Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields who provides us with a photo prompt. Each week’s challenge is to write a 100-word story inspired by the photo. Click here to play along or just read more stories.
I’m late this week. I’ve been busy, and my mind’s pulling me in more directions than this story.
The Seaman And The Swallow
Rod was a grizzled, veteran seaman. He knew better than to work for Richard Withers, especially when he wanted Rod to use his crew. The only member of Rod’s crew he could bring was Polly, the swallow his wife got him because she couldn’t afford a parrot.
Tourists wanted to see the arctic. Bloody hell. This job was beneath him, but the paycheck was an irresistible temptress.
Rod would live to regret his decision. He and Polly were the only ones.
He prayed his wife and children got that paycheck. He prayed for the unborn child he would never meet.
NobbinBlog 
“He and Polly were the only ones”. This unfinished line is intriguing. The only ones to regret it? The only ones to survive? And why couldn’t he go back home, since we know he lived.
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The only ones to survive. Surviving the shipwreck doesn’t mean they’ll survive being stranded or rescued. Even if he lives for years, he may never be rescued. I imagine them in a remote region where there’s not much more than ice.
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I’d quite like to see the arctic, though it doesn’t sound like this trip ended well.
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Make sure you don’t take the budget package with an inexperienced crew.
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Maybe his wife shouldn’t have bought him a bird at all. Clever foreshadowing with the swallow.
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He’s going to get at least one more meal. Thank you.
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😀
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Dear Nobbin,
I’m mystified by this story. At any rate, it sounds like he should’ve followed his gut to begin with. It sounds like a tragic end for Rod and Polly.
‘Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think you got it. Rod went against his better judgment to work with an inexperienced, bargain crew for a big paycheck. That crew ended up crashing the ship and getting Rod stranded somewhere in a desolate land of ice. I had to cut out a lot.
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An imaginative tale, just right for the photo prompt. A bleakness about it.
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Thank you. I came across another story about a seaman, and the two just clicked in my head.
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I wasn’t sure where this title was going, but I loved the story of Rod and his swallow. I hope they found peace if not rescue.
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Where else could it possibly have gone? All I can tell you for sure is they found ice. Thank you.
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I was intrigued by your use of a swallow. Perhaps the swallow will guide Rod to safety
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Anything’s possible for Rod and Polly. Thank you.
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The title is rather raunchy… 😈
I should probably leave it at that and go snicker like a school girl.
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Raunchy? How so? It must be an Australian thing.
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Some conversations are best left for private. 😀
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Uh-oh.
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Really, Tannille! Go and sit on the naughty step straightaway!
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I deserve that… Nobbin started it though 😀
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I plead innocent. I demand a lawyer.
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Get OJ’s lawyer!
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He died.
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Thank you, Penny.
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Until I read Tannille’s comment, I was going to congratulate you on an intriguing title…It’s a good story. I hope Rod finds his way home safely with Polly.
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I will accept the compliment in spite of Tannille’s attempts to taint it. Thank you, Penny.
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