It was Sylvie’s idea. She sorted the date, the diner, booked the motel; she sent the emails. They’d met twice before – at the hen do and the wedding, but that was years ago. When they’d almost arrived – all three women driving from different directions – Sylvie texted that she couldn’t make it, some family emergency.
At first there was awkward conversation about their journeys, the weather and the cherry pie. They ordered cocktails, wine, they laughed and swapped stories, mostly about their mutual friend; went to bed late. They arranged to meet again. None of them invited Sylvie.
*
It’s been a very long time since I last wrote and published a Friday Fictioneers flash fiction piece. I’ve been writing my third novel (hopefully more news on that in the coming weeks). Novels allow a lot of wriggle room, so it’s lovely to be back and being forced to write so tightly. If anyone wants to join in with their own 100-word story inspired by the picture above, click here. Or if you’d like to read some others visit this page. Picture supplied by Roger Bultot.
*
Tonight I’ll be in Ealing (West London) at The Pitshanger Bookshop talking about my second novel, Swimming Lessons. And on Saturday I’ll be at the Wimborne (Dorset) literary festival. Do come if you live nearby. More information here.
A very good story. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
You are welcome!
Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
Great story! I am just starting off writing flash fiction and am really enjoying the photo prompts!
Thanks! They are great prompts.
I love this. A wonderful piece. 🙂
Thanks, Resh.
Dear Claire,
I’m happy to see you’re here this week to fill the Claire-shaped void you left. A bit of irony leaves me wondering why no one invited Sylvie. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Welcome back, Claire. I really liked the way you used multiple characters, and yet the real character was the absent Sylvie
Thanks Neil. Great to be back! I thought I’d start with a third person story…
I just was talking to wife about you and we agreed your writing is sorely missed. It’s good to see you back. I’m immersed in novel number four, a book with a much larger scale than my previous work. Still, I have come to relish these short prompts because they allow me to clear my head and do something wholly different. I think the discipline has helped my other writing, too.
Lovely story. Great rhythm in this piece.
Ahh, what a lovely thing to say. I’m so pleased to be back. Short prompts are so useful, but I was head down editing for a long while and just had to get on with that. Hope novel 4 is going well.
Thanks. Hard to tell while I’m swimming in it, since the first draft is all about writing it no matter how lost I am. But I keep at it, which is something!
This is so relatable. I actually have a friend like Sylvie. I guess I won’t invite him for our next plan from now on 😉
Sometimes those kind of friends can be useful for getting things moving.
Congratulations with getting so for along with your third novel. I hope to hear good news about it soon.
Thanks Joe.
I feel for Sylvie,
I know. They’re not great friends are they. But perhaps she deserves it.
Lovely to see you back here, Claire – you and your lovely fiction! This is a great tale, and poor old Sylvie missing out on the fun (though TBH, she sounds a bit controlling, so they’re probably glad to be rid of her!) Congrats on writing the thrid novel – wonderful stuff
Thanks Lynn. Good to be back.
My total pleasure 🙂
Sylvie has only herself to blame. Lovely structure. Good to see you back, look forward to learning more about novel 3 🙂
Thanks Iain.
So very glad to see your mug in the “Hollywood Squares” this morning! Your stories never disappoint and neither does this one.
I say, the ladies should thank Sylvie for getting the ball rolling and maybe invite her next time. At least give her a chance!
Ooohhh… a third Claire book! Can’t wait. No pressure. 😉
Thanks Dale. ‘Hollywood squares’ – I like it!
😊😉
Ah poor Sylvie. Let’s hope she gets a second chance. Enjoyed this.
Thanks. They might have been a bit harsh on her…
Nice to see you back… somehow I imagine a back-story here that Sylvie was an outsider already in the past… Love what different possibilities.
Thanks Bjorn. I’m actually more interested in Sylvie than the rest of them…
Aww…..I feel bad for Sylvie. I’m sure she’s going to wonder why she’s isn’t invited next time. :o) Good story.
I know. Me too.
As she is the “subject” of their stories, I think it probably benefits Sylvie not to be invited. Who needs friends like these?
Congratulations on your noveling success.
I think you might be right. Thanks Sascha.
🙂
Welcome home. Interesting how Sylvia the planner wasn’t invited back.
Thank you! It’s good to be home.
It seems now that Sylvie has started the ball rolling, she’s surplus to requirements. Poor thing 🙁
You could rename this ‘Something about Sylvie’! You’ve got us all wondering.
Click to read my latest tale!
Indeed!
I’m not quite sure where I sit on the Sylie fence. I would like to see her invited next time and tend to feel her friends are rather petty, but when people keep failing to turn up, I’d be thinking twice.
xx Rowena
I can well identify with Sylvie. Lovely write.
Congratulations for the new book.
Good story and writing as always, Clare. I can understand why they didn’t invite Sylvie. All the best with your third book. 🙂 — Suzanne
Sounds like the gals didn’t buy Sylvie’s family emergency. It actually sounds like they are better off without each other. Not much love lost there.
Exactly. Thanks Christine.
She should have come, for the same reason you should never be the first to leave!
Nothing is so much fun as discussing an absent “friend” 😀 Very nicely done!
Hah! That’s very true.
Initially I felt sorry for Sylvie after her effort, but your last line and them not getting in touch suggests she’s not that nice a woman, or at least not one they feel they need to bother with. Cleverly done – giving us a happy story for some, a sad one for one, and leaving us thinking about both.
I’m not sure if it’s Sylvie that isn’t nice, or her friends. I like that it’s up to the reader.
God, I feel like Sylvie. Glad you had some wiggle room to share this week.
Hah! Thanks Honie.
Aw, poor Sylvie!
Good one, Sylvie is better on her own i guess.
Thanks for the story. gimme a lil bit out of your comfort time at gemswriter.wordpress.com help me assess some of my writings there. Thanks
Congratulations and good luck on your novels! Enjoyed your piece!
Thanks Emily.
Too much energetic organization makes some people nervous. I’m one of them. Great story.
Thank you!
Harsh on Sylvie but if she can’t be bothered to turn up for her own arrangements, I suppose she deserves it, unless it was her intention all along for some reason
Who knows? I don’t!
Maybe Sylvie had a genuine emergency! Seems she is better off without friends like that!
You could be right.
I don’t know if Sylvie deserves it or not, but it is what happens sometimes. Great story. And all the best for your novel.
Thanks Fatima
Sounds like a start of a good bit of drama! Great story… Thank you for sharing. 🙂
If you have time, please check out my latest post about Brick &Liquor Cocktail bar – https://tootinghustle.wordpress.com/2017/05/24/brick-and-liquor-in-review/ and let me know what you think!
Happy blogging! x
Yes, indeed, no wriggle room in a flash. Good luck with your third novel, Claire.