Category War

History Lesson – Friday Fictioneers

freyathewriter 33 Comments

Here is this week’s entry into the weekly challenge brought to us by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Here are the rules: Use the photo as inspiration, write a hundred(ish) words – and share! Here goes my offering for this week – and I welcome your comments again!

Copyright - Claire Fuller

Copyright – Claire Fuller

 

– History Lesson –

“Is this it, Grandad?”
“Yes, Tommy, this is it. We climbed up to the roof with buckets of water and bags of sand, and waited.”
“For the, the –“
“The Luftwaffe, that’s right.”
“But why did they want to firebomb the church? It’s not very important!”
“Ah, well. There was a big factory next door. That’s what they were after.”
“So, did they sometimes make a mistake?”
“Yes, so we had to stop the church burning down.”
“But why, Grandad?”
“Well, me and your Grandma wouldn’t have been able to get married here. Where would we be then?”
“And she wouldn’t have been buried here either, Grandad!”
“No, lad. Shall we take her these flowers, then?”

*****

Click the blue froggy to read other writers’ offerings – and enjoy!

 

Place of Safety – VisDare 33

freyathewriter 19 Comments

I’m on a roll! Here’s my first offering for Anonymous Legacy‘s photo-inspired prompt, VisDare. The rules are simple:

150 words – or less.

Post entry to your blog and “link in”.

(Please – no erotica or graphic violence.)

DON’T FORGET to read and comment on others’ entries!!

So, the photo is below, and my piece follows. Let me know what you think, and give it a go yourself, why not?

– Place of Safety –  

“Mr Riordan, it wasn’t so long ago that my colleague had you in tears! Please, share your thoughts!”

I sigh. That memory is the reason why I have returned to my first love – photography. The whole process, the camera, the ink-black cocoon of the dark room, it is safety for me.

“If you insist. This new direction is a comment on the divisions between east and west, from the end of World War Two to the Cold War. My signature piece, which I call Die Frauen der Berliner Mauer, is my artistic representation of the Berlin Wall, bound on each side by the east and west of the city itself. The image was taken in Berlin, along the Wall’s route.”

Would she accept this spiel?

“Thank you, Mr Riordan. I know our readers will be charmed by both your new direction, and your explanation.”

Success, for now.

Hidden in Plane Sight – Alastair’s Photo Fiction

freyathewriter 9 Comments

Here is my offering for Alastair’s Photo Fiction this week, inspired by the photo below.  Why not take part? And why not visit his photography and writing blog to take a look at his other photos…?

19-08-august-4th-2013

*****

– Hidden in Plane Sight –

“Look here, Givens, you need to paint the camouflage in properly! Here, give me your brush, for Pete’s sake.”

Archie Givens nodded, pretending to listen and pay attention as the uniformed NCO swirled the grey-green paint over the canvas in front of him.

“See? That’s the way! Make it count, boy! Now get your finger out!”

Archie took the paintbrush and started again, feigning concentration.  Satisfied at last, the military man strode away, making a beeline for the cafeteria.

Archie dropped his brush into the paint tin and shook his head at his best mate Johnny, who was curled up on the ground laughing silently, tears running down his cheeks.

“He don’t half get me goat! I’ll bloody swing for him! It’s not as if the Jerry pilots’ll be checking my artwork on these decoys from thousands of feet up!”

Johnny sniggered, then picked up the brush and daubed out a female pin-up, complete with nipped in waist, large breasts and a come-hither pout.

“Just in case, eh ? One last moment of joy for ‘em before our ack ack girls shoot ’em down!”

*****

This is my tribute to the many artists, builders, engineers and visionaries who worked on the K, Q and Starfish decoy sites in the UK during World War II, not forgetting the women of the ATS who risked their lives manning anti-aircraft guns.