
“They’re making Italy’s music world known!”
“They’re destroying it! Can they not leave our music alone?!”
“Not if Tozzi’s getting royalties.”

Gus’s eyes grew wide, as he threw a Donna Summer record at him.

“You’re fired, Gus.”

by

Friday Fictioneers – Groove

(Author’s Note: When work gets busier, I get less time to write. Things are starting to slow down, so that helps out. Here’s this week’s Friday Fictioneers!)

band

© C.E. Ayr

Groove

by Miles H. Rost

Vladimir and his band had everything ready within a minute of taking the stage. No need to tune, as it was already done.

This was Festival Saturday. This was their time to shine, as a new band with something his region never thought they’d ever hear.

With a nod, Bruska smashed the cymbals and broke into his steady 4 beat. Mariska joined at the same time, gliding over the Yamaha DX-7 with funky flair. Duma’s Nile Rodgers style guitar lick meshed with Vlad’s bass plucks, creating a groove pocket that was unmistakable.

The influence of American jazz and fusion had arrived.

purple-inlinkz-frog

by

Friday Fictioneers – On Every Street

(Author’s note: Getting there. Enjoy!)

ssi-lights-of-jerusalem

© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

On Every Street

by Miles H. Rost

I turned down what used to be a busy college street, one that was full of bars, chicken shops, all the places a student in Korea would go.

I looked at how transformed it was. Gone were the karaoke houses, the pizza shops. Now it was condos, small boutiques, and a grown-up veneer.

Each place I remembered seeing Soong-Mi, gone.

Each memory of her smiling face: fading.

She went her way, I went mine. To meet one last time.

I laid a rose at her memorial, a cross on a corner. It’s her face I look for…on every street.

purple-inlinkz-frog