For two weeks the bicycle leaned against the tree outside Cafe Disparaît. Then one day its front wheel was gone, and the next, its saddle. Tipped forward onto its front forks, the bike stared at the ground, waiting. Above it was a sun-bleached poster of a cyclist. Eventually a waiter, irritated from catching his apron on the bike’s handlebars, mentioned it to a Gendarme eating croque monsieur in the shade of the restaurant’s awning. A week later he came by with pair of bolt cutters and threw the bicycle into the back of his van. The poster had torn and flopped forward, only the word PERDUE* could still be seen.
***
*Missing in French
This is part of the Friday Fictioneers writing group – where writers from all over write about 100 words using a photo as inspiration. This week the photo has been provided by anelephantcant. Click here to read other people’s and to join in.
For those of you who’ve read my pieces before and know I’ve been writing a novel, you might be interested to hear that Our Endless Numbered Days just been bought by Fig Tree / Penguin in the UK and has also been bought by publishers in several other countries. Naturally I’m absolutely delighted. It will be published in early 2015. If you’re interested there is a bit more information here from The Bookseller.
A moving little tale – well done Claire. And congratulations on your publishing success!
Thanks Sandra. I’m very excited
That’s exciting about your book – yeah we need to have a party for you!
so are they serving up the missing cyclist? “Croquet Monsieur” sounds like an unusual delicacy
Hah! Oops that should be croque monsieur. Croquet sounds a little tough…
Sheesh, this piece was sad and moving. Huge congrats on your book too!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Congratulations Clare!
Fantastic news!
Thanks Trudy. I’m very excited. How’s yours coming along?
Wow! Powerfully sad imagery. What a memorial to the missing man. Great job!
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
Claire
Well imagined, Claire. And congratulations on your book! That’s so exciting.
Thanks Linda, glad you liked it.
Claire
Congratulations Claire. You have made it to the big time. I like all the details in this. Such good work.
Thanks Joe. I don’t know about that, but I’m certainly a few steps further down the path.
Claire
Poor bicycle 🙁
But good for you! 🙂
Poor cyclist too! Thanks.
😉
This is a terrific flash. Congratulations on the publishing deal!!
Thanks Honie. Glad you liked it.
Claire
Hi Claire,
Big congrats on the acceptance of your novel. I look forward t reading it when it comes out. Your story has great atmosphere and I liked the use of French, even though it sent me to my Larousse dictionary. Now I know a few more words or that beautiful language, thanks to you. Ron
I had to look a few up just to write it, so don’t worry. Glad you liked my story
I’d love a croque monsieur right about now, too. Very cosmopolitan flair to your lovely little story and I add my congratulations to all the others.
janet
Mmm, I’m on a fast day. Don’t mention croque monsieur…
Thanks Janet.
Dear Claire,
What thrilling news! I add my hearty congatulations to the others.
I enjoyed your bike story. Nice visual and atmosphere.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle, and good luck with yours.
Claire
Maybe if you don’t want your bike to be dismembered you should not park it in front of café Disparait! Congratulations on the book!
Yes, it’s a dangerous place! Thanks for the congratulations.
Claire
Congratulations on your book, Claire! I look forward to buying it and reading it when it becomes available. Enjoyable story and original take on the photo prompt. A pleasure to read! Penny
Yeh! One sale already 😉 Thanks for your comments on my story.
Claire
Enjoyed this flash. Glad I wasn’t eating the croque monsieur. Happily vegetarian. Congrats on the book being published. I didn’t know that several publishers could buy a manuscript.
Publishers buy rights to regions around the world, so you might have a publisher which buys world rights, or split it up into regions.
Glad you enjoyed the story and thanks for your comments
Interesting. Thanks.
This was SO good, darling. That ending made my heart sink. Congratulations on being published!
Thanks Helena. Poor cyclist. Where is he now?
Claire
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Fantastic flash! The ending was an extra twist for me. I read it again and saw how cleverly it all fitted together. Sad.
Congratulations on your book too! Good luck with that!
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent, Claire! I felt So sorry for that bike. And congrats on your book, too!
So poignant…everyone obsessed with their own lives and needs, and overlooking the point–the missing cyclist.
Congratulations on the book deal–well done!
Sad and evocative tale, unless the poster was an advertisement for chicken. Good luck with the novel!
A sad story, wonderfully written. And congratulations as well!
I really enjoyed how you had the waiter catching himself on the handlebars. Great use of the prompt.
Wow a huge congratulation to your book deal 🙂 The story was really a sad little one, bikes really have souls me thinks…
My first time here, but I will waste no time in offering my congratulations on your publishing success! Awesome news! And your story is equally as awesome!
Tres bien!
Great story Claire and huge congratualtion on being published, I can’t wait to read your book
Dee
oh this is such awesome news!! congratulations on your book! 🙂
Hi there, thanks for following me on twitter. I really enjoyed this short story, so much in so few words! Look forward to reading a few more…